The Schleisman family of Calhoun County was recently honored with the esteemed Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award for their exceptional contributions to agriculture and the local community. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the recognition during a special event at their family farm southeast of Lake City on Friday, July 7. Mark and Melissa Schleisman, along with their children Matthew, Landon, and Brandy, and other family members, operate M&M Farms, a diversified operation established in 1997. Their farm encompasses a 320-head cow-calf herd, annual popcorn production across 1,700 acres, and the cultivation of corn, soybeans, small grains, and forages on 3,200 acres. M&M Farms also raises nearly 34,000 feeder pigs annually. The Schleismans are known for their commitment to conservation, implementing practices such as grass waterways, filter strips, pollinator and wildlife habitats, terraces, bioreactors, and wetlands. Their efforts earned them the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award in 2017 and previous regional and national conservation legacy awards. In addition to their farming endeavors, the Schleismans actively engage in their community, with Mark’s involvement in organizations like the Southern Calhoun/South Central Calhoun School Board, St. Mary’s Church finance council, Calhoun County Farm Bureau board, and Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Environmental Committee. The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award, named in memory of farm broadcaster Gary Wergin, recognizes livestock farmers who demonstrate exceptional care for the environment, livestock, and their community.
