Pictured: Fmr. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin accepts NFU’s Meritorious Service to American Agriculture award at NFU’s 123rd Anniversary Convention in Oklahoma City. (L-R): John Hansen, President, Nebraska Farmers Union; Aaron Lehman, President, Iowa Farmers Union; Fmr. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin; Rob Larew, President, National Farmers Union.
Retired U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin has received the National Farmers Union’s (NFU) highest honor, the 2025 Award for Meritorious Service to American Agriculture. The award was presented earlier this month at NFU’s 123rd Anniversary Convention in Oklahoma City. NFU President Rob Larew says, “Senator Tom Harkin was steadfastly committed to American family farmers throughout his life and 40-year career in the U.S. Congress. NFU is proud to honor him with the 2025 Award for Meritorious Service to American agriculture, recognizing his dedication to family farmers and our communities. He’s been a friend and a staunch ally of the Farmers Union for decades. We congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.” Harkin served 10 years in the U.S. House and five consecutive terms in the U.S. Senate, including as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He championed conservation, renewable fuels, and nutrition programs. Notably, he co-authored the Biofuels Security Act of 2006 and helped negotiate the 2008 Farm Bill. Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) President Aaron Lehman says, “Senator Harkin’s impact on our farm and food system is unparalleled. He is the grandfather of modern working lands conservation programs in our country. Through his leadership, federal conservation programs have evolved to further partner with farmers in voluntary incentive-driven practices such as cover crops, sustainable grazing, and diverse rotations. In addition, his landmark legislation bringing fresh produce into our public schools helped lead the movement to connect farmers to their local communities with fresh and healthy food.” Since retiring in 2014, Harkin has continued advocating for farmers and public policy through The Harkin Institute at Drake University. The award celebrates his decades of leadership and dedication to strengthening American agriculture.
