Lenexa, Kan. (March 8, 2021) — The Steve and Laurie Henry family, including sons Scott and Eric, are the 2021 winners of Farm Journal’s annual Top Producer of the Year award. Their operation, LongView Farms, is based in Nevada, Iowa, and includes 10,000 acres of corn and soybeans as well as hog and cattle enterprises. The award was presented during Farm Journal’s Top Producer Summit, held from Feb. 15-17 in Nashville, Tenn. Winners of the Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon award and Executive Women in Agriculture Trailblazer award were also recognized at the event.
“Every decision on LongView Farms is made with one eye on the future and respect for the past,” said Sara Schafer, editor of Top Producer magazine. “They are finding ways to diversify while keeping their competitive advantages for their core business. Their approach to growth is creative, thoughtful and disciplined.”
The LongView team includes six full-time employees and a large seasonal workforce. As the operation looks to the future, previous models built on land acquisition are transitioning in search of added value. They stay true to their business focus of honoring the past, stewarding the present and looking to the future. Learn more about the Henry Family and LongView Farms.
Also honored as finalists for the Top Producer of the Year award were Bill Came of Came Farms in Salina, Kan., and Zach and Kelsey Ducheneaux of DX Ranch in Gettysburg, S.D.
Sponsored by BASF and Case IH, the Top Producer of the Year award is in its 21st year and represents the best in the business of farming. Three finalists are chosen from numerous applications by a panel of judges based on entrepreneurial originality, financial and business progress and industry and community leadership. The three finalists received all-expense-paid trips to attend the Top Producer Summit. The winner receives sessions with a CEO coach, courtesy of BASF, as well as a Case IH tractor of their choice for 150 hours of use on their farm, courtesy of Case IH.
Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon Award
Matt Splitter, owner of Splitter Farms in Lyons, Kan., is the 2021 Tomorrow’s Top Producer Horizon award winner. Sponsored by Pioneer, the award recognizes a producer under the age of 35 who demonstrates excellence in farming. Splitter’s operation includes 7,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and grain sorghum. It also provides custom farm work, which increases the covered acres to 15,000 annually.
Executive Women in Agriculture Trailblazer Award
Jennie Schmidt of Schmidt Farms in Sudlersville, Md., is the 2021 EWA Trailblazer award winner. Sponsored by Corteva, the award honors female producers who are shining examples for their peers in agriculture. A registered dietician turned to farmer, Schmidt now determines the diets of a host of crops. She leads day-to-day operations with her brother-in-law, Alan. The farm produces green beans, tomatoes, grapes, soybeans and corn.
The in-person Top Producer Summit was Feb. 15-17 in Nashville, Tenn., with an online program offered Feb. 23-25. In conjunction, Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative, hosted its annual Trust In Food Symposium Feb. 23-25. In total, the events attracted 1,513 registrations, including producers representing 4 million acres from 38 states, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Brazil for a week of networking and education. In both formats, the event featured more than 40 educational sessions around the theme “Breaking New Ground” for producers to hone their money, marketing and management skills.
Presenting sponsors included BASF, Beck’s Hybrids, Case IH, Nutrien, Farmers Mutual Hail, Fendt, Indigo, Pioneer and Pivot Bio. Supporting sponsors included AgCredit, CLA and Lincoln Financial Network. Learn more about Top Producer Summit at TPSummit.com.
About Farm Journal
Farm Journal Media is the nation’s leading business information and media company serving the agricultural market. Started 144 years ago with the preeminent Farm Journal magazine, the company serves the row crop, livestock, produce and retail sectors through branded websites, eNewsletters and phone apps; business magazines; live events including conferences, seminars and tradeshows; nationally broadcasted television and radio programs; a robust mobile-text-marketing business; and an array of data-driven paid information products. Farm Journal also is the majority shareholder of the online equipment marketplace, Machinery Pete LLC. In 2010, the company established the non-profit, public charity, Farm Journal Foundation, dedicated to sustaining agriculture’s ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population through education and empowerment.