There aren’t very many people whose first name instantly identifies them. There are exceptions, however. In Iowa, that honor goes to Elwynn Taylor, a retired Iowa State University Extension climatologist who was honored last month with the Iowa Master Farmer Exceptional Service Award.
“I like to refer to Elwynn as the ‘rock star’ of climatologists,” wrote his nominator, John Fischer, a 2023 Iowa Master Farmer from Neola. “Just like Elvis, Madonna and Adele, you didn’t have to use his last name. When you asked a farmer, ‘Did you hear what Elwynn said about the weather pattern?’ the farmer knew who he was. They paid great attention to what Elwynn would say and forecast about the weather.”
Lots of other folks weighed in on nomination forms and in letters of support for this year’s Iowa Master Farmer award winners. Below is some of what they said.
If any of this makes you think of someone you know who would make a great 2025 Iowa Master Farmer candidate, the 2025 nomination form is available online. Download the form by clicking on the button above, complete it with letters of support and send it to [email protected] by Sept. 6.
Elwynn’s rules of thumb
Fischer remembered several of Taylor’s “rules of thumb” that helped Iowa farmers. Taylor would deliver these at winter and early-spring meetings across Iowa and discuss them on a weekly call-in radio show:
If your tile lines are running, you have excess water in the root zone for crop production.
El Niño weather patterns are the friend of the Iowa farmer.
When your bluegrass lawn goes dormant in summer, you have about 10 days before it starts to hurt your corn and soybean crops.
Start keeping track of your moisture on Oct. 1. If you get to 25 inches of moisture from that date through the next growing season, you will probably raise a pretty good crop (assuming precipitation is distributed properly).
The 89-year drought cycle is well documented from various events such as the drought of 1936 and the possibility of drought coming around 2025.
The flow of moisture off the Gulf of Mexico supplies most of the moisture for Midwestern crops. Without it, the Midwest would be a much drier place.
Community involvement and next generation
Roger and Kathy Carlson from Red Oak, Iowa, always kept in mind the greater good of the community, wrote Ron Lorenz, superintendent of the Red Oak Community School District.
“They view abundance as a blessing from God and give back to their community without fanfare or expecting anything in return,” he wrote. “They consistently prioritize the needs of others above their own.”
ROOM FOR FAMILY: Roger and Kathy Carlson grew their farm so they were able to include two of their children, Kelly Osheim (pictured) and Tony Carlson, in the operation. (Gil Gullickson)
The Carlsons’ farm also has expanded to include two of their children, Kelly Osheim and Tony Carlson.
“Kathy is supportive of all of Roger’s activities,” wrote Don and Sue Hagrman, who own farmland west of Red Oak and lease some of it to the Carlsons. “In the beginning, she did all the bookkeeping. Now, their daughter Kelly helps out with the responsibilities. At harvest time, the whole family assists with driving combines [and] grain carts or bringing meals to the fields.”
“The row crop operation has grown with Roger and Kathy through the years and is beginning to involve the next generation,” wrote Darrin Bouray, vice president and senior lender with Bank Iowa — Red Oak. “Roger and Kathy have done a fantastic job integrating their children into the operation and showing them all that they know about farming while also giving the younger generation the opportunity to grow and try new things on their own.”
Inspiration to others
April Hemmes has always impressed her nominator, Kelvin Leibold, who served as an ISU Extension farm management specialist.
INSPIRATIONAL LEADER: April Hemmes has always been willing to help others in the agricultural industry and tell ag’s story, according to her Master Farmer nominator, Kelvin Leibold. (Iowa Soybean Association)
“April prizes her soil and leaves it in better shape of the next generations,” Leibold wrote. She also exhibits excellent financial health through sound management and focusing on cost control and the cost of production, he adds.
Then, there’s the way she inspires others around her.