Tower of Fame Winners Announced
A nationally recognized agricultural conservationist and an award-winning agricultural farm publication publisher who is a national FFA degree recipient are the 2008 Bell Tower of Fame Award recipients.
James O. Andrew and Steve DeWitt will be presented their awards at the Bell Tower Festival Opening Ceremonies Friday, June 13, at 7 p.m. on the Bell Tower Plaza stage.
Andrew and DeWitt join 37 Bell Tower of Fame awardees who at some time in their lives resided in Greene County and through their accomplishments on a state, national or international level bring great pride to our county.
James Andrew, a fifth-generation farmer, is a resident of Jefferson, and is president and general manager of Andrew Farms, Inc.
Andrew is the American Soybean Association’s 2007 Conservationist of the Year Award recipient and the group’s Legacy Award for his years of soil and water conservation stewardship and advocacy. As an ardent conservationist, his farm operation was one of the first in the nation, and the first in Iowa, to be chosen for the Conservation Security Program Tier 3 Award, the highest designation for the CSP program.
His on-going support of conservation includes participation in the Iowa Soybean Association’s On-Farm Network, promoting research to minimize chemicals and fertilizers while maximizing yields.
He recently was one of only two Iowans appointed to serve on the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s newly formed Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee.
He has represented the corn and soybean industries at both the state and national levels serving in officer roles and has been a director of the U.S. Grain Council, where he has served as chair of the International Government Affairs Committer. He also represented agriculture as a delegate to World Trade Organization meetings and conferences in Switzerland, Egypt and the Philippines.
He is 1967 graduate of Jefferson High School and a 1971 graduate of the University of Iowa. He is the son of James and Alice Andrew of Jefferson. He and his wife Jacque have three daughters, Jane, Julia and Jenny.
Steve DeWitt of Marion, Iowa, has dedicated his career to agricultural business and to its future leaders. Awarded the 2007 National FFA Honorary Degree, DeWitt has spent the past 20 years helping Iowa youth seek agribusiness opportunities. The honorary degree is the highest recognition FFA bestows on teachers and others who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture and ag education He is president of the Iowa FFA Foundation and has spearheaded initiatives for a $17 million Enrichment Center to enhance agricultural education and FFA. The center will provide over 12,000 student members opportunities to develop their potential for leadership and career success. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Ankeny, Iowa site last fall. He has also received the FFA’s state Distinguished Service Award.
DeWitt has also received national awards for his publication, Iowa Farmer Today, that he created in 1984 in response to the Midwest’s farm crisis. Headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Iowa Farmer Today is recognized as one of the most –read agricultural newspapers and is now distributed weekly to more than 70,000 farm owners and operators throughout Iowa and bordering counties in adjacent states. Over the past 10 years, DeWitt has received national marketing awards from the Business Marketing Association and the National Agri-Marketing Association. His staff of 34 has won distinguished writing, photography and design awards from such groups as the Association of Ag Journalists, Oscars in Agriculture and the Livestock Publications Council.
His dedication to presenting practical, relevant and timely news and information farmers can put to use also resulted in DeWitt’s major role in the purchase and re-design of Midwest Marketer, a Midwestern publication for the beef industry. Iowa Farmer Today Publications is now a division of Lee Agri-Media.
DeWitt is also well known for his work with agricultural commodity groups to promote their products through “Beef in the Park,” “Pork in the Park,” and “Raise a Fork – Eat More Pork.”
DeWitt graduated from Jefferson High School in 1965 and attended the University of Northern Iowa. Before starting Iowa Farmer Today, he was associated with Wallace’s Farmer magazine and was president of DeWitt Judish advertising agency in Des Moines.
DeWitt is the son of Richard and Betty DeWitt of Jefferson. He has two children, Stacy and Stephanie, and two grandchildren. He and his wife Joanie reside in Marion, Iowa.
In case of rain, opening ceremonies will be held at the Greene County Community Center.
Following the award ceremony, the public is invited to a reception for Andrew and DeWitt in the Greene County Courthouse Rotunda until 8:30 p.m.