Boelen family honored with Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award

​         Jan Boelen, right, shares her thankfulness to those gathered at the Brooklyn Ruritan Building on Friday, May 31 during the presentation of the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award presented to the family by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, middle. Dorine’s husband, Jan, is at left holding the award plaque. Jan and Dorine, owners of Bear Creek Dairy north west Brooklyn, were joined at the presentation by their children and grandchildren. As part of the presentation, the Boelen family donated $5,000 to the Brooklyn Fire Department and $2,000 to the other area fire departments who helped battle a blaze at the dairy farm in June 2023. And the recent dairy drive-thru at the dairy farm raised an additional $1,600 for area fire departments.

By J.O. Parker
 
           A Brooklyn dairy farm family was recently honored with the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.
       Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the honor to Jan and Dorine Boelen and family, owners of Bear Creek Dairy, on Friday, May 31 at the Brooklyn Ruritan Building.
           Bear Creek Dairy, northwest of Brooklyn, was established in 2009 by Jan and Dorine Boelen. The dairy operation also includes son Joris and daughter-in-law Katherine Boelen, as well as son Teun and daughter-in-law Jennifer Boelen. Other family members include Dorine's father Rens Kouwenberg, daughter Dieuwertje Boelen and fiancé Johnny Phillipo, son Geert Boelen and family, and son Hessel Boelen. Jan and Dorine have five grandchildren.
         “Even though the Boelens are still relatively new to Iowa and the United States, they have followed a similar pattern of generations of Iowa farm families who chased their dreams, found fertile soil, settled in Iowa, and established themselves as involved members of their community,” said Secretary Naig. “Not only do the Boelens excel on their farm by taking good care of their cattle and land, but their community contributions and education efforts exemplify what it means to be a good farm neighbor.”
          “It’s a huge honor to be recognized with such an award,” said Dorine. “It means a lot to our family and to be recognized for our hard work.”
        Before moving to Iowa and starting Bear Creek Dairy, Jan and Dorine owned a 160-head dairy in the Netherlands, their native land. They embarked on a journey to move their family to America to pursue a more sustainable life. The family settled in Poweshiek County and immediately started building a new life in Iowa.
       When they purchased the farm, it included 234 milk cows. Over time, with the goal of making it a generational success, they have made additions to expand the operation. Today, the farm includes approximately 4,000 cattle, including 2,000 Holstein cows that are milked three times per day. In addition to the work of family members, the farm’s 20 employees help keep the operation running efficiently as they milk for 23 hours per day. The farm grows corn for silage, soybeans, and utilizes rye as a cover crop, which is seeded at the end of corn chopping season and also provides feed for the cattle.
         In order to produce high quality Grade A milk, which is sold to Prairie Farms, the Boelens believe strongly in ensuring a high standard of care for their cattle. The family uses innovative technologies to track health, fertility, nutrition and production. They take pride in paying close attention to detail, including regular veterinary visits, professional hoof trimming and foot baths, and incorporating sprinklers and an advanced ventilation system for cow comfort.
       “Bear Creek Dairy demonstrates their commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability through a number of practices,” noted a representative with the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award. “In addition to utilizing cover crops, they upcycle food waste to create a gluten byproduct in feed rations. They have added LED light utilization in barns and incorporated a plate cooler to conserve energy. Sand is recycled and reused for bedding in the barns.”
Giving back to the community
         As part of the day’s celebration, the Boelen family presented a check for $5,000 to the Brooklyn Fire Department Chief Les Taylor and $2,000 to neighboring fire departments who helped the family after a machine shed and equipment was destroyed by fire in June 2023.
       Fire departments from Victor, Montezuma, Deep River, Grinnell, Hartwick, Chelsea, Malcom and Searsboro joined the Brooklyn Fire Department in battling the blaze.
            Firemen were on site for two – three days keeping the fire at bay.
          The BFD also received a $2,000 donation from 1st Interstate Bank; a $250 donation from Key Coop, a $500 donation from the Dana Company and a $500 donation from the Gordan family of Bondurant.
         “We are all volunteers,” said Taylor, who has been chief since January 2020 and with the BFD since March of 2007. “This is great. It will help fund our department with equipment and supplies for the volunteers.”
         In addition, at the annual Bear Creek Dairy drive-thru event held May 31 – June 2, $1,600 was raised through freewill offerings and that money is being donated to the eight area fire departments that helped the BFD battle the blaze.
          And Dorine noted that Wal-Mart donated $150 to the drive thru event and Hy-Vee donated $150 and 500 cookies to be served to guests taking the tour.
          In addition to the annual drive thru tour, the Boelen families are active participants in many local events such as the Brooklyn Flag Festival, community parades, Grinnell Lions Club Ag Day, Montezuma Freedom Fest, and trunk-or-treat Halloween events at Diamond Lake and St. John’s Lutheran Church. Various members of the family are active in both the Poweshiek County Farm Bureau and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.
The family also hosts farm tours, educational outreach programs and Clover Kids 4-H presentations. 
        The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award is made possible through a partnership with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF), The Big Show on WHO Radio, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Now in its 20th year, this award recognized Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for the environment and their livestock while being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.

         Brooklyn Fire Chief Les Taylor is shown holding a $5,000 check from the Boelen family and a $2,000 check from 1st Interstate Bank with representative Melina Hodzic for the work in fighting a fire at the Bear Creek Dairy in June 2023. In addition, the BFD also received a $250 donation from Key Coop, a $500 donation from the Dana Company and a $500 donation from the Gordan family of Bondurant. The Boelen family also donated $2,000 to the eight area fire departments who helped battle the blaze at the dairy farm. And the recent Bear Creek Dairy drive-thru raised an additional $1,600 that will be donated to area fire departments as well.