Northeast Iowa – Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) honored the best in
heritage development during their annual Golden Silo Awards Luncheon, Wednesday, April 6,
2011. Regional partners gathered at the Sky Event Centre in Waterloo, IA to honor this year’s
award recipients.
Golden Silo Awards are presented to individuals and organizations whose contributions
demonstrate excellence in preserving and telling the America’s agricultural story. The following
individuals and organizations were recognized for their contributions:
Jerome Thompson, State Historic Preservation Office, Des Moines, IA
Alan Hutchings Outstanding Visionary
Honors an individual, organization, business, agency or local government who has shown
sustained support for the Heritage Area for more than five years, created a legacy in
heritage development and provided leadership in the heritage development movement.
Tammy & Kelly Rundle, Fourth Wall Films, Moline, IL
Outstanding Preservation in Agriculture
Honors an individual, organization, project, business, agency or local government who
has made an extraordinary effort in preserving the icons to the story of American
agriculture.
Mines of Spain, Dubuque, IA
Outstanding Partner
Honors an organization, institution or individual who has shown support and partnered
with SSNHA on numerous occasions to create awareness for the Heritage Area.
Val Abbott, Iowa City, IA
Outstanding Volunteer
Honors an individual or organization who has given tirelessly to SSNHA.
Heartland Acres Agribition Center, Independence, IA
“People’s Choice” – Site of the Year
Honors a SSNHA Partner Site who has been voted for by the public to be their favorite
“Site of the Year.” Finalists included Four Mounds Inn, Dubuque and University of Iowa
Museum of Natural History, Iowa City.
This year’s event also included a presentation by Kelly & Tammy Rundle, a husband and wife
filmmaking team, who shared The Journey Behind their newest documentary feature film,
Country School: One Room – One Nation. The film documents the lasting legacy of America’s
country schools along with the importance of preserving them. Featured in the film are a number
of historic SSNHA Partner Sites.
“We are pleased to have such great partners within the region preserving this important story.
Without their passion and dedication, this story could be lost for future generations,” commented
Don Short, SSNHA President.
SSNHA is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of
the National Park Service. The Heritage Area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of
Iowa. Interstate 80 borders it on the south and Interstate 35 borders it on the west. Through a
network of sites, programs and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness and rural
communities – past and present. To learn more about Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage
Area, please visit www.silosandsmokestacks.org.
Topics: Press Releases
Related Attractions:
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
17 N Clinton St
Iowa City, IA
319-335-0480
Heartland Acres Agribition Center
2600 Swan Lake Blvd.
Independence, IA
319-332-0123
