Northeast Iowa – Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) honored the best in agricultural heritage preservation during the Annual Golden Silo Awards Luncheon, Wednesday, April 3 at the Black’s Building Sky Room in Waterloo, IA. Golden Silo Awards are presented to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate excellence in preserving and telling America’s agricultural story. The following individuals and organizations were recognized for their contributions (presentation notes and photos available upon request following event):
Sue Pridemore, Midwest Region National Park Service, Omaha, NE
Rhoda McCartney, Carrie Lane Chapman Catt Girlhood Home, Charles City, IA
Alan Hutchings Outstanding Visionary(s)
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. This award is named for Alan Hutchings of the National Park Service whose vision was so critical to our very creation as National Heritage Area.
Living History Farms, Urbandale, IA
Outstanding Interpretation
Honors a Partner Site who has shown excellence in interpreting the story of American agriculture.
Motor Mill Historic Site, Elkader, IA
Outstanding Preservation in Agriculture
Honors an individual, organization, project, business, agency, or local government who has shown extraordinary effort in preserving the icons of American agriculture.
I
owa Farm Bureau Federation, West Des Moines, IA
Outstanding Partner
Honors an organization, institution, or individual who has shown support and partnered with SSNHA on numerous occasions to support the mission of the Heritage Area.
Rose Rohr, SSNHA Partnership Panel, Anamosa, IA
Matt Heitz, SSNHA Board of Trustees, Farley, IA
Outstanding Volunteer(s)
Honors an individual who has given tirelessly to the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area.
Motor Mill Historic Site, Elkader, 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 Wapsipinicon Mill Museum, Independence, and Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy, Hudson.
This year’s luncheon was made possible through the support of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and Iowa Pork Producers Association. Also featured at the event was a performance by Scott Cawelti of Cedar Falls, IA, of Landscape Iowa: Poems of James Hearst, Sung. Cawelti’s performance explored the life and poetry of Iowa farmer-poet James Hearst, having been Hearst’s student and colleague from 1968 through Hearst’s death in 1983. Cawelti performed several of Hearst’s poems that he had set to music, accompanying himself on acoustic steel-string guitar. Thank you to Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities for sponsoring this year’s performance.
“The foundation of Silos & Smokestacks is built around partnerships. We are extremely honored to recognize these Heritage Area partners for their dedication to preserving and sharing America’s agricultural story,” 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:
Carrie Lane Chapman Catt Girlhood Home
2379 Timber Ave
Charles City, IA
641-228-3336
