Kelly Garrett named Farmer of the Year

For farmer Kelly Garrett, the goal isn’t simply to become sustainable; it’s to become regenerative. “We see ourselves as the original stewards of the land and want to be sure we’re doing everything we can to protect and improve our fields,” he said.   
  
Kelly owns and operates Garrett Land & Cattle in Arion, Iowa, a sixth-generation farm. “My sons and I are constantly seeking new ways to improve soil health, preserve water quality and work towards becoming regenerative across our entire operation,” he said.  
  
In recognition of his outstanding conservation efforts and leadership in advancing sustainable agriculture, Kelly was awarded 2022 Farmer of the Year by Field to Market, a non-profit focused on protecting ecosystems and supporting farmers.   
  
Kelly joined the Truterra network through his local ag retailer, Windy Ridge Ag, and uses the Truterra™ sustainability tool. The tool’s personalized data tracking and predictive modeling can help farmers reach their sustainability goals, such as implementing the right cover crop mix on fields, reducing the use of synthetic nitrogen and improving soil heath to improve yields and productivity.   
  
“In a lot of ways, we’re returning to the way that my grandfather or my great-grandfather would've farmed, but we're doing it with new technology and new metrics,” said Kelly, who transitioned all 7,000 acres of his farm to no-till in 2012.  
  

The Truterra™ sustainability tool is integrated with Field to Market’s Fieldprint® Platform to measure and track on-field conservation practices. 
 
““Truterra was excited to nominate Kelly to be Farmer of the Year. His commitment to improving on-farm sustainability and productivity is second to none. And he’s helping farmers across the U.S. by sharing what he’s learning along the way,” says Tom Ryan, President of Truterra.   
  
A leader among peers   
The Farmer of the Year Award celebrates Kelly’s commitment to continuous improvement, not just for himself, but for his peers in the agricultural community.   
  
Kelly co-founded XtremeAg, a platform designed to connect with farmers across the U.S. who are committed to making sustainability improvements. Through the platform, he shares his insights and learnings with thousands of farmers. The goal is to inspire them to join him in the adoption of more regenerative practices.  
  
Learn more about Kelly’s story and explore how Truterra collaborates with farmers across the country to drive sustainable outcomes for U.S. agriculture at fieldtomarket.org/awards.  
  
Find out if you could benefit from joining the Truterra network by speaking with your local ag retailer or by visiting the Truterra enrollment site.