Ossian man given statewide award

Pat Tekippe is shown on the left along with South Winneshiek Ag Instructor and DuPont Pioneer sales rep Mitch Hemesath (Photo courtesy of Calmar Courier)

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on Thursday named an Ossian man as a recipient of the "Iowa Ag Leader Award" for outstanding leadership in improving Iowa's water quality.  Northey recognized Certified Crop Adviser Pat Tekippe, a Pioneer sales rep for Farmers Union Cooperative in Ossian.

"Partnerships have been a key to the Water Quality Initiative since the very start and it is great to be able to recognize Certified Crop Advisers who have really taken a leadership role in helping advance water quality efforts in the state," Northey said.  

Tekippe is a Pioneer sales rep for Farmers Union Cooperative.  He is an active participant and an advisory board member for the Central Turkey Watershed Project.  In addition to using cover crops and other practices on his own farm, he coordinates aerial application of cover crops for area producers.  They seeded over 3,200 acres last year.  He's also an agronomist for Northeast Iowa Community College and been instrumental as the college's farm has transitioned to no-till with cover crops.

Tekippe was recommended by Central Turkey River Nutrient Reduction Demonstration Project Coordinator Michelle Elliott.