Fred Kirschenmann, director of the Leopold Center, was recently named one of Progressive Farmer magazine’s 2002 Leaders of the Year in Midwest Agriculture.

“I found out about the award when I was sent a copy of the magazine about five to six weeks ago,” Kirschenmann said.

For the past 30 years, Progressive Farmer magazine has recognized innovative ideas and leadership with respect to agriculture. Last year the award was presented to Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.

“We were really surprised and pleased when we heard that Progressive Farmer magazine wanted to recognize Fred for his leadership at the Leopold Center,” said Laura Miller, communications specialist for the Leopold Center.

“As a staff, we really want to work with Fred to engage new audiences in conversations about the role of agriculture in the state. This award is a great springboard to keep this conversation moving.”

Less than two years ago – on July 1, 2000 – Kirschenmann took the position as director of the Leopold Center. He received degrees from Yankton College in South Dakota, Hartford Theological Seminary in Connecticut and has a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Chicago.

Kirschenmann believes farming has become too industrialized and “factory-like.”

“One of the concerns that we have here at the Leopold Center is that agriculture is currently in the middle of large consolidated production and direct marketing,” Kirschenmann said. “Most of Iowa’s farms still fall in that middle.”

To create this new vision, Kirschenmann has farmers work with different marketing, production, systems and public policies.

“Fred has a vision that agriculture needs a new social contract,” said Jeri Neal, program coordinator for the Leopold Center.

“For the Leopold Center’s part, we believe that Iowa citizens deserve an agriculture that produces healthy food, restores healthy ecosystems and thriving human communities, and enables farmers and farm workers to live a decent life.”

Kirschenmann was presented with the award March 26. “I didn’t know that there would be a big presentation,” he said.

The presentation of the award, at the Wallace Foundation Learning Center near Lewis, was incorporated into the John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture. Kirschenmann received a standing ovation from about 150 people at the event.

He said he sees himself and his colleagues, as catalysts.

“We are not going to be able to do this by ourselves,” Kirschenmann said. “We need to bring the people in Iowa together so that we can develop this new vision. Bankers, business people and everyday citizens are all needed to achieve the new future.”