Niman Ranch Honors Seven W Farm as 2025 Sustainable Farm of the Year

Niman Ranch has recognized the Wilson family of Iowa’s Seven W Farm as its 2025 Sustainable Farm of the Year, coinciding with World Soil Health Day. This commendation emphasizes the family’s commitment to restoring soil health, safeguarding local waterways, and demonstrating the efficacy of small, diversified farms in tackling Iowa’s water quality issues.

Paul Willis, founding hog farmer of Niman Ranch and a long-time friend of the Wilsons, praised their contributions: “The Wilson family embodies Niman Ranch’s core values. They don’t just raise pigs; they enhance the land, setting a benchmark for agricultural practices and showcasing opportunities for family-scale farms across Iowa.”

Three Generations United in Diversified Farming

Located in Paullina, Iowa, Seven W Farm thrives under the stewardship of three generations: Dan, Lorna, and their children April, Jaron, and Torray. The family specializes in certified organic corn, soy, rye, barley, and oats. Additionally, they manage a certified organic dairy herd and raise chickens and pigs. Their 660-acre operation employs methods that promote nutrient cycling within the soil, keeping harmful substances out of waterways.

Soil health is prioritized through an adaptive crop rotation plan, enhancing land productivity year after year. Torray elucidates their strategy: “Our rotation typically includes corn-soybean-small grain, interspersed with clover, alfalfa, forbs, or cool-season grasses, followed by hay or pasture for one to five years before renewal.”

Innovative Composting for Sustainable Practices

A hallmark of the Wilson family’s sustainability efforts is their deep bedding system for raising Niman Ranch pigs. Straws and crop residues intermingle with manure, creating rich compost as pigs naturally aerate the material. This approach transforms potential waste into a productive asset, substantially enhancing soil fertility.

“My grandpa moved pigs outdoors because he believed animals should express their natural behaviors,” explains April Wilson. “I take pride in continuing that legacy, demonstrating how regenerative farming can uplift families while improving our land.”

A Farm That Functions as a “Giant Sponge”

The Wilsons’ farming methods create a system that nourishes the soil year-round, absorbing significant rainfall rather than allowing it to runoff into nearby streams. Torray notes, “We view our land as a giant sponge.” Improved soil structure fostered by diverse organisms allows the farm to withstand both droughts and heavy rains.

Tests conducted on their land reveal water infiltration rates of 4-8 inches per hour—much higher than the typical 0.5 inches reported by conventional farms. The Wilsons aim for an even greater threshold of 10-15 inches per hour, which has far-reaching implications for community water management and flood prevention.

Research Supporting a Scalable Model

Upcoming research from Niman Ranch and GrowWell outlines the impact of regenerative practices, similar to those employed by the Wilsons, across Niman Ranch’s hog farms. Preliminary results suggest this model boosts soil health, enhances biodiversity, and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, illustrating a scalable approach to preserving waterways while supporting small farms.

In honor of their Sustainable Farm of the Year award, Niman Ranch made a donation to the Iowa Organic Association, credited by the Wilsons for aiding in overcoming challenges and fostering innovation on their farm.

Niman Ranch, based in Westminster, Colorado, represents a collective of over 600 independent family farmers and ranchers dedicated to humane and sustainable practices in pork, beef, and lamb production. It stands as the largest Certified Humane farmer network in North America, providing consumers with high-quality meat raised without antibiotics or added hormones.

[RELATED: Niman Ranch Names 2024 Sustainable Farm Of The Year]