Mitch Sievers of rural Albert City is being recognized as one of the Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2026 Young Farmer Leadership Award recipients — an honor given to young producers who demonstrate strong leadership, community involvement, and a commitment to Iowa agriculture.
The Farm Bureau says agriculture has been “at the center of Sievers’ life,” noting his work raising corn, soybeans, and custom‑fed hogs, as well as his leadership roles at both the county and state levels.
Sievers, who serves as a young farmer representative on the Iowa Farm Bureau State Resolutions Committee, says receiving the award is meaningful because he’s long admired past recipients.
He learned he had been selected about a month ago, after receiving a personal phone call from Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson.
Sievers farms just a mile from where he grew up, continuing a family tradition that shaped his approach to agriculture.
In addition to farming, Sievers has been active in pork producer groups and agricultural education efforts, including bringing ag‑in‑the‑classroom programs to local schools. He says helping kids understand where their food comes from is essential as fewer grow up on farms.
When it comes to issues facing young farmers, Sievers says finding a foothold in the industry remains one of the biggest challenges.
But he says he’s optimistic about the future — especially when he sees his own children eager to help on the farm.
Sievers and his wife, Bradi — a local elementary school teacher — are raising their three children on the farm. He has also served on the Buena Vista County Farm Bureau board and the Iowa Farm Bureau Swine Advisory Committee, and is a graduate of the Ag Leaders Institute.
The Iowa Farm Bureau says the Young Farmer Leadership Award recognizes producers who not only excel on their farms, but also strengthen their communities and advocate for agriculture across the state.
