Steve Berger is a nationally recognized champion for soil health and conservation. A farmer near Wellman, Iowa, Berger serves as president of Dennis D. Berger and Son, Inc., an operation that includes 2,200 acres of corn and soybeans and more than 15,000 market pigs.
For more than 40 years, Berger’s farm operation has implemented cutting-edge soil conservation practices like no-till and cover crops. An acknowledged expert and mentor in conservation, Berger regularly hosts tours on his farm and has shared his expertise at hundreds of field days, conferences, and webinars. As one nominator mentioned, “When Steve speaks, farmers listen.”
Berger’s work in soil conservation has been recognized with environmental stewardship honors from the American Soybean Association, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. In 2018, he was honored as an Iowa Master Farmer by Wallace’s Farmer.
He is a commissioner on the State of Iowa Judicial Nominations Committee and is heavily involved at the state and local levels with Rotary, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and agricultural commodity organizations.
A dedicated Cyclone, Berger has served on the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences advisory council, Agricultural Endowment board, Southeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm board, and 2018 search committee for the college’s new dean. He regularly partners with ISU Extension and Outreach; Iowa Learning Farms; and faculty in the departments of agronomy, economics, and natural resource ecology and management on collaborative research.
Berger was awarded the 2019 Floyd Andre Award, which was established in 1978 and is presented annually during Iowa State University’s Homecoming Weekend. This citation honors a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to production agriculture, agricultural business or has had a significant impact on Iowa agriculture. Iowa State University faculty members are not eligible for this award. Selection is made by the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.