ISDA, Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing announce recipients of inaugural stewardship award

Guernsey Farms located in Jamestown, Indiana and New Vision Farms located in Napolean, Ohio, were recognized with the 2025 Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing Stewardship award. Guernsey Farms received $20,000 cash prize for finishing in first place and New Vision Farms received $10,000 cash prize for finishing in second place.

The Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing Stewardship award is a new partnership between Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing and ISDA. The award is presented to Weaver Popcorn growers who are committed to improving soil health and water quality on their operations.

“Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing is excited to begin our partnership with the ISDA. The stewardship award is a great opportunity to recognize the dedication of our growers to soil and water conservation on their land,” said Jeff Sheedy, Manager of Agriculture for Weaver Popcorn. “Our growers take pride in producing the best quality popcorn in the world. Their commitment to sustainable farming practices has enabled many of them to raise popcorn on the same ground for multiple generations. We sincerely thank all our participating growers this year, and we are honored to recognize Guernsey Farms and New Vision Farms as the inaugural recipients of the stewardship award.”

Weaver producers were encouraged to fill out applications describing their conservation and nutrient stewardship practices. This year, there was 70% participation from the Weaver growers. Once the application closed, five producers were selected based on conservation practices implemented on their operation. ISDA then visited those five producers to discuss their commitment to stewardship and individual farm story. From the five finalists, ISDA chose the two recipients of the stewardship award.

Along with growing popcorn, Guernsey Farms produces soybeans, seed soybeans and hay. Conservation practices implemented on the farm include no tillage, cover crops, grassed waterways, filter strips and drainage water management structures.

“This is the future of agriculture. We want to leave the land better for the future” said Bruce Guernsey of Guernsey Farms.

Along with growing popcorn, New Vision Farms produces green beans, cucumbers, soybeans, wheat, edamame and field corn. Conservation practices implemented on the farm include grassed waterways, filter strips, blind inlets and reduced tillage.

“I believe it is our job to be good stewards of the land and to leave it better than we found it, and it is our responsibility to manage and improve it” said Nick Rettig of New Vision Farms.

The Midwest is a leader in soil conservation efforts. In Indiana, farmers utilize a variety of soil conservation practices and planted more than 1.6 million acres of cover crops in 2025.

“I am excited for this new public-private partnership with Weaver Popcorn because not only will it help advance soil conservation, but it also now incentivizes it,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “ISDA’s Division of Soil Conservation works tirelessly to help landowners implement conservation practices on their land and it is partnerships like these that help advance what we’re doing at ISDA. Congratulations to Guernsey Farms and New Vision Farms.”