Friday, July 25, 2008

By Molly Nicholas
Staff Writer

Steve Williams of Villisca is a fifth generation farmer in Page County.

After graduating from Iowa State University in Ames, he moved to Chicago for one year but decided to come back home to raise a family and a farm.

Once home, Williams decided that going to an organic farm sounded more for him. He wasn't interested in having a great big farm where a lot of machinery is needed, plus having an organic farm helps the environment.

Another reason an organic farm sounded intriguing was that it would be a safer place for his five kids as they help out on the farm.

Williams ended up purchasing CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) land, which had only grass growing on it for ten years before he bought it. (CRP is a program that addresses natural resource concerns and provides assistance to farmers.)

The land seemed ideal since organic farmland can't have any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically modified organisms on it for three years before planting the organic crop.

To be an organic farm there has to be a total absence of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, livestock feed additives, plant growth regulators, and genetically modified organisms.

Williams, who is in his eleventh year with his organic farmland, also started an adventure with organic dairy products as well.

He and his partner, William "Bill" Horner started a company called Naturally Iowa in which they have organic milk, ice cream and drinkable yogurt.

The company is located in Clarinda's old Pamida building and has 14 employees. Williams and Horner also bought Falk's Ice Cream in 2004 to add to their products.

When many people think of organic milk, an organic container isn't always pictured, however, Naturally Iowa's bottles are made from all natural ingredients from corn, which creates a compostable material.
Williams said that although there is a huge demand for organic food, things aren't always easy. He has to rotate his cropland to keep it fertile and some years can't grow a crop that's in as much demand as corn and soybeans.

Also, farming without chemicals, including synthetic fertilizer can make things harder. (He uses natural fertilizer from his hogs and beef cattle most of the time.)

Another thing that many people don't think about is the fact that his animals also must have 100% organic feed for the dairy products to be considered organic.

Williams, the only organic farmer in Page County, is kept busy with his endeavors but feels his products are worth the work.