News : Frese Family (CNJ Farms) to be awarded "The Way We Live" Award

The Way We Live Award, sponsored by Pioneer, Iowa Farmer Today and the WHO BIG show, recognizes Iowa farm families who have demonstrated their dedication to agriculture and strong Iowa farm values.

In 2022, The Way We Live Award, in its 14th year of recognizing outstanding farm families, will award six Iowa families who exemplify hard working farm values and a love for the occupation of farming. So far, The Way We Live Award has been given to 76 well-deserving Iowa families.

A presentation will take place on Friday, August 19 at 11:45 a.m. at the Anne and Bill Riley Stage

For Nate Frese, a fifth-generation farmer and former professional baseball player of Norway, Iowa, and wife, Niki, kids Maddux, Micah and Halle, it has always been about the love of agriculture and getting back to the farm.

After moving back to the farm in 2017, Niki was reminded of her love for farm life and it became her passion to start an Agriculture Education and FFA program for her kids' school district.

In the fall of 2020, the Prairie FFA Chapter and Agriculture Education department was founded. CNJ Farm operations includes Nate's parents, John and Linda Frese, and brother Chris Frese and family. The farm raises corn, soybeans and hay along with a cow/calf herd and finishes their own feeder calves.

The day-to-day operation of Frese Farms (CNJ Farms) is never the same and always changing, depending on the season. Everyone adjusts their schedules for the jobs that need done and pitches in to make it happen. At the end of the day what everyone enjoys most is time with family, neighbors and friends.