Chuck and Tammy Stevenson selected as Howard County 'Farm Family of the Year'

ELMA - Chuck and Tammy Stevenson of Elma, IA have been selected for Farm Family of the Year by the Cresco Kiwanis club. They have demonstrated a commitment to farming and family their entire lives.

Chuck Stevenson was born in 1957, and grew up on the farm he and Tammy currently reside on. He graduated from Crestwood High School in 1975, after participating in wrestling, football, FFA and 4H. He went on to graduate from North Iowa Community College in 1977 with a degree for Ag mechanics. He worked for John Deere a couple of years, and then switched to full time farming. 

Tammy grew up in Cresco, where her father owned the livestock sale barn. She talked about how she and her siblings would be out there to help cook burgers, and do whatever else needed to help. Tammy graduated from Crestwood in 1979, after participating in girls softball. She has spent over 44 years in banking, starting out as a teller. Forty-two of those years were spent working at CUSB, where she is now a customer service manager.  

Tammy and Chuck met at a dance in 1980, and Tammy was actually there with someone else. She laughed as she went home that night, explaining that she told her sister “I am going to marry Chuck Stevenson” after that first meeting. They were married just two years after in 1982. 

They resided in a trailer in Cresco for a few years, eventually moving into the original farm house Chuck grew up in. Together they have three children, Lindsay, Katie, and Michael. Chuck describes buying 400 acres from his parents, and renting land from neighbors to fuel his farming ambition. Tammy, on occasion, would come and help drive tractor.

In 2008, they built a new home on their land, as well as a shop for all of Chuck’s hobbies. He enjoys woodworking, metal work, and even has a pond he keeps stocked for him and his grandchildren to enjoy. Tammy still works part-time at CUSB, and enjoys cooking. 

They currently farm corn, soy beans, and have some feed cattle.

The couple enjoys keeping to themselves and enjoying the peace and quiet that the farm provides. They describe sitting down by the creek with a cooler  “watching the sunset” and enjoying each others company. 

The Stevenson’s have been very involved with the community throughout their lives, with Tammy being on the Spectrum Industries board, the Evans Memorial Home/Evan’s Senior Living Community board, and involved with the Booster Club for Crestwood. Chuck was on the Howard Experimental Farm board, served as the township clerk, and helps as a treasurer for the rural fire department. 

Family has always been the center of their lives, and they even built their new home to accomodate family coming to visit. They talked about how “dinner was always at the table” and how they would always “eat together”. Coming from large families, sharing rooms, and even beds, the Steveson’s always enjoys spending time with their children, and grandchildren.