Krouse Recieves Spencer Award

MOUNT VERNON — Cornell biology lecturer and lab instructor Laura Krouse will receive the 2007 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture at the annual meeting of Practical Farmers of Iowa Jan. 11-12 in Des Moines.

Krouse is the first small farmer to receive the award established in 2002 by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture to honor those who have contributed to the stability of family farms in Iowa. The award carries a $1000 stipend and is the highest honor in Iowa sustainable agriculture.

Krouse owns a 72-acre farm just outside of Mount Vernon, and is the proprietor of open-pollinated seed corn business and Abbe Hills Garden, a Community Supported Agriculture enterprise that serves 120 families. She has participated in research on pest management for organic foods and has been active in promoting soil conservation.