Determination to Thrive Earns Beringer-Crock Woman Conservationist of the Year

by Jolene Bopp, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Des Moines, Iowa

Lillie Beringer-Crock’s determination and fresh ideas have not gone unnoticed, earning her the title of 2024 Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year, as voted by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Federal Women’s Program Committee. 

As a third-generation farmer from Cascade, Beringer-Crock strengthens her family’s legacy at Beringer Family Farm through conservation, grit, and creative thinking. She has a deep connection to the land and livestock, nurtured through years of hands-on learning about traditional farming alongside her grandfather and father. 

After graduating with an Animal Science degree from Iowa State University in 2018, she wasn’t certain she wanted to return to farming. But, slowly, she began taking over responsibilities and rented 20 acres of corn, originally chopped for corn silage to feed her cow herd during the winter. 

Her plans to ease into farming shifted quickly in 2020, however, after the loss of her grandmother. As a recent college graduate just starting her career, Beringer-Crock had only a year to purchase her grandfather’s 110-acre farm, which consisted of pasture ground, timber, and 40 acres of crop ground, or it would be sold to someone else. Using her entrepreneurial spirit and out-of-the-box thinking, she developed a plan to secure a loan. 

Contemplating Conservation 

“I slowly started getting into conservation, or just became more regenerative-minded, when I was buying my grandparents’ land,” said Beringer-Crock. “There were 40 acres of tillable cropland, but it’s way back into the property. You 

had to go through a cow pasture to get to it, and it’s super hilly, with the river right there. It just wasn’t suitable.” 

Part of her new plan included implementing rotational grazing and cover crops. She quickly began converting unsuitable crop ground into permanent pasture, setting up water sources and new fencing to create six grazing paddocks on 110 acres through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) with NRCS. Rotational grazing systems prevent overgrazing, improve soil structure, and naturally fertilize the land. 

“Lillie is a young female super passionate about farming and the agricultural community,” said Addie Manternach, district conservationist with NRCS in Jones County. “She is continuously trying to improve her family’s operations by implementing conservation practices, rotational grazing pastures, and starting her own direct-to-consumer beef business. You never know what she will be up to each day.” 

Now, she grazes over 120 pairs on 110 acres of rye during the spring calving season. Corn or beans are then planted into the rye, a practice referred to as “planting green.” 

Branching Out 

Beringer-Crock has increased her rented acres from 20 to 280 from her parents over the years, switching all the crop acres from corn-on-corn tillage to a 100 percent no-till corn and bean rotation with cover crops. This transition has improved soil health and reduced erosion on their sandy soil while providing nutritious grazing for cattle. 

“We were farming straight corn every year and tilling it all up with no rain. It wasn’t helping us make money,” said Beringer-Crock. “I might have given up a little bit of yield on the corn side, but when I fed 200 cows for three weeks on a cover crop and didn’t have to treat a sick calf, those dollars add up.” 

She is currently looking into brush management, erosion control, and other opportunities to improve her land’s safety and the health of her cattle. She said she learns more each day by attending conferences and speaking with other landowners in her community. 

Back to Business 

Despite the challenges of being a young female farmer, Beringer-Crock is not only the caretaker and main decision-maker of the crops, a 200-plus Angus cow herd, and a 500-head feedlot of feeder cattle, but she also owns a direct-to-consumer beef business, Beringer Family Farms, located on the farm. People can purchase a variety of cuts and other goods locally made around the community at the store or online. Her cattle are raised compassionately and spend over half their life in the pasture. She processes her Angus cattle into 21-day dry-aged beef, shipping to all 50 states and supplying local schools and restaurants. 

Her story doesn’t stop here. Lillie and her family host events, field trips, farm-to-table dinners, and more to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers, educating the public on the origins of their food and advocating sustainable farming practices. 

“The meaning of conservation to me, as a young woman, has changed recently. Conservation is about preserving our land for the next generation,” Beringer-Crock reflects. “It’s about making sure my son and future generations have the same opportunities to farm as I do.” 

Beringer-Crock is highly involved in her local community, serving on the Cascade FFA Alumni board, Jones County 4-H Youth Committee, Dubuque County Farmer to Farmer board, and as Vice President of the Jones County Beef Producers group. 

Her innovative approach and dedication to conservation have not only preserved her family’s farming legacy but also earned her the recognition she richly deserves. Her story is an inspiring testament to the power of innovation and resilience in agriculture.

For more information about conservation practices and programs to protect the natural resources on your land, visit your local NRCS office or go to www.nrcs.usda.gov/ia.

• More photos (Flickr)