For the Western family, farming is more than a livelihood—it’s a legacy of perseverance, stewardship, and deep-rooted pride. As one of Iowa’s pioneering Black farm families, the Westerns are featured in a new episode of America’s Heartland, produced in partnership with SARE, for their commitment to sustainable agriculture and generational resilience.
Brothers Todd, Christopher, and Adam Western honor their father after his unexpected passing in 2008 through the upkeep of Western Family Farms. Alongside their mother and farm CEO, Barbara Western, the Western family is committed to the longevity of their farm. “That’s my job and my family’s job—to make sure we are good stewards of the land,” says Todd Western III, “to make sure we are setting this up for the next 160 years.”
Their commitment to regenerative farming includes no-till practices, cover cropping, and transforming less productive land into grasslands to both support pollinators and enrich the soil. These strategies reduce the need for chemical inputs, improve water retention, and make the farm more resilient during increasingly common periods of heavy rain and drought.
The Westerns have also enrolled in a carbon capture credit plan that incentivizes activities that reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and improve soil health—generating a new revenue stream while they invest in long-term sustainability.
Their roots in Iowa trace back to the late 1800s, when their ancestors—formerly enslaved people—purchased the land and began farming. Through decades of adversity, including the challenges of being Black farmers in a state that is over 98% white, the Western family has found a place for social sustainability. Todd Western III co-founded the Iowa Farmers of Color to create a support network for farmers of color.
This video is part of an episode of RFD-TV's America's Heartland produced by PBS KVIE highlighting farmers and ranchers who are using sustainable strategies to adapt to challenging weather conditions. View the entire episode at Farming Strategies for Adapting to Extreme Weather.