From left to right, Shelleen Hatch, Kerrigan Hatch, Shelton and Mitchell Hoefling and their daughter Hadley pose for a photo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Thursday afternoon after receiving one of the six “The Way We Live” awards presented to Iowa farm families in 2025. PHOTO BY ROBERY MAHARRY

DES MOINES — When Kenneth Hatch passed away at the age of 56 in March 2024, the loss left a massive void in the hearts of his loved ones and friends, and it also raised questions about the future of his first generation family farm located west of Gladbrook along the Tama/Marshall/Grundy County line. But his wife Shelleen, daughters Shelton and Kerrigan and son-in-law Mitchell Hoefling knew they wanted the legacy to continue and stepped up to make it happen.

On Thursday, Aug. 14 at about noon, the Hatch family was presented with one of six “The Way We Live” awards for 2025. The award is sponsored by Iowa Farmer Today and WHO Radio as a recognition of Iowa farm families “who have demonstrated their dedication to agriculture and strong Iowa farm values.”

During the ceremony, the award presenter read a summary of why the family was recognized, noting that the new farming team is “learning something new every day, making decisions as a team, but continuing the dream of their husband, dad and father-in-law.” Shelton (Hatch) Hoefling, a 2015 G-R graduate who recently moved back to Gladbrook along with Mitchell and their young daughter Hadley, works full-time as a district field manager for the Iowa Corn Association, while Kerrigan Hatch, a 2020 BCLUW High School graduate, lives in the Des Moines metro area and volunteers with the Animal Rescue League.

“Ken’s family couldn’t stand the thought of giving up everything he had worked so hard for throughout his life, and they continue to take what Ken taught them and apply it to the farming operation. They believe you have to live/breathe farming to be successful and can’t imagine living any other life,” the presenter said. “Although Shelleen, Shelton and Mitchell only have one full year of farming under their belts, they continue to improve their technology, equipment and knowledge to take the farming operation to the next level. They choose to live this way to honor Ken, provide for their family and to give the next generation an opportunity to farm and to feed the world.”

After the ceremony had concluded, members of the family spoke to the newspaper in more detail about how they picked up the slack when Kenneth passed and why they’re so proud to carry the farming tradition forward.

“It took a lot. Mitchell and I were living in Sioux City at the time. We knew Dad was getting pretty sick, so we had a couple weeks to kind of get our stuff together, get moved, buy a house and then also try to learn as much as we could from my dad in a short two weeks,” Shelton said. “In his mind, he didn’t want to share a whole lot because his thought was ‘Why would I have to share if I’m gonna be around the next 10 to 20 years?’ But it really took all of us — I mean, Kerrigan, my mom, Mitchell, myself, our employees, we all had to step up, and we just had to do it. I mean, we didn’t know what to expect.”

Mitchell, who had grown up on a cattle farm in northwest Iowa near Hinton that he’s still involved with, was no stranger to agriculture himself, but row crops were a brand new game. Shelton sees the award as a worthy recognition of Kenneth’s years of hard work making the farm what it is today.

“It means a lot, and we’re looking at it as an awesome way to remember my dad and all the hard work that he’s put into the farm and everything he had accomplished in his life so far. And we are so proud that we’re able to continue everything that he has built up, and we’re gonna keep doing that and hopefully keep growing and learning,” she said.

Shelleen acknowledged that the Hatch family’s story is unique because Kenneth was the first generation to farm their land.

“A lot of these farms have been (in families for) years and years and years, and this wasn’t. He built it until he was 56 years old, and now it’s us and we hope it will be here for Hadley too,” she said.

When asked what advice they would give others who are just getting started in farming, Shelleen gave a simple answer that was fitting considering the name of the award.

“I wouldn’t want to raise my family any other way. They’ve grown up showing sheep, showing cattle and on the farm, and to me, it’s just a whole different life. And the work ethic and the things that they learn day-to-day are amazing,” she said.