Posted on August 8, 2013 at 11:46 PM by Global Reach
Craig and LaVon Griffieon of rural Ankeny have been involved in Polk County 4-H for many years. Both are 4-H alumni and former club leaders. Three generations of the Griffieon family have been involved with The Ankeny 4-H Club. Craig's father served as leader for the Ankeny Boys 4-H Club which Craig attended as a youth. This club later on would become the Ankeny 4-H Club. LaVon served as club leader for 16 years, guiding and assisting club members on projects ranging from cooking, sewing and conservation to visual arts. Craig shared his knowledge of agriculture by helping the 4-H youth develop their skills in raising livestock such as cattle, hogs and poultry. The Griffieon’s are always in attendance at the Polk County Fair livestock auction at the conclusion of each fair. They donate trophies, ribbons and their willingness to help and support 4-H members of Polk County.
Pride in 4-H, FFA and agriculture have been passed from Craig and LaVon to their 4 children. Autumn Griffieon Ogden and her husband live nearby to help on the farm. Nick is a personal agronomist and continues to help on the farm. Phillip actively farms with his parents near Ankeny and Julia will be a junior this fall at Iowa State University majoring in Agricultural Studies. The children were involved in all aspects of 4-H, Polk County Fair and North Polk FFA. With this background the Griffieon family farming tradition should be easily handed from 6th to 7th generation.
Craig and LaVon farm row crops and raise livestock on their century farm just north of Ankeny. They are the fifth generation to farm the land and their children will be the sixth. Their Limousin beef herd stock has been on the farm since 1960. They display their stewardship of environmentally safe food practices by producing meat with no added hormones, is antibiotic-free and humanely raised. Beef and garden produce are sold from the family farm at the Uptown Ankeny Farmers Market every summer.
It is an honor for Polk County to be recognizing Craig and LaVon Griffieon for induction into the 2013 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.
Categories: Polk
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