Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented Evan Brehm, a conservation agronomist with the Iowa Soybean Association, and Liz Hobart, a recently retired government relations leader with Growmark, with the Secretary’s Ag Leader Award – Leader in Conservation during the Iowa Agribusiness Showcase on Feb. 12. The award recognizes people who have demonstrated significant leadership and made noteworthy contributions toward improving water quality throughout Iowa, according to a news release. Brehm is a certified crop adviser who works with ag retailers, farmers and the city of Cedar Rapids to implement conservation practices that contribute to soil health, improved water quality and greater farmer productivity. Hobart served as government relations manager for Growmark since 2013 before retiring and helped develop one of the only Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects led by an ag retailer.