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Sheffield Today
By the People, for the People
Iowa Farmer Wins Free No-Till Drill for a Year
Dean Markwardt's name was drawn at the National No-Tillage Conference, landing him the use of a brand new no-till drill.
Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:15am
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A coveted prize at the National No-Tillage Conference, a new no-till drill can revolutionize a farmer's operations and adoption of sustainable practices.Sheffield TodayAt the National No-Tillage Conference, attendees eagerly awaited the drawing for a free one-year use of an Art's-Way United Farm Tools no-till drill. When Frank Lessiter, the editor and publisher of No-Till Farmer, announced the winner as Dean Markwardt of Sheffield, Iowa, Markwardt was in complete shock. Markwardt had been discussing changing up his planting approach with a friend, and now he had the opportunity to try out a new no-till drill for free.
Why it matters
The National No-Tillage Conference is a major annual event for the no-till farming community, drawing attendees from around the world. Winning the free use of a no-till drill for a year is a highly coveted prize that can make a significant difference for a farmer's operations and adoption of new techniques.
The details
After Lessiter drew Markwardt's name from the fishbowl, Art's-Way vice president Terry Yarns coordinated with David Almquist from Petersburg, Illinois to get the new 15-foot no-till drill delivered to Markwardt. Markwardt was able to try out the new equipment and evaluate whether it would be a good fit for his farm's needs.
- The National No-Tillage Conference took place last winter.
- Markwardt's name was drawn as the winner during the conference's closing banquet.
The players
Frank Lessiter
The editor and publisher of No-Till Farmer, the magazine that hosts the National No-Tillage Conference.
Dean Markwardt
A farmer from Sheffield, Iowa who won the free one-year use of an Art's-Way no-till drill at the conference.
Terry Yarns
The vice president of Art's-Way Manufacturing, the company that provided the no-till drill as the prize.
David Almquist
The person from Petersburg, Illinois who coordinated the delivery of the no-till drill to Markwardt.
What they’re saying
“I was in complete shock when I won. It's funny because I have a friend that shares planting responsibilities with me and we were talking about doing things differently this spring. But that night, when Frank pulled my name out, we were both stunned. I kept thinking, 'What am I going to do with this no-till drill?'”
— Dean Markwardt, Winning Farmer
What’s next
Markwardt was able to try out the new no-till drill on his farm for the full year and evaluate whether it would be a good long-term investment for his operation.
The takeaway
Winning a free piece of high-quality farming equipment for a year can be a game-changer for a farmer, allowing them to test out new technologies and techniques that could significantly improve their operations. Events like the National No-Tillage Conference provide valuable opportunities for farmers to learn and potentially win transformative prizes.
