(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds will present former Governor Terry Branstad with the Iowa Award next month. It’s the state’s highest citizen honor. Reynolds says Branstad’s commitment to public service is unrivaled and no one is more deserving of the honor. Branstad was the nation’s youngest governor when he was first elected in 1982. In December of 2015, during his fifth term, Branstad became the nation’s longest serving governor.

Branstad chose Reynolds to be his running mate for his 2010 campaign and return to the governor’s office and she became governor when he resigned in mid-2017 to serve as U-S Ambassador to China. Former President Herbert Hoover was the first recipient of the Iowa Award, in 1951.

Former Governor Terry Branstad retired in early 2025 after a two year stint as president of the World Food Prize Foundation. (World Food Prize photo)

Branstad will be the 26th Iowan to receive it. Branstad says he’s honored and very pleased to be named on a list of very distinguished Iowans. Seven of the were named Iowa Award recipients by Branstad during his nearly 22-and-a-half years as governor.

Governor Reynolds will present the Iowa Award to Branstad during a ceremony in the Iowa Capitol on December 11th.