EXHIBIT 10x


Date                          PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL

Name
Address



Re:  HON INDUSTRIES Inc. Stock-Based Compensation Plan
     Stock Option Award Agreement

Dear :

Congratulations on your selection as a Participant in the HON
INDUSTRIES Inc. Stock-Based Compensation Plan (the "Plan").  This
Agreement provides a brief summary of your rights under the Plan. 
A copy of the Plan Document accompanies this Agreement.

The Plan provides a complete detail of all of your rights under
the Plan and this Agreement, as well as all of the conditions and
limitations affecting such rights.  If there is any inconsistency
between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan,
the Plan's terms shall completely supersede and replace the
conflicting terms of this Agreement.

The option granted to you under this Agreement is a Non-Statutory
Stock Option, as defined in the Plan.


Overview of Your Stock Option


1.   Number of Shares Granted under this Option:  

     The Human Resources and Compensation Committee will review
     recommendations for additional grants in _______ and every
     two years thereafter.


2.   Date of Grant:


3.   Exercise Price:  


4.   Vesting of Options:  Subject to the terms of the Plan,
     100% or any portion of the Shares covered by this option
     may be purchased on or after ____________.


5.   Method of Exercise and Payment:

     Shares may be exercised by written notice to the Company
     specifying the number of whole shares to be purchased. 
     The method of payment may be by any of the following
     methods:

     (a)  Cash payment;
     (b)  Delivery of previously owned whole shares of common
          stock, which had previously been held for six months;
     (c)  Authorization to the Company to withhold whole shares
          of common stock equal to the aggregate purchase price
          due at exercise;
     (d)  Cash payment by a broker-dealer acceptable to the
          Company; or
     (e)  Combination of (a), (b), and (c).




Name
Date
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6.   Expiration Date of Option:  


7.   Non-Transferability of Options:

     During your lifetime the options shall be exercised only
     by you.  No assignment or transfer of options, whether
     voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or
     otherwise, can be made except by will or the laws of
     descent and distribution or pursuant to beneficiary
     designation procedures approved by the Company.


8.   Termination of Employment:

     (a)  By Death or Disability:  Shares which are vested as
          of the date of Death or Disability may be purchased
          until the earlier of: (i) the expiration date of this
          option; or (ii) the first anniversary of the date of
          Death or Disability.  Shares which are not vested as
          of the date of Death or Disability shall immediately
          terminate, and shall be forfeited to the Company.

     (b)  By Retirement:  Shares which are vested as of the
          date of Retirement may be purchased until the earlier
          of:  (i) the expiration date of this option; or (ii)
          the third anniversary date of Retirement.  Shares
          which are not vested as of the date of Retirement
          shall immediately terminate, and shall be forfeited
          to the Company.

     (c)  For other reasons:  Shares which are vested as of the
          date of termination of employment may be purchased
          until the earlier of:  (i) the expiration date of
          this option; or (ii) the end of the thirtieth day
          following the date of termination of employment
          (except in the case of termination for "Cause," in
          which case, no additional exercise period shall be
          permitted beyond the date of termination).  Shares
          which are not vested as of the date of employment
          termination shall immediately terminate, and shall be
          forfeited to the Company.


9.   Change in Control:

     In the event of a Change in Control, all shares under this
     option shall become immediately vested 100 percent, and
     shall remain exercisable for their entire term.



Refer any questions you may have regarding your stock option to
Jeffrey D. Fick, Vice President, Member and Community Relations.





Name
Date
Page 3


Please acknowledge your agreement to participate in the Plan and
this Agreement, and to abide by all of the governing terms and
provisions, by signing below, and return the original signed
letter to Jeffrey D. Fick, Vice President, Member and Community
Relations, in the enclosed self-addressed envelope; please make a
copy of the letter for your files.

Once again, congratulations on the receipt of your stock option
award.

Sincerely,




Jack D. Michaels
Chairman, President and CEO

Enc.







********************************************************************





       HON INDUSTRIES Inc. Stock-Based Compensation Plan

                    Agreement to Participate

     By signing a copy of this Agreement and returning it
     to Jeffrey D. Fick, Vice President, Member and
     Community Relations, I acknowledge that I have read
     the Plan, and that I fully understand all of my
     rights under the Plan, as well as all of the terms
     and conditions which may limit my eligibility to
     exercise this option.  Without limiting the
     generality of the preceding sentence, I understand
     that my right to exercise this option is conditioned
     upon my continued employment with the Company.


     ____________________________________      _________________
     Name                                      Date