Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Award Program

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1 Annual Award Program NEWS RELEASE - For immediate release Contact: Sheila Vanney, MASWCD Assistant Director, EIGHT NAMED AS FINALISTS FOR STATE S 2016 OUTSTANDING CONSERVATIONIST AWARD ST. PAUL The (MASWCD) has named the finalists for the state s 2016 Outstanding Conservationist Award. The winner will be announced at the 80 th annual MASWCD Annual Meeting, set for Dec. 4-6 at the Doubletree by Hilton Bloomington - Minneapolis South in Bloomington, Minn. The award program recognizes farm families, individuals, conservation organizations, and other groups for their accomplishments in implementing conservation practices and improving Minnesota s natural resources. The program is sponsored by MASWCD, with support from The Farmer magazine. Editors and news directors are encouraged to follow up with the Soil and Water Conservation District contacts listed for feature and interview opportunities. The information was gathered from the nomination forms submitted to MASWCD by individual conservation districts. The finalists are: MASWCD Area Finalist Nominating SWCD SWCD Contact Northwest Area 1 Toussaint Farms Wahpeton ND Wilkin SWCD Don Bajumpaa (218) West Area 2 Rick and Marlene Schlichting Rice MN Benton SWCD Gerry Maciej (320) Northeast Area 3 Page Township Milaca MN Mille Lacs SWCD Susan Shaw (320) Metro Area 4 John Hickey Prior Lake MN Scott SWCD Troy Kuphal (952) Southwest Area 5 Jack and Sara Weber Hendricks MN Lincoln SWCD Pauline VanOverbeke (507) South Area 6 Jim Krahling, Krahling Farms Lake Crystal MN Blue Earth SWCD Jerad Bach (507) Southeast Area 7 Dan and Donnella Griffin Spring Grove MN Root River SWCD David Walter (507) North Area 8 Jim and Audra Chamberlin, Island Lake Farm Deerwood MN Crow Wing SWCD Melissa Barrick (218)

2 Annual Award Program Northwest Area 1 Toussaint Farms, Wahpeton ND nominated by Wilkin SWCD SWCD contact: Don Bajumpaa, (218) Background on Toussaint Farms: Doug and Liz Toussaint and their family operate Toussaint Farms. The Toussaints grow corn, soybeans, barley, wheat, reed canary grass, and hay. They participate in several conservation programs including Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentive Program and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. The Toussaints are successfully transitioning their farm from conventional till to no-till. They also plant cover crops to improve soil health, reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. The Toussaints recognize the importance of pollinator habitat and have established pollinator plantings around the perimeters of many fields. The Toussaints are ambassadors for conservation and soil health and share what they learn with others. West Area 2 Rick and Marlene Schlichting, Rice MN nominated by Benton SWCD SWCD contact: Gerry Maciej, (320) Background on the Schlichtings: Rick and Marlene Schlichting farm 6,300 acres in Benton and Morrison Counties with 5,800 acres irrigated for edible beans, corn, potatoes, alfalfa and rye. They also raise 900 sows and 22,000 butcher hogs a year. Some of the practices that the Schlichtings have implemented include converting irrigation systems to low pressure and completing irrigation water management on all 65 irrigation pivots they operate. They plant nutrient management test plots, installed a 7,920 foot buffer on Little Rock Creek, built a composting facility for the hog barns, and have completed prairie restorations. The Schlichtings often implement practices on their own to meet their personal goals and those of the community, bringing a positive public image of agriculture.

3 Annual Award Program Northeast Area 3 Page Township, Milaca MN nominated by Mille Lacs SWCD SWCD contact: Susan Shaw, (320) Background on Page Township: Page Township has designed their Township Community Park to act as a demonstration of best management practices for soil, water and habitat conservation. The Township has installed a large rain garden, planted trees and established a half acre prairie next to their picnic grounds. These projects demonstrate the value of native plants, water quality protection, habitat restoration, and pollinator habitat. Volunteers from the township installed the native plants and trees and held a seed harvesting event that enabled township residents to plant pollinator habitat on their own properties. Page Township continually works to enrich their community by providing a place to gather and recreate that teaches conservation values and restoration techniques. Metro Area 4 John Hickey, Prior Lake MN nominated by Scott SWCD SWCD contact: Troy Kuphal, (952) Background on John Hickey: John Hickey is a fifth-generation farmer near Prior Lake. His 150 acre farm has a combination of tillable land, native prairie, wetland, and woodland areas. Just this year, John completed a 24.2 acre prairie restoration on land that was previously being cropped, saving 98 tons per year in soil loss. Since 2007, he has completed numerous conservation projects including native grass buffers, critical area plantings, 47 total acres of prairie restoration, and 23 acres of wetland restoration. Combined, these efforts have saved a total of 748 tons of soil, 374 tons of sediment, and 430 pounds of phosphorus per year. With nature as his partner, John hopes his ancestors would be pleased to see the homestead today.

4 Annual Award Program Southwest Area 5 Jack and Sara Weber, Hendricks MN nominated by Lincoln SWCD SWCD contact: Pauline VanOverbeke, (507) Background on Jack and Sara Weber: Jack and Sara Weber operate a livestock/grain farm raising corn, soybeans, small grains, cover crops, along with rotationally grazed pasture for the cow/calf operation. In their twelve years of farming, the Weber s have planted windbreaks, restored wetlands, retired sensitive lands into the WRP/RIM program, added rotational grazing systems and converted from strip tillage to no-till farming. They are also the first in Lincoln SWCD to be certified under the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. The Webers see first -hand how soil health practices, such as diverse crop rotation with cover crops, benefit their operation. A few of the benefits include increased yields, extended grazing periods, wildlife habitat and water infiltration. To quote Jack, soil health practices have made the farm operation better and better is good for everyone! The Webers are outstanding stewards of the land. South Area 6 Jim Krahling, Krahling Farms, Lake Crystal MN nominated by Blue Earth SWCD SWCD contact: Jerad Bach, (507) Background on Jim Krahling, Krahling Farms: Jim Krahling is a 4th generation farmer and operates almost 700 acres. Krahling Farms incorporates conservation into many areas of their operation that includes a strip till/ridge till system and split applying nitrogen fertilizer in 3 separate applications. In addition to tillage and nutrient management, Jim is incorporating cover crops that overwinter into his operation to build soil health, installing alternative tile intakes, and establishing filter strips to reduce phosphorus and sediment loading downstream. Krahling Farms was also one of the first operations in Blue Earth County to become a water quality certified farm through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program.

5 Annual Award Program Southeast Area 7 Dan and Donnella Griffin, Spring Grove MN nominated by Root River SWCD SWCD contact: David Walter, (507) Background on Dan and Donnella Griffin: Dan and Donnella Griffin operate a diversified crop and livestock operation where they raise corn, soybeans, oats, and hay along with cover crops in addition to grazing a herd of 35 stock cows and 14 horses. They retain their calves and raise them on the feedlot before selling them at finished weight. The Griffins have owned their farm since 1972 while running two businesses which recently have been sold. Over the years they have installed several water and sediment control basins that collect up-land runoff from numerous waterways and contoured crop land. They have also installed practices to repair sinkholes and pond banks in addition to implementing many other BMPs. The woodlands, CRP, and cropland provide an excellent habitat for the many deer, turkey, and other native creatures found in Houston County. The Griffins are active in their community and believe in the value of family, community, and conservation. North Area 8 Jim and Audra Chamberlin, Island Lake Farm, Deerwood MN nominated by Crow Wing SWCD SWCD contact: Melissa Barrick, (218) Background on Jim and Audra Chamberlin: Jim and Audra Chamberlin own and operate Island Lake Farm, a 107 acre diversified farm and forestry operation where they raising vegetables, livestock, fruit and mushrooms. The farm is located on a natural environment lake in Deerwood, MN where Audra predominantly cares for the animals and homestead while Jim is an expert in soil health, erosion control and woodland management. Jim and Audra have influenced and shared their love of conservation and the outdoors with their 9 children, 11 grandchildren and others in the community. The portion of the farm that lies on a designated wild rice lake is nearing completion of an 82-acre perpetual conservation easement. The Chamberlin s are exceptional stewards of the land, active in local and regional organizations and have careers that improve conservation efforts in the area. ###