Submitted article
The Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) presented the outstanding cooperator award, and the Lake Erie buffer award at their 68th annual meeting held on September 10th.
The district thanks the Affiliate Members for their donations to the district for conservation programs and for co-sponsoring the annual meeting this year. An excellent charbroiled pork chop dinner was catered by Port-a-Cook of Lucas, Ohio. The SWCD conservation report slide show ran throughout the dinner hour.
The 2013 outstanding cooperator award was presented to Rietschlin Family Farms – Tom and Deb; Brian, Jennifer, Eric, Maria and Tim. Crawford SWCD teamed up with Ag Credit to sponsor the award which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the conservation of our natural resources.
Tom constructed his first waterway on his own 40 years ago. Over the years they installed and maintained many practices on their own; practices such as ditch buffers, woodlots, fencerows which are now called shelterbelts, a water and sediment control basin, and nutrient management practices. Tom Rietschlin has been a cooperator since 1975 participating in various USDA programs such as the installation of subsurface drainage, many waterways, a couple rock chutes, cover crops, and highly erodible land conservation plans which include no-till and minimum tillage. They participated this past year in the Loss Creek nutrient reduction demonstration grant planting cover crops, and installing a drainage water management system.
Tom Rietschlin remarked when informed that he was chosen to receive the award this year, “I am honored. We have always tried to take care of the land. The whole family has contributed equally to our conservation efforts.”
The buffer award is sponsored by the district and the Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in recognition of the conservation efforts of landowners to protect and enhance Ohio’s soil and water resources. The district recognized Mark Schanzenbach.
Mark planted his Mom’s and Aunt’s Lake Erie CREP field windbreak and hardwood trees. He also assisted with wetland restoration practice and the native grass buffers that were enrolled in 2008. Mark installed a grassed waterway to stop gully erosion, planted a tall grass prairie, hardwood trees; and installed a wildlife water hole through the Conservation Reserve Program. This year he developed a forestry management plan; and he is working on a Wetland Reserve Program wetland for next year.
Mark thanked the SWCD for the award and remarked, “I could not have done it without the help of the staff at the SWCD office. They are always very helpful whenever I call with a question.”
Nathan Brause and Tom Miller were re-elected to the Crawford SWCD Board of Supervisors for three year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Supervisors are public officials responsible to the people of Crawford County. They serve in a voluntary capacity and are responsible for directing the activities, programs, and financial resources of the Crawford SWCD.
Past Supervisor Tom Brause was recognized for his three years of service to the SWCD with a photo certificate of appreciation.
Nathan Brause rounded out the evening with a slide show of his farmer-to-farmer mission trip to Liberia, Africa sponsored by the Eastern Ohio Conference of United Methodist Church. Nathan spoke of the many personal interactions with the people of Liberia which were very interesting and informative.
Visit Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District’s facebook page to view photos of Mark Schanzenbach’s and Rietschlin Family Farms conservation practices as well as annual meeting photos.
Contact the Crawford SWCD office at 419-562-8280 to find how we can assistance with your natural resource conservation efforts.