News Release

From the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

For Release:           Thursday, August 16, 2007

Contact:                 DeeDee Sigler, Communications Manager, 317.431.6098, deedee-sigler@iaswcd.org

Seventy-six Indiana Producers Honored as 2007 River Friendly Farmer Award Winners

Indianapolis – Their conservation plans include no-till farming, water and sediment control basins, filter strips, grassed waterways or other best management practices that allow them to manage their farms as one applicant said “in a way to address all resource concerns… from soil erosion on cropland, to water quality…to wildlife habitat.” Their ultimate goal is to preserve and protect Indiana’s natural resources for their own family farm and for future generations.

They are the 2007 recipients of the River Friendly Farmer Award – an annual honor presented by the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) and its 92 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). The award is a joint venture with Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. and the ISDA Division of Soil Conservation. Forty-eight of the 76 farmers honored were present for a ceremony held yesterday at the Indiana State Fair on Farmers’ Day and Purdue Day.

“Our recipients understand that a clearly defined conservation plan translates into tremendous savings in many important areas,” said IASWCD President Jim Droege, a Posey County farmer. “Most important, is the protection conservation practices provide to our soil and water resources. Conservation management also can translate into long-term and short-term savings on a farmer’s bottom line, and eligibility for cost-share dollars to put more conservation practices on the land.”

Droege was joined today at the ceremony by Indiana State Conservationist Jane Hardisty, who greeted RFF recipients and their families.  “NRCS is proud to work with these stewards of the land, and have the opportunity to recognize them today,” said Hardisty.  “These farmers are setting an example of leadership by ensuring conservation is a part of their operation to protect the future of our natural resources.”

Indiana Farm Bureau President Don Villwock also addressed the audience. Villwock, a Knox County corn and soybean farmer, presented certificates to each of the 2007 River Friendly Farmer award recipients. “Farmers know how critical our water resources are,” said Villwock. “Today’s award winners prove once again that farmers are at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Farmers have been, and will always be, our first and best conservationists.”

Assisting Villwock with the presentation duties was Tammy Lawson, Director of the ISDA Division of Soil Conservation. Lawson farms with her family in Boone County.  “I see conservation applied every day in my work at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and through personal experience on my farm. I applaud these winners who understand that conservation is simply both a sound ethical practice and smart business management,” Lawson said.

The 2007 RFF recipients present for the ceremony were:
High resolution digital photos of these recipients can be downloaded from the Web at http://www.iaswcd.org/district_tools/RFF/rff2007.html.

 

1.      Adams County, Phillip Eicher

2.      Allen County, Richard Crowl

3.      Boone County, Dan Threlkeld

4.      Cass County, James Miller

5.      Clay County, William Loughmiller

6.      Clay County, Henry and Pat Buell

7.      Clinton County, Jerry and Alan Ostler

8.      Clinton County, Richard Smith

9.      Daviess County, Dennis Walton

10.  Decatur County, Jon Martin

11.  DeKalb County, Richard and Dean Malcolm

12.  Gibson County, Larry and Roger Michel

13.  Hancock County, Kenny and Jeff Phares

14.  Hendricks County, Michael Starkey

15.  Huntington County, Roger Irick

16.  Jay County, Tom and Matt Johnson

17.  Jay County, John and Dan Hoffman

18.  LaGrange County, Danny Young

19.  LaGrange County, Ralph Ziebell

20.  Lawrence County, David Lee

21.  Madison County, Dr. Phillip Shirley

22.  Marshall County, Thomas Watkins

23.  Martin County, Ernest Lewis

24.  Miami County, George Conrad

25.  Miami County, Sid Kubesch

26.  Noble County, Dexter Lutter

27.  Ohio County, Roy, Gene & Larry Elliott

28.  Posey County, Priscilla Kelly

29.  Pulaski County, Carol Croell

30.  Rush County, Marlin and Luanna Newkirk

31.  Scott County, Randy Mace

32.  Spencer County, Raymond Kern

33.  Sullivan County, Larry Hunt

34.  Tippecanoe County, Paul Ade

35.  Tipton County, George Tebbe

36.  Tipton County, Warren and Judy Baird

37.  Vanderburgh County, Alan Stahl

38.  Vermillion County, Carl Swinford

39.  Vigo County, Barrett and Carolyn Piety

40.  Wabash County, Jim Dale

41.  Washington County, Marilyn Day representing husband, James

42.  Washington County, Michael Ponsford

43.  Wells County, Steven Shaw

44.  White County, Carl Zarse

45.  Whitley County, Danny Wilkinson

 

 

Those RFF recipients who could not attend the ceremony were:

 

 

46.  Cass County, Dean Hartley

47.  Crawford County, Donald Daugherty

48.  Dearborn County, Marshall Alford

49.  DeKalb County, Wayne Smith

50.  Elkhart County, Steve Showalter

51.  Elkhart County, Joe Brown

52.  Fayette County, Bart Pitstick

53.  Franklin County, Martin Harmeyer

54.  Hamilton County, John and Charles Davis

55.  Hamilton County,  Harold Pitts

56.  Howard County, Shane Campbell

57.  Knox County, Henry Matick

58.  Knox County, Clem Witteried, Jr.

59.  Kosciusko County, Shannon Amiss

60.  Kosciusko County, Donald Buhrt

61.  Madison County, Ronald Filbrun

62.  Montgomery County, Jeff Lough

63.  Noble County, Randy Lutter

64.  Owen County, Douglas Dyer

65.  Orange County, Aaron Johnson

66.  Perry County, Bruce Miller

67.  Perry County, Fred and J. B. Etienne

68.  Pike County, Larry Adams

69.  Pike County, Denny and Craig Weisman

70.  Shelby County, Michael Steinbarger

71.  Starke County, Rex Ochs

72.  Starke County, Robert White

73.  Warrick County, Gerry Howard

74.  White County, John Demerly

75.  White County, Troy Furrer

76.  Whitley County, Kenneth and Mike Juillerat

 

The River Friendly Farmer Award is sponsored and supported by the:

 

River Friendly Farmer award recipients are nominated locally by their county Soil and Water Conservation District.  For additional information on the award, contact the IASWCD at 317.692.7325.

 

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