News Release

>>click here for the web version of the release

Indianapolis – Sixty-five Indiana farmers from 40 counties were honored today as 2008 River Friendly Farmer award winners at the Indiana State Fair. The ceremony took place appropriately enough on Farmers Day at the 4-H Exhibit Hall auditorium in a ceremony attended by state and federal conservation partners, family and friends.

“As the Indiana State Fair cele-brates the Year of Trees during the fair’s 12-day run, this is a perfect time to recognize Hoosier farmers for the conservation practices they implement day-in and day-out to protect our valuable natural resources,” said Jim Droege, president of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the award sponsor. Thirty-seven of the 65 farmers honored were present for a ceremony today.

“Farmers use many conservation practices to reduce soil erosion on cropland and protect water quality,” Droege said. “Trees also play an important role in the conservation Best Management Practice tool kit as riparian forest buffers to improve water quality, providing critical wildlife habitat areas, and certainly by providing oxygen for all of us. One acre of young trees supplies enough oxygen to keep 18 people alive.

“Perhaps trees’ most important role for farmers and all of us is holding soil in place, providing a key soil erosion prevention tool,” Droege added.

The 2008 RFF recipients are (those with links to photos were present for the ceremony):

>> Click here for a high resolution copy of the group photo above

From the left: Ken Klemme, acting director, Indiana State Department of Agriculture; RFF recipient; Don Villwock, president, Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. (unless indicated below)

1. Adams County, Michael Christianer
2. Benton County, Dale Budreau
3. Boone County, Dan Smith
4. Boone County, Tom Dull
5. Cass County, Robert Carney
6. Clark County, Michael Johnson
7. Clay County, Ken Klemme; William (left) and Victor (right) Morris; Don Villwock
8. Clay County, James Casassa
9. Clinton County, Ken Klemme; Stan (left) and Michael (right) Emens; Don Villwock
10. Daviess County, Bobby Hinkle
11. Dearborn County, Sandra and Ronal Pearson
12. Dearborn County, Ivan Cutter
13. Decatur County, John and Larry Evans
14. DeKalb County, Brian Dunn
15. DeKalb County, Charles Crowl
16. Dubois County, Delbert Himsel, Jr.
17. Dubois County, Brent Wening
18. Elkhart County, Ken Klemme; Clark, Don and Steve Warner, Don Villwock
19. Fountain County, Lee and Betty Williams
20. Gibson County, Tony Wolfe
21. Hamilton County, James Gapinski
22. Hancock County, Tom and Mike Roney
23. Hancock County, Ray Helms
24. Hendricks County, John Hardin, Jr.
25. Howard County, Ronald Newhouse
26. Howard County, David Carter
27. Huntington County, Tom Wall
28. Jay County, Shane Houck
29. Johnson County, Bill Kirklin for Jud and Bill Kirklin
30. Kosciusko County, Ken Klemme; John (left) and Fred (right) Powell; Don Villwock
31. Kosciusko County, Roger Wagoner
32. LaGrange County, Ronald Hostetler
33. LaGrange County, John Wolheter
34. Lawrence County, Mike Scherschel
35. Marshall County, Marc Weissert
36. Miami County, Rick Key
37. Miami County, Morris Day
38. Montgomery County, Robert (Rob) Durrett
39. Noble County, Martin (Marty) Moser
40. Perry County, Ray Flamion
41. Perry County, Paul Hagman
42. Posey County, Betty Mann
43. Pulaski County, Frances Fox
44. Pulaski County, Anthony Kasten
45. Ripley County, William Nuhring
46. Scott County, Steven (Mr. & Mrs.) Broady
47. Spencer County, Keith Wilkinson
48. Starke County, Murray Jain
49. Starke County, Paul Ferch
50. Sullivan County, Ruthann and Jack Robbins / Robbins Family Photo
51. Tippecanoe County, Randy Geswein
52. Tippecanoe County, Joseph and Lorraine Rund
53. Tipton County, Kurt Fettig
54. Vanderburgh County, W. Hahn
55. Vermillion County, Carl Hicks
56. Vigo County, Jack Ross, Jr.
57. Wabash County, Rodney Merrick
58. Warren County, Teri Wargo
59. Warrick County, Joseph Herr
60. Washington County, Jim Purkhiser
61. Washington County, Stephen Trueblood
62. Wayne County, David Drake
63. White County, Larry Williams
64. Whitley County, Chris Long
65. Whitley County, Rick Zorger

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

• Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the state’s 92 county SWCDs,
• Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc.,
• Indiana State Department of Agriculture Division of Soil Conservation,
• Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, and the
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

River Friendly Farmer award recipients are nominated locally by their county Soil and Water Conservation District (click here for a list of District offices).  For additional information on the award, contact the IASWCD at 317.692.7325.

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