Several local farmers, producers, land owners, and students were recognized at the Caldwell County Conservation District Annual Awards Banquet Monday night in Princeton.
Conservation District Board Chairman Fred Hart and Caldwell County FFA Members Hannah Greenfield, Jacy Travis, Madi Mason, Madison Crider, and Sidonia Nichols presented over ten awards for achievement in various conservation driven areas over the course of the past year.
The 2018 Master Conservation Award was presented to John and Howard Hughes, uncle and nephew who are adjoining land owners in Fredonia, who teamed up to solve major erosion problems caused by water flowing through both of their properties. To fix the issue, which caused major erosion on both properties, John and Howard installed a 30 foot wide by 700 foot long waterway for better drainage and filled in the various gullies caused by erosion. Both are skilled equipment operators and were able to do all the dirt work themselves with monetary assistance received through the EQIP program. John Hughes received the Master Conservationist Award in 1978 and 40 years later is still going strong and still working hard to conserve his land.
Rob Ziobro, who lives near Farmersville, was the recipient of the Woodman of the World Conservation Award for his work installing a seasonal high tunnel using EQIP funds. The seasonal high tunnel was installed near his home in early July. Ziobro then sowed a cover crop inside to enrich and stabilize the soil until seeding time in the spring, selecting a mix that included Austrian Winter Peas, crimson clover, daikon radishes, and cereal rye. Ziobro also installed drip irrigation for watering and a walkway for easy working access as well as a lighting system that allows work to be done at night.
Two posthumous awards were presented to two very special members of the agriculture community. The first, the Soil Health Hero Award, was presented to Frimon Cook III for his outstanding efforts to improve soil health through seeding of cover crops. Cook, who came from a family with a long tradition of farming, passed in October of 2018. Members of his family received the award on his behalf.
The second was recognition of Wendell Roberts, who served as the secretary and treasurer of the Conservation District Board of Supervisors for more than 50 years, was a faithful Farm Safety Day volunteer, and co-owner and operator of Roberts Farms. Roberts also served as the President of the Caldwell County Farm Bureau and President of the Caldwell County 4-H Council, for which he was a member for 50 years. Newly instated Board Secretary and Treasurer Frank Brown presented a photo plaque to Roberts’ family.
Other awards presented included winners of the Jim Claypool Art & Writing Contest, Emma Ward and Aislinn Wilkerson, winners of the NACD Poster Contest, Lukas Harper and Kelly James, FFA Land Judging award winner Drake McConnell, and honor award winners Dan Stangeland and Ellen Dunning.
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