News : Benton SWCD Announces Award Winners

Commissioner Robert Ritscher presents award to Dustin Kaestner

Tim Bahr accepts the District Award from Commissioner Harold Cassens

Commissioner Henry Wehrman presenting the Award to Elmer Scheetz

The Benton County Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners are happy to announce their Winners in Conservation Achievement for 2014. The Benton SWCD Commissioners toured the farms of nominees in June and made their winning selections. This program recognizes outstanding producers who incorporate various and innovative conservation practices in their farming operations

In the Landlord/Tenant Division, the Benton SWCD Commissioners selected Dustin Kaestner as the District Winner. He operates 160 acres owned by Albers, Spratte, Rhinehart & Kaestner. He uses a corn-bean rotation on this farm with reduced tillage methods. He also has been very proactive using cover crops which help reduce erosion, improve water quality and soil health. He has been a leading innovator to introduce these practices to other farmers in the area.

Tim Bahr was chosen as the Owner –Operated District Winner by the Benton SWCD Commissioners for 2014. His 260 acre farm is in a corn-bean rotation with both crops no till planted. He also uses contouring and cross slope row patterns established by his father. Extensive field borders and waterways are also well maintained. All these installed practices reduce soil loss and help protect his farm

Thirteen years ago, Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Scheetz established a beautiful windbreak to protect their new home site. The windbreak includes a row each of arborvitae, pine and spruce trees. It has been tended and maintained very well and in a short span of years provides incredible protection to this hill top home. The Benton SWCD Commissioners were very impressed with this windbreak when they selected it as their District Winner in the Izaak Walton Windbreak Award program.