News : Soil & Water Conservation Achievements in Benton County

Larry Cherveny and Harold Cassens

Mr. & Mrs. Homer Showman, Kyle Schminke and Haorld Cassens.

Nick Wallace, Harold Cassens and Steve Wallace

The Benton County Soil & Water Conservation District is proud to participate in the Iowa Conservation Award Program each year. This program recognizes outstanding producers who incorporate various and innovative conserving practices in their farming operations. The program is sponsored by the Conservation Districts of Iowa and the State Soil Conservation Committee. The Benton SWCD Commissioners toured the farms of nominees in June, and made their winning selections.

In the Landlord/Tenant Division, Homer Narber Farms with Kyle Schminke as operator was selected as the District winner for 2012. Homer Showman and his family operated this family farm, and were one of the first county operators to incorporate No Till Planting systems in 1983. They have installed many CRP contracts using Native Prairie Grasses and some trees. Operator Kyle Schminke has worked on this farm since he was 18, and now handles the planting and harvest operations. He has faithfully continued the soil conserving practices, and has added several other management practices that protect our water resources.

The Wallace Family farm was chosen as the District’s winner in the Family or Owner Operated Division. This 160 acre farm has almost been “re-made”. The farm has initiated a grass fed beef operation and has established a rotational grazing paddock system. They also use innovative forages in their rotations of the paddocks to provide both summer pasture and winter feed. About half of the farm has been certified for organic production, and that includes some corn and soybeans. They market their specialty products here in Iowa and in Chicago.

Larry Cherveny asked for assistance from the Benton SWCD office to plan a new windbreak for his farmstead in 2002. He worked with our technical staff to develop a design that would work, and established a windbreak that would protect his home and buildings, help conserve energy and provide habitat for songbirds. Mr. Cherveny has taken very good care of that windbreak, and this year the Benton SWCD Commissioners chose it as the District winner of the Izaak Walton Windbreak Award.

Congratulations to all our award winners this year! We want to recognize their efforts to preserve and protect our natural resources here in Benton County.