Awards
The Sioux County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) held their annual Conservation Awards Banquet on August 9th, 2023. The Sioux County SWCD holds a banquet each year to recognize landowners and producers who have achieved high standards of conservation work. The following awards were presented:
Taylor Kats was awarded the Outstanding Conservation Farmer Award. This award is given to a farmer who has promoted conservation and demonstrated a commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership. Taylor owns 17.4 acres and rents 402.6 acres west of Rock Valley. He built 2,850’ of terraces in 2002 and actively does a corn-bean rotation, no till and cover crops. He also had a windbreak renovation in 2023 and planted Gray Dogwood, Fiesta Maple and Black Hills Spruce.
Trees Forever League Windbreak Awards are given to farmstead and field windbreaks that demonstrate conservation practices and are aesthetically pleasing as part of the natural landscape. Management and maintenance of the windbreak is also taken into consideration.
Craig and Kim Vander Veen were awarded the 2-5 year Farmstead Windbreak Award. Craig and Kim planted their windbreak in 2019. The west side was planted in the spring and the north side was planted in the fall. they planted Techny arborvitae as their outside row and the interior rows are Black Hills spruce and Norway spruce. This windbreak is located northeast of Hull. Craig and Kim have done a great job in establishing and maintaining their windbreak. It has been a great addition to their acreage.
Ross Kelderman was awarded the 5+ year Farmstead Windbreak Award. Ross’ windbreak was planted in 2011. It is located north of Rock Valley. It is established on the north side of Ross’s acreage. The exterior row is Hybrid Willows, and Black Hills spruce makes up the two interior rows. Ross has kept his trees trimmed and maintained. The windbreak provides an attraction for birds along with slowing down the wind and snow through the winter. Ross continues to do a wonderful job maintaining his windbreak and will reap the benefits for many more years.
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Larry Moss was awarded the 2024 Wildlife Habitat Award. Larry took 46.6 acres of his cropland and restored it to a wetland habitat. He built three berms to hold water and seeded the acres to two different grass and forb seedings. The first seeding targeted the wetter acres, and the second seeding targeted the upland areas of the restoration. All the work was completed in 2021. Now that the cover is well established, Larry has seen an increase in wildlife sightings. Several bird species use the area along with various other wildlife species. This area is located northwest of Sioux Center. It is fun to drive by and see the birds and wildlife that are using this habitat.
Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards
The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards is a joint effort of the Governor, Lt. Governor, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources to recognize the exemplary voluntary efforts of Iowa’s farmers as environmental leaders committed to healthy soils and improved water quality.
It recognizes those that have taken steps in their farming operations that improve or protect the environment and natural resources of our state while also serving as local leaders to encourage other farmers to follow in their footsteps by building success upon success.
As environmental leaders, these farmers have adopted best management practices and incorporated environmental stewardship throughout their farming operations. True stewards of the land, they recognize that improved water quality and soil sustainability reaps benefits that extend beyond their fields to reach the citizens of Iowa and beyond, and have made environmental stewardship a priority on their farms.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Julie Kenney and Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon recognized farm families for their environmental stewardship during a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair. Sioux County recipients for 2023 are Ron & Nancy Vos of Ireton.