Owner-operator connection has stood the test of time

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 21 February 2012 16:33

Dale and Jean Anderson’s relationship with the family of their operator, Kim Koop, goes back two generations. John “Dale” Anderson and wife Jean of Canton share a long tradition on their land farmed by Kim Koop of Hillsboro.

The Andersons are 2012 Banker Award winners for soil conservation with the Marion County Natural Resources Conservation Service District.

Koop somewhat shares the honor as farm operator, dating back through decades in that relationship with the Andersons begun by Koop’s father, Bennie.

The land is something drivers on U.S. Highway 56 see all the time just past the water tower west of Hillsboro. But Koop said the 154.5 acres of cropland—situated in the northeast quarter of the section west of the tower running along the highway—with brome grass waterways— may not stand out to passersby.

Anderson said...

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A lot of progress made in one year

Written by Kevin Hower Tuesday, 21 February 2012 16:33

Banker Award winner Terry Vinduska completed a large amount of soil conservation structures in one year. Terry Vinduska has adapted to being an innovator. He has extended his business flexibility both in putting soil conservation structures on his family’s farm land west of Pilsen, and in creating a risk-abating family farm corporation.

He has been recognized for building a large amount of soil conservation structures in only one year on his family’s land with a 2012 Banker Award from the Marion County Natural Resources and Conservation Services District.

In awarding Vinduska, NRCD described his activity this way: “He started with a plan to eliminate the ditches, and constructed 21.4 acres of grass waterways.

“When the waterways were established, 36,360 feet of gradient terraces and 1,952 feet of diversion terraces were...

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Soil conservation a priority early in Deines’ farm career

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 21 February 2012 16:32

Mervin Deines, shown here with wife Leona, has been farming in the same location for almost 76 years. “I still feel like I’m 50,” he says. Mervin Deines may hold a Marion County record for farming the same place for 76 years.

That happens to be his age. He lives where he was born on 350th Road in the Ramona community, and he said, “I’ve been farming since I could start walking.”

Deines and wife Leona are Marion County Continuation Award winners for the Natural Resources Conservation Services.

Deines not only started building terraces and waterways early in his career, but has continued doing so—and has rebuilt them as necessary.

According to NRCS, Deines “started his farming career with soil conservation as a priority, building terraces and waterways. As his operation expanded, he continued to add conservation practices.

“He earned this award because he...

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Class a resource for raising students’ awareness of ag

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 21 February 2012 16:26

Michelle Carlson of Hillsboro, a second grade teacher at Hope Elementary School, talked at Saturday’s annual banquet about taking the course, “Connecting Your Classroom to Kansas Agriculture.” More than 100 people attended the Marion County Conservation District’s 66th annual dinner and meeting Saturday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion.

In addition to poster contest presentations and recognizing conservation award recipients, Michelle Carlson of Hillsboro talked about her experiences in “Connecting Your Classroom to Kansas Agriculture,” along with providing a slide show.

Carlson, a second-grade teacher at Hope Elementary School, thanked the district for providing a scholarship for her to attend the five-day class last summer.

“It was an awesome class,” she said, “and I have a short snippet of what we did and some of the ways we are incorporating (what was learned) in the classroom.”

The class...

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Wheat looking OK in western Kansas

Written by John Schlageck Tuesday, 31 January 2012 15:24

A recent swing through northwestern Kansas reveals a winter wheat crop that looks really good. Stands are uniform, the color is a dark green and even with the mild temperatures so far this winter, most of the wheat has not grown too quickly and may escape the specter of winter kill.

Even in southwestern Kansas, that region of the state hit the hardest last year, the wheat crop looks good. Favor­able growing conditions began the end of September and early October when this year’s crop was being planted.

Rains from 3 to 6 inches were reported in much of southwestern Kansas, although some of the cropland near Elkhart, Sublette, Satanta and Meade didn’t receive plentiful rainfall.

A similar weather pattern swept through this part of...

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