ABOVE LEFT: Elle Guetterman, a first grader at Marion Elementary School, was the first place poster contest. As part of the ceremony, she, and the second and third place winners, hold up a conservation T-shirt during the 73rd annual meeting and dinner of the Marion County Conservation District on Feb. 23 at Eastmoor United Methodist Church. ABOVE CENTER: Second place poster […]

Greg Bowers, board chairman, left, presented Damien Svitak the Conservation District Service Award. “The fun part of being on the board is getting to know many of the men and women for conservation,” Bowers said. “We would like to present an award to one of our members who wasn’t able to serve any longer, and to let him know we […]

Tyler Ottensmeier, left, presents operator Rodney Suderman and sister Karen Penner of Newton the Kansas Bankers Association Award in Soil Conservation. Patty Decker/Free Press Representing the Marion County Bankers Association, Tyler Ottensmeier, Citizens State Bank in Goessel, said he’s been honored to go on tour with Matt Meyerhoff, conservationist, Doug Svitak, conservation technician, and Ricky Roberts, K-State Research and Extension […]

Peabody landowners Gladys and James Preheim, front, presenter Bruce Schroeder, left, and Wes Shaw and Randy Preheim, operators, accepted the Continuation Conservation Award.Patty Decker/Free Press The Continuation Conservation Award was presented to landowners James and Gladys Preheim of Peabody, and Randy Preheim and Wes Shaw, operators, during the Feb. 28 annual meeting of the Marion County Conservation District. Bruce Schroeder, […]

Myka Amos, foreground, Jeremiah Nienstedt, Gabriela Nienstedt and Logan Amos, all from the Marion area, enjoyed building lakes, hills, and other terrain on the Augmented Reality Sandbox on loan from Eureka during the 73rd annual Marion County Conservation District meeting and dinner. Patty Decker/Free Press Matt Meyerhoff, the NRCS supervisory district conservationist, said he encourages both children and adults to […]

Matt Meyerhoff, NRCS supervisory district conservationist in Marion, Rice and McPherson counties, provided updates on what’s been happening with conservation practices. Meyerhoff said he was also impressed with the turnout at the 73rd annual meeting of the Marion County Conservation District. Patty Decker/Free Press “The year 2018 was successful as far as practices actually applied to the land,” said Matt […]

More than 100 ranchers, landowners and people interested in protecting wildlife and the environment, attended the 71st annual meeting of the Marion County Conserva­tion District Feb. 24 at East­moor United Methodist Church in Marion. In addition to the annual poster contest, a new contest was added. Jackie Hett presents the first-place award in conservation photography to Karsen Kroupa. This was […]

Prior to the evening program, participants at the 71st annual meeting of the Marion County Conservation District enjoy their meal, which was provided by the Marion County Bankers Association and the MCCD. More than 125 producers, award winners and poster contest recipients attended the 71st annual meeting of the Marion County Conservation District on Feb. 18 at Eastmoor United Methodist […]

Making improvements, not just maintaining Continuation award Charles D. and Catherine DeForest were honored for the many years of improving their level of conservation on their land. Charles D. and Catherine DeForest are the recipients of this year’s Continuation Award. They previously won the Soil Conserva­tion Award in 2002 for work done across their farm. Since that time, Chuck and […]

Kindergarten through First Grade Alexandra Carson, first place Shelby Summerville, second place Brylee Smith, third place 4-6 Grade Winners Luke Isaac Seth Driggers, second place Colton Rempel, third place