Conservation farm family awards honor Ohio's best

Oct 10, 2023

On September 21, in London, Ohio, the Farm Science Review turned into a recognition platform for Ohio's conservation champions. The state's Department of Agriculture awarded five families, acknowledging their conservation endeavors that go above and beyond.

The honored families hail from various counties across Ohio and have been instrumental in their relentless efforts in conserving soil, water, woodlands, and wildlife. This list of environmental stewards includes names like the Rethmel family of Defiance County, the Miller duo from Columbiana County, the Verhovec family from Jefferson County, the Clark pair from Miami County, and the Wickerham brothers of Adams County.

Initiated in 1984, this award program has consistently highlighted the hard work of Ohio's farm families in sustainable agriculture. Apart from their conservation efforts, these families also prioritize education. Their farms frequently host educational programs, introducing diverse groups to the nuances of conservation and sustainable farming practices.

Adam Sharp, a leading figure at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, emphasized the families' role as examples for the entire state, drawing a bridge between rich soils and a thriving Ohioan food ecosystem. As a token of appreciation, each family was awarded $400 and a dedicated feature in the Ohio Farmer magazine's September edition, a publication that has backed these awards since their beginning.

With an annual call for nominations, the award program seeks to discover and honor more such dedicated families each year, keeping the spirit of conservation alive in Ohio's vast agricultural landscape.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.