The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) has named David and Darla Ebersviller and Family of Vergas as one of eight Area Finalists in the 2006 Outstanding Conservationist Award Program. The Ebersviller's will be recognized at a Dec. 5 luncheon at MASWCD's 70th annual convention in Bloomington. The awards program recognizes farm families, individuals, conservation organizations, and other groups for their accomplishments in implementing conservation practices and improving Minnesota's natural resources.
Of the eight finalists, one will be announced as the State's Outstanding Conservationist of the Year at the Dec. 5 luncheon.
"We're proud of David & Darla Ebersviller and Family for what they've done in conserving our natural resources in our area," said Lyle Dittmann, supervisor of the East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District, which nominated the Ebersvillers for the award. "It's great to be able to recognize the work they've done locally. They've provided a wonderful example for Dave operates a dairy farm and has recently constructed two compost barns eliminating his open feedlots and all the runoff to protect a wetland and small stream near the feedlot. Dave participates in the Conservation Reserve Program with nearly 70 acres of riparian buffer strips and 90 acres of rare and declining habitats. He has planted over 40,000 trees on these contract acres. Dave also has a forest management plan on 140 acres of his woodland and has practiced some selective harvests to maintain the health of the forest. They have a good rotation of Corn, Alfalfa and Oats and Dave has brought the erosion on his highly erodible fields to below T using the rotation and residue management, Lyle said.
MASWCD, with support from The Farmer Magazine, sponsors the Outstanding Conservationist Award Program.
