2013 awards banquet held

The Lincoln County Conservation District held their annual awards banquet at the new Sprague Emergency Response Center Thursday, March 13. The evening began at 5:30 p.m. with a short social hour. LCCD board of supervisors chairman Mike Carstensen gave a welcoming speech, County Commissioner Mark Stedman performed the invocation and Good Ol' Boys BBQ provided the dinner.

During the meal, the LCCD acknowledged conservation efforts by 2013 Farmer of the Year recipients, Harding Farms and Hirst Farms, Inc. The 2013 Conservation Service Awards were presented to Sharon Buck, David Lundgren, Tom Schultz and Tom Platt for their dedicated years of conservation effort.

Harding Farms operates a primarily low-rainfall dryland farm, with two or three rotations for grain crops. Crops are planted by using a minimum till conventional system, and also a direct-seed system. They raise and sell alfalfa hay and have some interest in a small registered cattle operation.

Hirst Farms, Inc. is primarily involved in a direct-seed, wheat-fallow system and has occasionally used alternative crops and cattle. They are very proactive with waterways, have established wildlife habitats and developed a living snow fence with the LCCD.

David Lundgren is a former LCCD employee, ending with 18 years of employment under his belt. He started work in Davenport for Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) for four years and then was transferred to NRCS in Walla Walla. After wanting to come back to the Davenport area, Lundgren started his position for the LCCD and eventually retired in December 2013.

Tom Schultz is a former LCCD board of supervisors' member and served 30-plus years on the board. He has enjoyed his time on the board and will miss being an active part of the LCCD. He will continue to serve on various community organization boards, as he remains semi-retired from the family farm.

Tom Platt served as the Livestock Production agent for Washington State University Extension in Lincoln County, as well as surrounding counties. Platt retired from WSU in 2013, but continues to perform agriculture conservation on his land. Platt adopted no-till for crop rotations in 2006, and his conservation goal is to leave more options for the next land steward than were available to him when he started.

Sharon Buck was honored for her many years of conservation services to the community. Buck worked for the LCCD for 11 years, always providing farmers with a friendly welcome.

The banquet began around 8 p.m., and the evening continued with more socializing.