Meigs Soil and Water Conservation Banquet

POMEROY – Rex E. Shenefield, Langsville, was the surprise recipient of the first-ever Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District’s Lifetime Cooperator Award at the Meigs SWCD annual meeting and banquet held Tuesday night at Meigs High School.

To be considered for this award, a person must have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to conservation as exhibited by long-time cooperation and example, service, education and stewardship, said Meigs SWCD wildlife specialist and watershed coordinator Jim Freeman, announcing the award.

Shenefield, 86, was a member of the Meigs SWCD Board of Supervisors from September, 1960, to December, 1987, and again from May to December, 1991, for a total time of 27 years and 11 months, making him both the longest-serving, and shortest-serving, member of the board of the supervisors.

During those years he played an active leadership role in conservation and agriculture at the county, regional and state level.

He began operations at his Salem Township farm in the late 1940s, starting out dairy farming and then transitioning into grain and livestock, and now mostly raises corn, soybeans and hay.

“Of course it takes a first-rate team to make any venture a success. With his wife and children it has been a family operation literally from day one,” Freeman said.

Shenefield was one of the first farmers in our area to practice no-till agriculture, a method of planting crops that creates less disturbance of topsoil and reducing soil erosion, starting with a two-row corn planter purchased in the early 1960s – which was one of the first no-till planters in the county, Freeman said, adding that Shenefield has practiced no-till farming ever since.

“Even though more than 20 years have passed since he has been on the Meigs SWCD Board of Supervisors, he continues to be a role-model for conservation in the farming community. His farm in Salem Township still boasts conservation practices including grassed waterways, no-till planting, contour farming, and maintaining healthy fertility and pH levels, to name just a few,” Freeman said.

“He continues to support the Meigs SWCD through regular attendance at our annual meetings and as an affiliate member and supporter.”

After announcing the recipient of the lifetime cooperator award, Meigs SWCD Board of Supervisors President Joe Bolin presented Shenefield with a plaque commemorating the moment. The plaque reads “In recognition of more than 50 years of dedicated conservation achievement and service to the Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District and the Meigs SWCD Board of Supervisors, greatly benefiting the soil and water resources of Meigs County, Ohio, for present and future generations.”

Attending with Shenefield were his wife, Catherine, son and daughter-in-law, Carl and Lue Shenefield, daughter Linda Vaughan, and his nephew and farm manager, Brad Emmon.

2014 Cooperator of the Year named

Steve Barnett, Reedsville, was recognized by Carrie Crislip, Natural Resources Conservation Service district conservationist for Meigs County, as the 2014 Outstanding Cooperator.

Over the years, Barnett has displayed his appreciation for his land by ensuring its natural resources are conserved using the best-management practices that are available. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) he has installed over 12,000 feet of pasture division fence and exclusion fence, as well as a watering system with four watering tanks and 2,400 feet of pipeline, Crislip said. Adding that he has also planted 41 acres of pasture.

“He has a forest management plan developed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Foresty and has taken advantage of the opportunity to address items identified within this plan through his participation in EQIP Forestry,” she said. “Through numerous EQIP Forestry contracts, he has completed 25 acres of crop tree release, 27 acres of invasive species control and 44 acres of grapevine control.”

Crislip also commented that there is an abundance of wildlife on the property and that Barnett also participates in the Conservation Stewardship Program which rewards landowners for continuing to do a good job with conservation.

Barnett was accompanied by his wife, Allison, and Crislip was assisted in the presentation by Jake Bodimer, representing Farm Credit Services.

In addition action, Trevor Flint, Racine, was named the 2014 Meigs SWCD Volunteer of the Year.

Flint, a senior at Ohio University, volunteered throughout the summer and assisted in a variety of functions ranging from educational programs and camps to water quality monitoring in Thomas Fork.

Hunter, Bentz elected to board

Tonja Hunter, Racine, was reelected to the Meigs SWCD Board of Supervisors while Keith Bentz, Racine, was elected to serve a three-year term on the board commencing Jan. 1, 2015.

Hunter was raised in Meigs County around the Racine area and has been associated with farming all her life. She graduated from Southern High School in 1983. She is the daughter of Ronald and Janice Salser of Racine and is married to Dr. Douglas Hunter. They reside on a 180 acre hay farm on Bashan Road. She has participated in the Conservation Reserve Program and the Forestry Environmental Quality Incentives Program. She has been a member of the Meigs SWCD Board of Supervisors since January, 2006, and has also served on the Farm Service Agency County Committee, and is a member of the Racine Area Community Organization.

Bentz is currently a full-time mechanic for Karr Contracting, and he and his wife, Becky Lee Bentz, operate the Lee Farm located on Bashan Road near Racine. The Lee Farm has been in the same family since settlement times. The farm is used in the production of beef, hay and small grains. Bentz has participated in U.S. Department of Natural Resources-Natural Resources Conservation Service programs including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and stewardship programs. He is also a former Outstanding Cooperator of the Year for the Meigs SWCD.

The third candidate was Adam Woirol, Dexter, owner and operator of Dexter Run Farms.

The Meigs SWCD, established in 1943 is a legal subdivision of state government that provides natural resource management assistance to county landowners and other units of local government. The district is funded by the Meigs County Board of Commissioners, and county funds are supplemented by funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The district is governed by a five-member board of supervisors, all county residents. Board members serve staggered three-year terms. Current supervisors also include: Bill Baer, Racine; Joe Bolin, Rutland; Ed Gibbs, Racine, and Kim Romine, Pomeroy.

The banquet and meeting also featured annual hay show and soil judging awards as well as presentations about SWCD activities and programs. Additional stories will follow.