Conservation Leaders Honored by Ashland Soil and Water

This year has been a year for the record books for Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). From winning national and state recognition fro programming growth and excellence to the challenges of COVID-19, the one thing that hasn’t changed is the commitment to the conservation of soil and water resources by Ashland SWCD’s board members, staff, volunteers and farmers.

In recognition of that commitment and dedication, Ashland SWCD recently announced it’s 2020 award recipients: Josh and Lindsay Welch of Sycamore Valley Farms, Dale and Beth Barr, and Kathy Kreiling.

“The soil and water resources of Ashland County are so vital and important, both to the Mississippi and Lake Erie watersheds, and we are honored to be able to recognize five outstanding individuals this year for their roles in protecting those resources,” said Jane Houin, Ashland SWCD program administrator. “You could search far and wide and not find anyone more committed to conservation than these five individuals, and we’re fortunate that they call Ashland County home.”

Josh & Lindsey Welch of Sycamore Valley Farms were named Cooperator of the Year for their outstanding work in developing productive, rational pasture systems for their Scottish Highland cattle.

Although they have only been farming for a little over four years, Houin said selecting Sycamore Valley Farms and Josh and Lindsey Welch as the Ashland SWCD Cooperator of the Year was an easy choice for the board. This award honors those who work with the soil and water conservation district to implement conservation practices in their operation to protect soil and water resources.

In their four years of farming with Scottish Highland cattle, the Welches have grabbed on to conservation practices and opportunities with both hands according to Justin Ringler, Ashland SWCD chairman. The Welches were the first producers in the county to work with Ashland SWCD, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to implement an exclusion fencing project on their farm designed to keep their cattle out of the stream and protect and preserve water quality.

“Our initial goal here was to invest in our soil and heritage breed animals,” said Lindsey. In addition to the Scottish Highland cattle, the Welches have added heritage poultry and Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs to their operation. Her goal is to develop their pastures so that the livestock can graze at least nine months out of the year.

“I think this all came about when we stopped in at the soil and water conservation office and Jane suggested we go to a pasture walk,” said Josh. “So we went to a pasture walk with Bob Hendershot, former state grazing conservation specialist. We ended up going to another pasture walk in about two weeks, and really got hungry to get after this.”

The Welches had Hendershot to their farm to provide personalized advice through his consulting business.

“He liked what we were doing, but we were basically doing it on such a small scale with so many animals that we really weren’t doing the land its justice,” said Josh. As a result, they’ve worked to convert hay ground to pasture and implement rotational grazing.

“One of our goals is to get to the point where Bob brings people here to see how pastures should look,” said Lindsey.

Dale Barr, shown here with retired Ashland SWCD technician Bob Kerr, spent many years serving the citizens of Ashland County as a Natural Resources Conservation Service employee based in Ashland

Beth Barr spent many years as an SWCD program manager and later a board member; she and husband Dale received the 2020 Horizon Award.

In addition to Cooperator of the Year, Ashland SWCD also recognized Dale and Beth Barr as the 2020 Horizon Award winners. The Horizon Award honors someone who was a pioneer in conservation in Ashland County. The Barrs have worked with Ashland County landowners for many years in their roles as employees of the Natural Resource Conservation Service and Ashland SWCD. Most recently, Beth served as an SWCD board member as well.

“Not only are Dale and Beth passionate about soil and water conservation In our county, but they also hold a special place in their hearts for Ashland SWCD’s Hazel Willis Woods property near Mifflin,” said Ringler. “When we contacted Dale and Beth to share they would be receiving this award, our board wanted to name one of the trails in the woods in their honor. In true Barr-family fashion, they have asked that Trail 2 be renamed Walter’s Walk in honor of Walter Willis.”

Kathy Kreiling was named volunteer of the year for her tireless commitment to mailing our quarterly newsletter The Steward.

And finally, the Ashland SWCD board named Kathy Kreiling as their 2020 Volunteer of the year.

“Kathy has been a tireless volunteer for our district and instrumental in allowing us to bring back our quarterly newsletter The Steward,” said Ringler. “Kathy has not only volunteered countless hours to fold and prepare our newsletters for mailing, but she has also recruited and coordinated a brigade of volunteers to make the job go faster.”