The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) serving South Dakota has jointly awarded the Spink County Conservation District (CD) and the Roberts CD the 2022 Excellence in Cooperative Conservation Award for their conservation outreach.
The Excellence in Cooperative Conservation Award highlights an individual or group's capability to communicate, grow, and innovate to conserve South Dakota's natural resources. "This award showcases the best efforts of our partners taking the lead locally and working with NRCS to implement conservation practices across the state. Education and outreach are the first step to voluntary conservation, and these districts have excelled in spreading our shared conservation message," said South Dakota State Conservationist Tony Sunseri, Huron.
The Spink County CD has been an active voice for conservation for many years, sponsoring Soil Health Bus Tours, working on a regenerative ag demonstration farm, and Annual Soil Health Winter Workshops for producers. The district was also crucial in the nomination of the 2019 Leopold Award winning Johnson family, who have participated with their workshops as well. "The Spink County CD has been a leading voice in conservation across the state. They have effectively collaborated not only with the NRCS, but many other soil health experts and organizations to display the importance of conservation," said Shane Jordan, Resource Conservationist, Clark.
The Roberts Conservation District began its partnership with Ducks Unlimited (DU) in 2017 due to the need for outreach to producers interested in soil health practices. The agreement between the district and DU assisted with the sizable Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) and Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) workload in the county. The agreement secured over $325,000 in funding that will continue into 2023 and allowed the Roberts CD to hire a technician to work with the NRCS and DU and promote conservation. The agreement includes a full public relations campaign with tours and other outreach to producers. "The partnership with DU has brought much needed expertise and funding to producers and is a model for other conservation districts. I expect this partnership to continue successfully well into the future" said Glacial Lakes Resource Unit Conservationist Kent Duerre.
"The NRCS congratulates these powerful voices for conservation in South Dakota and will continue to join them in advocating for conservation around the state," said Sunseri.
The awards were presented to the districts at the South Dakota Association of Conservation District's Annual Conference in Oacoma.
Categories: South Dakota, Government & Policy