Partners in Conservation

Steven and Shirley Rose 

The Blue Earth County SWCD is recognizing and would like to congratulate Steven and Shirley Rose of Amboy for their ongoing conservation efforts on their farm. Most recently, the Roses built a grass waterway to help reduce soil erosion. Many BMP’s have been installed on their farmland throughout the years including several terraces and grass waterways. They farm land along a ditch and feel that conservation is necessary for reducing soil erosion in the field and for improving water quality in our rivers. The Roses have a true passion for wildlife and enjoy seeing pheasants utilize habitat on their property. They spend the rest of their time being actively involved in the community when not working on the farm, and feel that conservation is necessary for the future of productive lands.

Source:  Blue Earth SWCD  http://blueearthswcd.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WEBSITE_2011OutstandingConservationist.pdf

Jean Hatch Family 

Fox Lake Conservation League

The Fox Lake Conservation League Inc. was founded on April 11th of 1950. The purpose of this corporation was to promote conservation of Natural Resources of the State of Minnesota and more particularly to fish game and other wildlife. The plan was to promote education of the public in conservation of natural resources; to propagate fish and game; to maintain and provide facilities for the propagation and maintenance of game and fish in the State of Minnesota. The principal place where the activities of this corporation shall be in Martin County.

 Source:   Fox Lake Conservation League   http://www.foxlakeconservation.com/

SHEEK Incorporated

SHEEK, Inc. is comprised of Dale Schumann, Doug Hartke, Tim Eisenmenger, , Rod Eisenmenger, Scott Kittleson, Tim Nelson, and Milt Smith. They have utilized the Reinvest In Minnesota (RIM) program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service easement programs to establish and permanently protect wildlife habitat on approximately 425 acres of marginal land that they own. They have established 32 acres of trees and shrubs, restored 165 acres of wetland and planted almost 23 acres to native prairie.

They serve as officers for Fox Lake Conservation League, Ducks Unlimited and Friends of the Windom U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Through various fundraisers and charitable gambling they provide funds back to the community for habitat and numerous other community projects and activities.

Source:  Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts   https://www.maswcd.org/Award_Program/2010_awards/news_release_outconfinalists.pdf 

Gerald Lorenz

Gerald Lorenz is a great advocate for local source native prairie species. He has collected seed and propagated thousands of local ecotype prairie vegetation. Gerald owns and manages 285 acres of cropland. He requires his tenants to use no-till on hills and vulnerable soils and seeds cover crops himself. He is the first in the County to require soil health practices as part of his land rental agreement. Gerald keeps 5 bee hives and is passionate about honeybees and pollinators. Gerald has worked with the district on multiple Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and other projects. Gerald is always willing to try something new, evidenced by his tile water treatment project, pulling tile water to the surface using a windmill, then treating the water with a series of wetlands.

 Source:  Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts https://www.maswcd.org/Award_Program/2018_awards/news_release_outconfinalists.pdf

Fairmont Lakes Foundation

With the Chain of Lakes being one of Fairmont’s most noticeable and flattering assets, it’s important to do what we can to maintain and enhance them. Fairmont Lakes Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed to promote the stewardship of Fairmont’s lakes.

Its general purpose is to lead and educate the community and its visitors to take responsibility for the quality and care of the city’s lakes while increasing awareness of the need to preserve and enhance the value of these natural resources.

Mike Katzenmeyer is the chair of the Fairmont Lakes Foundation. He spoke to the Fairmont City Council on Monday and shared a little about how the foundation really took off.

In 2011 he saw Albert Lea had received a grant for $600,000 for improvements in their lake. He went to Martin Soil and Water to see if they could access grants for Fairmont Lakes and they applied for a fresh water grant from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. With the grant, the fresh water society put on workshops in Fairmont that were available to all lake associations.

“In 2012 we decided we needed to reconstitute the lakes foundation and in 2013, we amended the bylaws to allow 11 board members and membership was extended,” Katzenmeyer said.

Right now, it’s $50 for an annual membership and $500 for a lifetime membership. The money goes toward the foundation’s various projects. Katzenmeyer estimated the group has 90 annual members and 30 lifetime members.

“We remain the lone advocate voice for our reservoir and advocacy is a work in progress,” Katzenmeyer said.

Katzenmeyer said the foundation funds a brochure in the visitors guide, which is distributed to all rest areas on I90. He said the brochure is good advertising for Fairmont’s lakes.

They also fund a brochure which includes their mission statement and facts about all five of Fairmont’s lakes, including the size and depth of each, boat access points, fishing pier locations and the fish in each lake.

Katzenmeyer said while water quality improvement is a main focus of the foundation’s, carp abatement has been another top focus.

“Through the DNR, we have planted over 3,000 sunfish in this reservoir. Sunfish eat carp eggs and at the time when we were talking about a decimation of our Northern population here in our reservoir because of the pollution of Dutch Creek, which was a main spawning bed for our Northern population, we had almost zero apex predators in the lakes,” he explained.

Katzenmeyer said they made a plan with the DNR to stock the lakes with 314 muskies every two years.

“We will continue to do that until the surveys the DNR does show the muskie populations has taken hold,” Katzenmeyer said.

He said he continues to get good feedback from fishermen in the area.

“Another thing we’ve wanted to try to do is educate people in Fairmont that live on the lake to the value of shore and vegetation,” Katzenmeyer said.

He said Martin Soil and Water can help people if they want to put in bulrush and other shoreline vegetation. He said shoreline vegetation not only protects the shoreline from erosion, but also provides habitat for panfish so they can continue to feed on carp eggs.

Several years ago, the Fairmont Lakes Foundation won $50,000 in a contest that Michelob Golden Light did.

“Fairmont got behind this. One night Dan Danks at the Channel Inn set up computers at the bar and customers came in and all voted for Fairmont and we won that thing throughout the whole state,” Katzenmeyer said.

With the money, Katzenmeyer said they purchased a fishing pier to put in at the south end of Amber Lake, a dock to put in at the north end of Hall Lake and a dock for Bird Park.

“Part of our mission was to increase accessibility for people who don’t have boats but live in town, visit town and want to use the lakes,” Katzenmeyer said.

They have also put in the kayak kiosk at Gomsrud Park by Budd Lake and several kayak launches, one on Amber Lake and one on Budd Lake.

“All these projects couldn’t have happened without the support of the city and the council,” Katzenmeyer said.

The Foundation typically does two lake clean-ups a year, one in the spring and one in early fall. The city donates trucks to haul away the debris collected and Katzenmeyer said Pheasants Forever always brings 20 to 30 people to help. Other volunteers typically show up as well.

“The lake clean-ups were a necessity we put into place because of battling generational littering,” Katzenmeyer said.

Unfortunately, Katzenmeyer said they have taken water softener tanks, a paddle boat, tires and other large debris from the lakes. He said there’s still a car body on the east shore of Budd Lake that’s likely been there for 80 years.

Katzenmeyer talked about a study the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency did, which Martin County participated in, that was released in 2020. A key finding was the high nitrate level in Dutch Creek. Katzenmeyer said Dutch Creek watershed has listed impairments dating to 1998.

Dutch Creek starts in Welcome and goes across ag land and brings with it a mix of nitrates phosphates and silt. Dutch Creek enters Hall Lake and the silt deposits create a sand bar.

An upstream project is happening now where a holding pond is being put in. Katzenmeyer said the DNR is helping with the project so that spawning beds don’t get disrupted.

However, Katzenmeyer said nothing has been done downstream at the mouth where it enters the lake, which is the issue. Katzenmeyer said several years ago, a hydrologist for the DNR came down and inspected the site and said the area could be dredged out at the mouth after permits were applied for.

Without being dredged, stagnant water will gather and spawn into blue green algae, which can be poisonous to people and fatal to animals.

As for ways people can aid the Fairmont Lake Foundation, Katzenmeyer said, “that’s easy, we need to keep the lakes as a priority to the leaders in the community because they are the greatest asset that we have in the city. They’re a fantastic draw for Fairmont and fantastic recruiting tool for Fairmont. Our mission is to try to get people to respect that and be good advocates for the lakes.”

Source:  Fairmont Sentinel  https://www.fairmontsentinel.com/news/local-news/2021/08/27/lakes-foundation-promotes-stewardship/

Krusemark Farms

Rochelle Krusemark farms in Martin County with her husband, Brad, son, A.J., and A.J.’s wife, Maria, and their three sons, Titus, 6, Zeke, 5, and Silas, 3. The Krusemarks raise soybeans, corn, vegetables, and forages/pastures. They have a cow/calf operation and custom feed pigs. They use no-till and strip-till methods.

 Source:   Ag Update  https://www.agupdate.com/minnesotafarmguide/news/producer_reports/planting-moves-along-quickly-for-krusemark-family/article_b785ec38-b72b-11eb-8a63-433069b70579.html

Bryan and Linda Gregor

The Gregors are committed stewards, extremely active in conservation and exceptional leaders in the community. Between Bryan and Linda they are actively involved in 12 organizations throughout Martin County. The Gregors have planted farmstead shelterbelts and restored marginal land into native prairie and wetland restorations. The Gregors’ see first-hand benefits of conservation on their land.

Native grasses and trees provide valuable habitat for wildlife. The Gregor’s are outstanding stewards of the land and believe in making what they have better for future generations to enjoy

 Source: https://www.maswcd.org/Award_Program/2012_awards/news_release_outcon_statewinner_and_finalists.pdf 

Darwin and Sandy Roberts

Darwin and Sandy Roberts have a long history of implementing innovative conservation practices on their farm and have won numerous awards. They were recognized and interviewed by the National Network of Conservation Districts for their conservation stewardship.

"We work with our four grown children (three daughters and one son) in a farming partnership of 800 acres of corn/soybean and pork production. I am a third-term elected Martin SWCD Supervisor. I have been a Farm Bureau member for over 40 years, have served over 30 years on the County Board of Directors for the MN Corn & Soybean organizations, on the County Water Plan Board since helping with its creation in the 1980’s, and on a Policy Board of a (10) county watershed (GBERBA) Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance. I am also involved in research projects with the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in the areas of water quality, nutrient management and biomass production. In July 2014, I was certified through the Minnesota Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) for my farm management practices. MAWQCP is a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agriculture landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices that protect our water, and in turn obtain regulatory certainty for a period of 10 years.

Soil health practices on our operation include the use of cover crops—including cereal rye, radishes, clover and brassicas—aerial seeded in standing beans and corn in late August. To allow for maximum cover crop growth and excellent spring re-growth of cereal rye, we do not engage in fall tillage.

We no-till soybeans when planting into cornstalks and do burn- down prior to planting corn. We also use control drainage structures, bioreactors and water retention ponds/sediment basins to store nutrient enriched water, which is used later in the growing season by sub-irrigating into drain tile systems.

We maintain 50-foot buffers along waterways, including saturated buffers along streams, and have installed vertical drop (Hickenbottom) inlets with broom or straw inserts in 1-Rod (16 1/2) buffers along county drainage ditches on farmland. Currently, we are collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Corn Growers and the University of Minnesota on installing more saturated buffers along stream-banks to remove excess nutrients from surface water discharge.

We also allow State and Federal Agencies to do research on stream bank restoration, silt retention and turbidity issues in streams adjacent to my cropland, and host numerous field days and bus tours throughout the year to provide agency researchers time to educate and showcase new conservation and soil-health programs."

Source:  National Association of Conservation Districts   https://www.nacdnet.org/soil-champs/north-central/darwin-sandy-roberts/

Maday Family Farms

Maday Family Farms traces its history to Joseph Peter Maday who was born in 1838. Joseph and his wife, Josephine and their two children came to America in 1881. The family settled on a farm in Cook County, Ill., in 1886 and three years later moved to Silver Lake Township in Martin County. In the following years, eight more children were added to the family.

After generations of the family farmed in Martin County, Joseph Peter’s great-great-grandson, Louis Malcom Maday, farmed the family’s land with his wife, Marvis and their 17 children: Barbara, Richard, Thomas, Marsha, Jeanne, Dianne, Mary Pat, David, Jennifer, Margaret, Nylene, Brenda, Lori, an infant son that passed away, Elizabeth, Louis John and Darren.

Richard started farming with his dad in 1972 and today, brothers Richard, Darren and Louis operate Maday Family Farms. Their father retired in 1987. Together, the families farm about 5,500 acres of corn, sweet corn, and soybeans in Martin County. The families also have several contracts for nursery and finishing hog barns.

Richard and his wife, Joanne, have five children: David, Anna, Sarah, Robert and Emma. Louis and his wife, Amy, have three kids: Sean, Lucas and Amber. Darren and his wife, Tevi, have three children: Jessica, Kjersti and Tristan. Joanne, Amy and Tevi are also involved in the daily operation of the farm with varying responsibilities. David, Robert, Sean, Lucas and Tristan are the sixth generation of the family involved in the operation, maintaining equipment, planting, harvesting, trucking and marketing. They also started a manure drag line business called the Southern Minnesota Pumping Company.

The seventh generation of the Maday family is quickly growing up. David and his wife, Bethany,  have two children. Robert and his wife, Clarissa, have four kids. Sean and his wife, Rachel, have two children. Lucas is engaged to Brooke with two kids. And Tristan is married to Kenlie.

Maday family members try to get together as often as they can to discuss what needs to get done and plan for the future. They strive for safety and efficiency. Members of the family are involved in a variety of organizations including the Minnesota Corn and Soybean growers associations, Martin County Pork Producers, Ducks Unlimited and Knights of Columbus. Darren serves as mayor of Granada.

 Source:   Fairmont Sentinel  https://www.fairmontsentinel.com/news/local-news/2022/07/28/madays-honored-as-farm-family/

   http://ksum.com/martin-county-farm-family-of-the-year-named-by-u-of-m-extension/ 

 https://m.facebook.com/MinnesotaPF/photos/chapter-of-the-week-martin-county-chapter-of-pheasants-forever-49-chartered-in-1/2477004859003271/ 

Bob and Kay Bogan Family 

Received the Faribault County 2010 Oustanding Conservationist Award.

 Source:  Faribault SWCD https://www.co.faribault.mn.us/swcd/services/pages/outstanding-conservationist-award

Dave and Mike Mathews 

Received the Faribault County 2011 Oustanding Conservationist Award.

 Source:  Faribault SWCD https://www.co.faribault.mn.us/swcd/services/pages/outstanding-conservationist-award

Deb Mosloski

Deb Mosloski was the Martin County SWCD Outstanding Conservationist of the Year award winner in 2015. Deb was the Martin County Drainage Administrator for many years, and was instrumental in leading the County through the redetermination of benefits process on public drainage systems. Deb has been a spokesperson representing Martin County for redetermination of benefits throughout the state of Minnesota. She has spoken to many groups about the benefits of redeterminations, and buffer strips. Deb’s excellent working relationship with agriculture, conservation groups, and all agencies involved with drainage.

Source:  Martin SWCD  https://www.fairmontphotopress.com/uploads/2/3/6/1/23619394/jan2716.compressed.pdf

J Ace Farm Erdahls and Alfords

Jim and Lisa Erdahl grow corn and soybeans in the Blue Earth River watershed in southern Minnesota. J-Ace farms now includes the fifth generation with daughter Katie and husband Matt Alford, along with their two children. Lisa and Katie run the office or drive equipment, and both work off the farm in health care. Average yields of corn and soybeans are consistently good on their 1,320 acres. Since the 1970s, land stewardship has become essential to their system. Considering impacts on the community and future generations is also a strong value. Matt explains their farming system, why they adopted soil building practices along with observed benefits, and how they are thinking about diversifying the corn and soybean rotation by integrating grazing cattle.

 Source:  U of M Forever Green Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxLNnxB3jQ8  

Faribault County Soil Health Team

Formed in 2016, the Soil Health Team is a landowner driven/SWCD coordinated and created group.  The small network of local farmers has members geographically located throughout the county as well as representation from all aspects of farming.  Soil Health Team members not only implement soil health practices on their own land, they conduct soil health outreach in their communities by hosting field days, demonstration sites, speaking at conferences and meetings, giving interviews, and planning workshops.  Each year team members create a soil health plan, setting goals for educational events, funding opportunities, and project implementation.  Through this collaboration, they are able to amplify their voices and play a key role in driving a countywide movement to improve soil health.

Source:  Faribault Soil Health Team  https://www.co.faribault.mn.us/swcd/services/pages/soil-health-team

Faribault County Ditch 62  landowners

This 700-acre watershed that drains into the Blue Earth River had a tile outlet that was in poor condition, damaged, and failing in many areas.

To find a solution for a damaged tile outlet, a partnership was developed among the Drainage Authority, Faribault County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and a landowner who offered a grassed swale site that was ideal for bioreactors. ISG designed three bioreactors into the drainage repair to maximize the efficiency of nitrate reduction while also meeting the time limitations for water storage. Each bioreactor is 135 x 25 x 5 feet deep and is aligned with tile so each can be filled consecutively once capacity is met. This increases effectiveness as more peakflow from the system is treated. A stormwater quality unit was also installed to remove sediment and debris prior to entering the bioreactors. This water quality project did not take land out of production and utilized grant funding.

Source:  ISG  https://www.isginc.com/portfolio/faribault-county-ditch-no-62-1

Archie and Denise Kluender

The Kluenders transitioned their entire 42-year-old farm to organic. They have a number of conservation practices implemented on thier farm. Some of those practices include; steep slopes planted with alfalfa and grass, windbreaks, grass waterways and buffer strips and bringing in bee hives. All of these practices are something they have done on their farm for a number of years, but it was in 1996 when they made the switch to organic. It took them three years to transition before they could sell organic. There are certain crop rotations to follow and they can only use approved organic seeds, fertilizers and other organic approved products. Their farm, which is 700 acres, contains crops such as alfalfa, buckwheat, oats, corn, food grade peas, rye and vetch.

 For more information: https://www.faribaultcountyregister.com/news/local-news/2016/01/24/kluenders-recognized-as-outstanding-conservationists/ 

   Source:  https://templatoradmin.azurewebsites.net/Uploads/documents/31/ALSH-Organic-Winter18.pdf

Eric Volsen 

Eric Volsen and his father, Ron, farm near Walters, Minnesota. They grow corn, soybeans and recently implemented small grains back into the rotation after 20+ years without them. Eric grew up on the farm and has been farming full time since high school. His mechanics degree along with Ron’s agronomy and seedsman background help the two maintain the farm. The past few years have been a transition for their farm. Their first real look at cover crops was an involuntary push that would later turn into a goal-driven practice for Eric. In the past few years, Eric has implemented covers and no-till practices on his farm. Looking at the science behind soil has driven the urge to become more than a dirt farmer. “The soil health practice has always made sense,” Eric says. Wanting to improve the operation without sacrificing income has been a challenge. Starting small but aggressive has given Eric the confidence to try more each year, currently covering most of his acres and working on his dad to try more.

Using soil health as the driver, Eric has become passionate and progressive with farm decision making and planning. Eric says “it’s like breathing new life into my operation, something new and exciting to obtain focus and drive for doing better. It’s been a mentally tough road. Initial thoughts can creep in and convince you you’re doing something wrong,” but Eric is moving forward. With his outgoing personality, he continues to learn and grow. Seeing the potential in new practices drives Eric and his operation to look at more than past habits for future success.

Source: MPR News https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/09/28/underwear-soil-health

Brush Creek & County Ditch 64

Faribault SWCD and Drainage Department have partnered to identify the most critical locations to cost effectively implement best management practices in a targeted drainage system within the Brush Creek subwatershed, County Ditch 64 (CD64). This project, in combination with an awarded federal grant, will provide cost share to implement 20 near system and upland BMPs in CD64 including but not limited to: 14 grade stabilization structures (including 2 alternative side inlets), 5 grassed waterways, and 1 water and sediment control basin. The 20 high priority critical resource points will reduce loading to CD64 by 176 tons of sediment per year and 203 pounds of phosphorus per year. Source: Faribault County & SWCD  https://www.legacy.mn.gov/projects/cd64-brush-creek-sediment-reduction-strategy 

Krusemark Farms

Krusemark Farms has been named the Martin County Outstanding Conservationist of 2019. Krusemark Farms is a Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certified operation. Brad, Rochelle, AJ and Caleb are great advocates of water quality and soil health. The Krusemarks utilize a wide array of best management practices on their 1,700 acres of cropland and are passionate about the use of cover crops to improve soil health. They utilize cover crops as cattle feed for their rotationally grazed cow-calf operation of 150 head. The Krusemarks are improving soil health on their cropland through the use of cover crops, strip tillage and crop rotation. Rochelle is on the United Soybean Board, Soy Nutrition Institute, US Farm Ranch Alliance, State Soybean Research and Promotion Council and a board member of the Martin County Corn and Soybean Growers Group.

Source:  Martin SWCD  https://www.facebook.com/martinswcd