5 Ohio farm families recognized for conservation efforts5 Ohio farm families recognized for conservation efforts

The Ohio Conservation Farm Family Awards program recognizes farmers who are doing an outstanding job of protecting and conserving soil, water and related natural resources on the land they farm. Once again, five winners have been chosen and will be featured online this week and in the September issue of American Agriculturist.

Winners are the Brown family (Nathan and Jennifer), who are farming 1,200 acres in Hillsboro; Jon Branstrator, who is farming 175 acres in Clarksville; the Settlage family (John and son Jordan), who are farming 500 acres in St. Marys; the Baltes family (Andrew and son A.J.), who are farming 1,000 acres in North Jackson; and the Felumlee family (David and Dawn), who are farming 1,300 acres in Newark.

The award was founded by Ohio Farmer magazine and is now coordinated by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and co-sponsored by Ohio Farmer magazine and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

The program emphasizes the application of technically sound, innovative and cost-effective conservation practices and encourages the sharing of this information with other farmers and the general public.

All five finalists will be recognized as winners of the Ohio Conservation Farm Family Award at a public ceremony Sept. 22 during the Farm Science Review, with a private luncheon for the farm families following. The winners will also receive a $400 check courtesy of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.