The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts has awarded its 2016 Conservation Farm Family of the Year award to the Halter-Rich family, from Crawford County. As part of the award, the family receives a farm sign recognizing their conservation efforts, sponsored by Prairie Farmer, and was recognized by Gov. Rauner at the Illinois State Fair Ag Day Breakfast. New AISWCD president Steve Stierwalt, Sadorus, congratulated the family, as well.

CONSERVATIONISTS: Gov. Rauner recognized three generations of the Halter-Rich family at the Illinois State Fair Ag Day Breakfast. Jeff and Linda Rich, along with Travis, Leslie, Garrett and Emilee Rich, were presented a farmstead sign by Prairie Farmer Editor, Holly Spangler. New AISWCD president Steve Stierwalt, Sadorus, congratulated the family, as well.

Halter-Rich is a multi-generational farm that began in the 1950s when Ed Halter began farming near Robinson, with his sons, Ed and Ray Halter. Today, Ed’s son-in-law, Jeff Rich, runs the operation, with his wife, Linda. Their sons and daughters-in-law have also joined the operation and farm as a partnership, including Travis and Leslie, and Garrett and Emilee.

For Jeff, the recognition was both rewarding and bittersweet. “Linda’s dad passed away 18 months ago, and he was the conservationist all along. We’re just carrying along what he’s done.”

Jeff says Ed patterned tiled all his ground, built terraces, drop boxes and block chutes, and worked with NRCS personnel on all his projects. He adds the Ed always tried to utilize cost share programs.

“Every fall, we did as much as we could squeak in, after the crops were out – and we still do that,” Jeff says. He laments the loss of funding for conservation measures over the past 15 years or so but says they’ll keep plugging along with measures to conserve and manage soil and water.

“It’s sad because obviously a lot won’t get done without cost share measures. A lot of farmers can’t afford it, realistically,” he adds. “And I don’t think we’ll see any cost share money available in the near future.” Skeleton staff at local offices can provide advice on soil and water measures but funds are not available to help with installation.

But the Crawford County family says they’ll do all they can, despite lack of funding. “Travis bought some ground after college, and we got it all tiled,” Jeff says. “He’s rolling along in his grandpa’s footsteps.”

Jeff concludes, “The future success of farming is dependent on the conservation efforts of today.”