The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts has named the finalists for the state’s 2016 Outstanding Conservationist Award.

The state winner will be announced at an awards luncheon at the association's 80th annual meeting Dec.6 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bloomington.

The awards program recognizes farm families, individuals, conservation organizations and other groups for their accomplishments in implementing conservation practices and improving Minnesota’s natural resources.

FITTING CONSERVATION TO THE LAND: Local SWCD staffs across Minnesota nominated landowners for the annual conservation awards given by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The Farmer magazine helps support the state conservationist awards program.

Candidates for the award are nominated by their local SWCD staffs. Applicants are evaluated on their participation in SWCD programs in the areas of wind erosion control, pasture improvement and management, cropland management, integrated pest management, livestock and manure management, buffer practices, shoreline stabilization, wetland restoration and management, wildlife practices, forestry improvement and establishment, and other soil and water practices. Community leadership and additional activities such as providing on-farm tours and educational opportunities for visitors are also included in the evaluation process.

The program is sponsored by the association, with longtime support from The Farmer magazine.

Finalists in the eight area SWCDs are:

• Area 1: Toussaint Farms, Wahpeton, N.D.; Wilkin SWCD
Doug and Liz Toussaint and their family grow corn, soybeans, barley, wheat, reed canarygrass and hay. They participate in several conservation programs including the Conservation Reserve Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. The Toussaints transitioned their farm from conventional-till to no-till, and plant cover crops to improve soil health, reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. They also established pollinator plantings around many field perimeters.

• Area 2: Rick and Marlene Schlichting, Rice, Benton SWCD
Rick and Marlene Schlichting farm 6,300 acres in Benton and Morrison counties with 5,800 acres irrigated for edible beans, corn, potatoes, alfalfa and rye. They also raise 900 sows and 22,000 butcher hogs per year. Conservation practices implemented include converting irrigation systems to low pressure and completing irrigation water management on all 65 irrigation pivots they operate. The Schlichtings work with the University of Minnesota on nutrient management test plots to compare fertilizer and manure rates, have installed a 7,920-foot buffer on Little Rock Creek, have built a composting facility for hogs and have completed prairie restorations.

• Area 3: Page Township, Milaca, Mille Lacs SWCD
Page Township designed its township community park to serve as a demonstration of best management practices for soil, water and habitat conservation. Township officials approved installation of a large rain garden, tree plantings and establishment of a half-acre prairie next to picnic grounds. Volunteers from the township installed the native plants and trees, and held a seed harvesting event that enabled township residents to plant pollinator habitats on their own properties.

• Area 4: John Hickey, Prior Lake, Scott SWCD
John Hickey’s 150-acre family farm has a combination of tillable land, native prairie, wetlands and woodland areas. He completed a 24-acre prairie restoration on land that was previously being cropped. Over the past several years, Hickey planted native grass buffers and restored 47 acres of prairie and 23 acres of wetland.

• Area 5: Jack and Sara Weber, Hendricks, Lincoln SWCD
Jack and Sara Weber operate a livestock and grain farm, raising corn, soybeans, small grains and cover crops along with rotationally grazing their cow-calf herd. The Webers have planted windbreaks, restored wetlands, retired sensitive lands into the Wetland Reserve Program-Reinvest In Minnesota program, added rotational grazing systems and converted from strip-till to no-till farming. They are also the first in Lincoln SWCD to be certified under the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program.

• Area 6: Jim Krahling, Krahling Farms, Lake Crystal, Blue Earth SWCD
Jim Krahling farms nearly 700 acres following strip-till or ridge-till practices. He makes three split applications of nitrogen on his farm’s coarse soils. He also planted all acres in cover crops for 2016 and was the first in the county to apply for the MAWQCP.

• Area 7: Dan and Donnella Griffin, Spring Grove, Root River SWCD
Dan and Donnella Griffin operate a diversified crop and livestock operation where they raise corn, soybeans, oats and hay along with cover crops, in addition to grazing a herd of 35 stock cows. They have installed several water and sediment-control basins and contoured cropland. They have also installed practices to repair sinkholes and pond banks.

• Area 8: Jim and Audra Chamberlin, Island Lake Farm, Deerwood, Crow Wing SWCD
Jim and Audra Chamberlin own a 107-acre diversified farm and forestry operation where they raise vegetables, livestock, fruit and mushrooms. A portion of the farm lies on a designated wild rice lake, which is part of an 82-acre perpetual Reinvest in Minnesota wild rice conservation easement.

The association's 2016 Annual Convention and Trade Show will be held Dec. 4-6 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bloomington.

Hotel reservations may be made at doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/M/MSPBSDT-MAS-20161204/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG.

Reservations must be made by Nov. 15 to get the meeting rate.

The registration deadline is Nov. 21. For a registration form and to see the meeting agenda, visit maswcd.org/Annual_Convention/annual_convention.htm.