NRD Honors Area Conservationists
Nov. 30, 2009
Area conservationists were honored at the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District’s Annual Banquet on November 29 at the Klein Center in Brainard.
Each year, the NRD gives awards for outstanding efforts in conservation of our soil and water resources. Award winners are chosen by NRD staff and directors.
Kurt Skillstad of Albion was named Outstanding Conservationist of the Year. Kurt operates 680 acres of crop and pasture ground on a farm that his parents purchased in 1952. Like his father LeRoy, Kurt has been an active conservationist, working with Federal, state and local organizations to install CRP, buffer strips, waterways, dams, and other conservation practices across the farm. Kurt has also converted to a 100% no-till operation after first experimenting with it on parts of his ground seven years ago. Kurt has worked closely with the Shell Creek Watershed Improvement Group and credits them for incentives and programs that make it very attractive for local landowners to implement conservation measures in their farming operations.
L-R: Kurt Skillstad receives the 2009 Outstanding Conservationist Award from NRD Special Projects Coordinator Eric Gottschalk.
The 2009 Water Cooperator of the Year wasAaron Nygren, County Extension Educator for Colfax County. Aaron has done a great deal to help the NRD with its water quality programs, from assisting with the district's annual Nitrogen Management Certification classes to working directly with producers in the district's Richland-Schuyler Phase 2 Ground Water Management Area, helping them calculate nitrogen fertilizer application rates. He hasalso worked with NRD staff to develop a cost-share program for producers to obtain technology to monitor soil moisure and evapotranspiration rates for their crops to promote more efficient irrigation.
L-R: NRD Water Resources Technician Russel Oaklund, 2009 Water Cooperator of the Year Aaron Nygren, and NRD Water Resources Manager Larry Angle.
The 2009 Partner of the Year wasSteve Satra of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Steve was instrumental in helping the NRD secure more than $1.3 million in Federal grant funds that were administered by his agency to complete fishery enhancements for the Lake Wanahoo project. Steve's leadership and vision led to the NRD receiving almost $500,00 more than the original grant request, which allowed additional excavation to increase reservoir depths and more rock breakwater structures than were originally planned. Thanks to this work, the quality of the Wanahoo fishery should be greatly enhanced and boat access to the lake will be easier as well.
L-R: NRD Lake Wanahoo Coordinator Mike Murrent presents the, 2009 Partner of the Year Award to Steve Satra.
Brach Johnson of the Butler County NRCS office was chosen as NRCS Employee of the Year. Brach has been the Resource Conservationist for Butler County since 2005. His leadership skills and management of the Butler County workload has earned him a great deal of respect fromhis fellow NRCS employees as well as the NRD offices he works with. Of particular note is Brach's work with landowners on the Conservation Stewardship Program; thanks to his leadership, more than 50 Butler County producers will be working with the NRCS to install new conservation practices on their land.
Dean Johnson of Fremont was the district's 2009 Director of the Year. Sadly, Dean unexpectedly passed away on November 20. His wife, Caralee, attended the banquet to accept the award on his behalf. Dean was an NRD director for 15 years and served in all of the board's leadership positions, as well as on the Executive Committee of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts. Dean's financial expertise was particularly valuable to the NRD, and when his term as Treasurer was up, the Board waived their term limit rule for officers to allow him to continue to serve in that capacity. He was also recently elected as Treasurer of the state association. Dean was also a very active and diligent member of the NRD's Projects Committee and served a term as Chair of that committee. The NRD and its staff will sorely miss Dean's expertise, thoroughness, and dedication, and we would like to extend our condolences to Caralee and the rest of Dean's family.
L-R: Caralee Johnson and NRD Manager John Miyoshi. Caralee accepted the 2009 Director of the Year Award on behalf of her late husband Dean.
NRD staff were also recognized at the banquet. Troy Thompson, I&E/Computer Specialist, was the 2009 Employee of the Year. Troy is responsible for the district's educational programs with area schools and community groups, informational efforts such as newsletters, brochures, advertising, and websites, and administering and maintaining the NRD computer network.
L-R: NRD Chair Dave Saalfeld presents NRD I&E/Computer Specialist Troy Thompson with the 2009 Employee of the Year Award.
Other staff awards included:
Customer Service Award – Jill Breunig, NRD Office Manager.
NRCS Field Office Award – Brenda Wardman, Colfax County NRCS Clerk.
Circle of Excellence Awards – Curt Becker, Water Resources Specialist; Russell Oaklund, Water Resources Specialist; and Krystal Sund, Accountant.
L-R: NRD Director Robert Hilger, Circle of Excellence award winner Krystal Sund, NRD Director Clint Johannes, Customer Service award winner Jill Breunig, NRD Director Dave Vrana, and Circle of Excellence award winner Russel Oaklund. Not pictured: Circle of Excellence award winner Curt Becker and NRCS Field Office award winner Brenda Wardman