KKB, nominated by the South Platte Natural Resources District, received the Master Conservationist Community-Public Award from the World Herald’s Joel Long.
The Master Conservationist program was established in 1983 to recognize those who have excelled in soil and water conservation. These statewide awards are presented each year to individuals or groups who have excelled in taking a holistic approach to making wise use of soil and water resources while maintaining and enhancing the environment.
Nominees are awarded points in five areas outlining their contributions and care of natural resources, including: the nominee’s plan for the entire residential unit or community project listing conservation/environmental techniques implemented; the net environmental/conservation benefits in terms of soil protection/ improvement, effective water conservation/ management, wildlife habitat development/ enhancement, improved aesthetics, minimized resource inputs for landscape sustainability; the holistic environmental/conservation/aesthetic benefits of the project; any new or innovative techniques implemented on the site; and how the nominee or group has encouraged others to understand the value of conservation.
Award recipients are selected by a committee of judges representing the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), Natural Resources Districts and the Nebraska office of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The KKB nomination said the group embraces the mission of Keep Nebraska Beautiful: To engage Nebraskans to take greater responsibility for improving their community environment.
“Through the years Keep Kimball Beautiful has developed a number of programs to better the city and its environment, including its most recent success in the development and operation of the Kimball Recycling Center.” The nomination said in its overview.
Also outlined were KKB’s programs, including the Gold Broom Award, Lot Cleanup Day, Cloth For Plastic, and the Paper Shredding and Recycling programs. The nomination pointed out the recycling success of 2008-2009, when participants recycled almost 145 tons of waste – representing about 74 pounds of material for each person in Kimball County’s three towns and villages.
“Communities like Kimball, have done a great job of taking care of the environment in their cities and we are pleased to give recognition where it is deserved,” says Long. “By recognizing outstanding conservation efforts throughout the state, we hope to encourage all Nebraskans to take care the good life we enjoy.”
An area farm family, also nominated by SPNRD, was recognized as a Production Agriculture Master Conservationist. Beyer Farms of Sidney received the award for District A, which covers the Nebraska Panhandle.
The Beyer nomination said “The Beyer family has been a long-time leader in conservation stewardship. The late James Beyer was one of the first area farmers to accept and implement conservation tillage practices. They have installed and maintained a variety of conservation practices on both owned and leased cropland, irrigated cropland, and rangeland. They continue to strive to improve their land for future generations.”
The Beyers have become among the area’s leaders in no-till farming, and have made continuing progress in many irrigation water savings practices on their cropland. Their stewardship does not end with their cropland, but carries into their rangeland as well. They have implemented a rotational grazing system and have installed a pipeline, tanks, and a new well to help facilitate their rotation. The change began in 2008 and they have already noticed an improvement to grazing distribution.
“We’re proud to see the recognition given to both Keep Kimball Beautiful and the Beyers,” says Don Ogle, information and education coordinator at SPNRD. “Both are examples of the type of outstanding stewards we have throughout the District. They, and others like them, are responsible for helping to protect our natural resources for use today and in the future.”
