Conservation Champions Honored At DAVE LEFEVER Lancaster Farming Staff NEW HOLLAND (Lancaster Co.) The Lancaster County Conservation District served its Slst annual banquet at Yoder’s Restaurant here March 14. The evening was highlighted by an awards ceremony recogniz ing a number of people who have made soil and water conservation a priority in their life and work. They include youth, educators, developers, an engineer, and a farm family. H. Andrew Jackson and his family received the 2002 Soil Stewardship Award for a lifetime of dedication to conservation based farming practices on their 130-plus acre farm near Peach Bottom. Jackson was born on the fourth-generation farm and grew up helping with the 30-cow dairy Recognized for their work as volunteer counselors at the Lancaster County Youth Conservation School, from left, Jason Wagner, Derek Daly, and William Lewis. Photos by Dave Lefever NOTICE EXTENDED PARTS DEPARTMENT STORE HOURS EFFECTIVE MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2002 To Better Serve You During The Busy Planting Season APRIL - MAY - JUNE Mon., Tiles., Thurs. & Fri. 7am-Bpm Wed. 7am-6pm; Sat. 7am-3pm PimEMllßgT 1331 "gfggf ■ gfIAQ IMP Lltltz, PA 17543-0395 30 U SlUla. ARb. — / (717)626-4705 Fax 717-626-0996 1-800-414-4705 K 3 A Service of FfC Fiatncul operation. His father first had the farm laid out in contour strips in the 19305, and it has been farmed that way since. Along with wife Eva and their three children, Jackson pur chased the farm in the 19605. Crop production and soil conser vation are the main focuses on the farm today. Conservation technician Eric Sam us spoke about the high pri ority put on tradition and land stewardship on the Jackson homestead. A conservation-based rotation of hay, com, and wheat, along with cover-cropping and main taining contour strips, add up to a “shining example of traditional and simple forms of soil conser vation,” he said. Jackson’s son, Andrew, and grandsons Troy and Randy, have also taken conservation practices well beyond the home farm, in stalling conservation terraces and waterways on many southern Lancaster County farms as part of their excavating business. Other groups recognized for outstanding attention to conser vation practices in Lancaster County included those who part nered on the Rt. 30 construction project west of Lancaster. These included the Dick Corporation, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and Michael Baker, Inc. The developers of Stony Bat tery Corporate Center also re ceived a Conservation of Natural Resources Award. Regency V Partners, working together with ELA Group consul tants and West Hempfield Town ship officials, designed a compre hensive stormwater management system that resolved flooding problems on the Stony Battery site. Derek Daly, Bill Lewis, and Jason Wagner were recognized for their work as counselors and positive role models at the Lan caster County Youth Conserva tion School. Fred Habegger and Barry Runk of Grant Heilman Photog raphy, Inc., were also recognized for their service to the school. Habegger’s photographs, de veloped by Runk, have docu mented the hundreds of students who have benefited from conser vation school activities over the years. Jason Wagner and Stephanie Feister each received the $l,OOO Ann Brown Memorial Schol arship for beginning their college career this year in a curriculum that focuses on natural resources and/or conservation. Feister plans to major in agricultural sci ences and education at Penn State, and Wag ner in biology and ecology at Millersville University. Carey Kalupson, ag teacher at Solanco High School, received the Environmental Educator Award for offering his students opportunities to learn conservation practices firsthand. Kalupson has initiated various H'ects for students, tiding stream stabi lization and stream bank fencing. The Conservation Service Award went to Eric Ashley, a former district engineer. Ashley began as a technician with the Lancaster County (Turn to Page A 33) Barry Runk, left, and Fred Habegger have han dled Youth Conservation School photography for many years. Conservation Service Award recipient Erie Ashley, cen ter, wtth'Wayne Carvel), left, and Donald Robinson, Lan caster Conservation District administrator. Fabricators of Galvanized Barn Equipment Banquet Solanco High School ag teacher Carey Kalupaon, right, receivee the Environ mental Educator Award from Bob Lauffer.