A36-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 5, 2003 Lancaster Banquet Honors ‘Conservation Ethic 9 MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming Staff NEW HOLLAND (Lancaster Co.) Approximately 170 people gathered recently to “recognize those who epitomize the conser vation ethic” in Lancaster Coun ty, according to Don Robinson, administrator, Lancaster County Conservation District. The conservation district’s 52nd annual banquet, conducted at Yoder’s Country Restaurant, New Holland, honored both indi viduals and businesses with awards highlighting conservation activities in agriculture, construc tion, community and public serv ice, and youth education. During the evening, Robinson recognized Warren Archibald, re tiring district conservationist with 41 years of service to conser vation. Archibald, who came to the Lancaster field office in 1974, has worked as a “behind-the scenes conservation professional for 28 years,” said Robinson. Archibald “encouraged us al ways to do whatever we had to do to get conservation on the land,” said Robinson. The Outstanding Cooperator of the Year was given to Earl G. and Grace Martin, Ephrata. Over the years Martin has worked to convince 11 different landowners on 17 parcels of land to install conservation practices such as waterways and/or terraces on their property. His conservation efforts go back 30 years. He has installed thousands of feet of waterways and terraces, besides planting cover crops or working to get a stormwater basin and pipe in stalled. The 2003 Soil Stewardship Award went to he John David Martin family, Churchtown. Martin’s father, Paul Martin, began working with the Soil Con servation District in 1958 by in stalling contour strips. John David has added further improvements such as waterways and an “Archie basin,” a small stormwater basin and pipe to take low water flows. The farm has also been preserved through the county agriculture preserva tion board. Barbara Rathbone Frank, a bi ology teacher from Penn Manor School District, received the En vironmental Educator Award. Her curriculum includes such projects as a reading program for students to leant about the Ches apeake Bay watershed. Frank’s students have also completed water quality projects on the Conestoga River and have anal yzed a nearby construction site. In addition Jereme Dippner, Jacob Ault, and Steve Witmer were recognized for their volun teer work at the Lancaster Coun ty Youth Conservation School. The following people gathered to receive the 2003 Watershed Award: Jinnen Boyle, Pennsylvania DEP; Roy Baldwin, state representative; Michelle Spitko, president, Little Conestoga Watershed Alliance; Dan Synoracki, on the board of directors; and Matt Kofroth, watershed spe cialist at the conservation district. The following people received the Conservation of Natural Resources Award for the Lake Placida project: Jim Baney, Landstudies project manager; Brad Clubb, president, Flyway Excavating; Dan Errett, Lake, Boeder, Hillard and Associates; Larry Bekelja, Eliz abthtown College; and James Wenger, Derek and Edson Associates. Dippner, Ault, and Witmer, for mer conservation school students, returned to the school to serve as counselors. Kauffman’s Fruit Farm, Bird- In-Hand, was the recipient of the Lancaster County Youth Conser vation School Service Award. For several years the business has supported the conservation school’s food preparation. Several organizations were in volved in an effort to restore beauty and water quality to Eliz abethtown College’s Lake Plac ida. The college received one of two Building Industry Conservation Awards, the Conservation of Natural Resources Award. The designing, landscaping. Barbara Rathbone Frank, a biology teacher from Penn Manor School District, received the Environmental Educator Award. She is joined by Sadie Gregory, ed ucation coordinator for the conservation district. engineering, and construction ef forts help to manage storm water, in addition to efforts such as planting flowers, controlling the waterfowl population, removing sediment, and slow erosion along the water’s edge. Involved with the project were Derek and Edson Associates, Fly way Excavating, Inc., Landstu dies, and Lake Roeder, Hillard and Associates. Jake King, Ja-Lyn Developers, received the Conservation of Nat ural Resources Award during the banquet. The award recognized his work for the past 10 years de veloping the Rockwoods project in Mount Joy Township. Also honored for their part in the project were Abel Construc The 2003 Soil Stewardship Award went to John David Martin and his wife Mary. Jake King, left, Ja-Lyn Developers, also received the Conservation of Natural Resources Award. Also receiving awards as part of the project were Tony Kreider, Abel Construction Company; Blaine Miller, Mount Joy Township; and Kim Graybill, Rettew Associates. tion for site work, Rettew Associ ates for plan design, and Mount Joy Township. The project included land which was not prime farmland, significant woodland, or land ad jacent to wetlands. The award recognized the project’s erosion control methods, topsoil conser vation, and water system upgrad ing. The Watershed Excellence Award went to the Little Cones toga Watershed Alliance (LCWA), an organization that has worked for the past three years on restoring portions of the Little Conestoga Creek water shed. i f Restoration efforts Included re storing a tributary stream and The Youth Conservation School Counselor Award went to Jereme Dippner, with more than three years of service to the school. He is joined by his wife Julie. Warren Archibald, retir ing district conservationist, holds a picture of the James Kreider farm, where he helped to install conser vation practices when he came to the Lancaster field dfffceln 1974. helping landowners establish for ested riparian buffers. The group has also worked to educate local residents about watershed issues by conducting municipal officials meetings, educational workshops, and native landscaping pro grams. Additionally, Katie Nickles and Mark Rineer Jr. were recog nized as recipients of the Lancas ter County Conservation District Ann Brow Memorial Scholarship for 2002. Nickles is attending Penn State and studying environmental re source management. Rineer is at tending Virginia Polytechnic In stitute and majoring in fisheries science. The Lancaster County Conser vation District accepts applica tions from graduating seniors planning to pursue a major that focuses on resources or conserva tion.
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