The American Soybean Association (ASA) is pleased to announce the four regional winners for the 2004 Conservation Legacy Awards Program: Western Region – Philip & Dwight Lohrenz, Burrton, Kansas; Northeastern Region – David & Stanley Hula, Charles City, Virginia; Midwestern Region – Mark Jackson, Rose Hill, Iowa; and Southern Region – Darryl Corriher, China Grove, North Carolina.

The Conservation Legacy Awards Program is a national program designed to recognize the outstanding environmental and conservation achievement of U.S. soybean farmers. A national selection committee, composed of soybean farmers, conservationists, and natural resource professionals, evaluated nominations based on each farmer’s environmental and economic program. Along with ASA, the program is co-sponsored by Monsanto and The Corn and Soybean Digest magazine, a PRIMEDIA publication.

All four regional winners and their spouse or a guest will receive a trip to Commodity Classicsm, an annual agricultural trade show and convention hosted jointly by the American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association, March 2 – 4, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Regional winners will also be featured in the February 2004 issue of The Corn and Soybean Digest magazine. From among the four regional winners, a national winner will be announced during ASA’s annual Awards Banquet, which is held during Commodity Classic.

Western Region – Philip & Dwight Lohrenz, Burrton, Kansas

Philip and Dwight Lohrenz are the fourth generation to operate and live on a farm that was established in 1887. Today the farm is approximately 3,000 acres of tillable land and pasture. NRCS figures indicate the Lohrenz manage 25,080 feet of terraces and 14.2 acres of waterways. The Lohrenz use no-till crop production along with maintaining terraces and waterways to promote soil conservation. Pastureland is managed through conservation and minimum tillage. Seven ponds are maintained for cattle and wildlife and the pastures are stocked for wildlife cover in the winter. One winter the farm was host to almost 1,400 turkeys (some of which were relocated)! According to Phil, farmers and ranchers should always feel like they are in school learning new ways to do things.

Northeastern Region – David & Stanley Hula, Renwood Farms. Charles City, Virginia

Renwood Farms is a fourth generation family operated by Stanley Hula Jr, and his sons David and Stan. The Hulas have continuously no-tilled their approximately 4,600 acres since 1987. Their operation is considered to be the founder of the continuous no-till system known as ICS. Many of the primary practices used today to reduce non point source pollution associated with cash grain and cotton production has been pioneered by the Hulas. The Hulas are considered to be among the most progressive farmers in Virginia as well as the nation. In addition to their farming operation, they also operate a certified seed business, an agricultural museum, and this year built their first corn-maze.

Midwestern Region – Mark Jackson, Jackson Farms, Rose Hill, Iowa

Mark Jackson is the fifth generation to operate Jackson Farms. In addition to his 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans, Jackson has a 1,000 head grower/finisher swine operation. Terraces, waterways, grassed headlands, buffer strips, contours, wetlands, tile, and travel zones are used as a way to conserve and preserve his farmland. In 1982, Jackson established a forest reserve adjoining his farmstead creating a flourishing habitat zone. Wildlife feed plots are strategically located near grass and buffer zones. Jackson believes that our pursuit of wealth should not overshadow our need to improve our environment for generations to come.

Southern Region – Darryl Corriher, C & H Grain, LLC, China Grove, North Carolina

Darryl Corriher and his partner Tom Hall of C & H Grain, LLC farm 2,900 acres. Their operation has been 100 percent no-till or never-till since 1992. Corriher believes that permanent no-till in his area makes the operation more productive while protecting the environment. Continuous no-till residue, along with edges of fields around wooded areas have become a haven for wildlife while providing an abundance of cover and food plots. In addition, Corriher is active in the Farmland Preservation Commission believing that farmland preservation will become an integral part of conservation efforts in the future.