Coshocton SWCD holds annual banquet
COSHOCTON – The Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District held its 72nd annual banquet Oct. 16, at the Coshocton County Career Center. One hundred and sixty-five area residents and special guests were in attendance. A baked ham dinner was served by the Fresno Methodist Church before the meeting.
The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission held an election for two supervisors elected to the Coshocton SWCD Board of Supervisors. Adrian Garber and David Lapp were elected and will each serve a three year term starting Jan. 1, 2015. Garber, Lapp, Jim McKinney and Knox Porteus were candidates for the position.
Melvin Lahmers and Jake Hillyer, crop consultants from TMK Bakersville, were the evening’s guest speakers. Lahmers and Hillyer talked about how they use unmanned aerial vehicles or drones in their work with the agriculture community.
Coshocton SWCD announced the 2014 Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year Award, which went to Porteus Brothers Farm, Seth and Homer Porteus. Seth and Homer farm 1,150 acres in Linton Township where they have been innovators of cover crops in Coshocton County. Porteus Brothers converted a tillage tool that they now use to broadcast rye cover on all their acreage. In 2014, they also converted from full width tillage to all no-till planting. They participated in the 2014 SWCD Aerial Cover Crop Program and have installed more than 70,000 feet of tile on their farm. Seth and Homer are members of the Coshocton County Farm Bureau. Seth and his wife Debbie have two children – Mindy and Jason who are also active in the farming operation.
Coshocton SWCD sponsored the Coshocton County Junior Fair Hay Show and recognized the winners of the 2014 County Fair: Alfalfa Hay – Cameron Mizer, son of Terry and Pam Mizer, Ridgewood FFA; Clover Hay – Michaela Greten, daughter of Mike and Kerrie Greten, This-N-That 4-H; Grass Hay – Ryan Greten, son of Mike and Kerrie Greten, This-N-That 4-H; Light Mixed Hay – Jenna Wyler, daughter of John and Annette Wyler, Ridgewood FFA; and Mixed Hay (Heavy) – Kadie Conkle, daughter of Steve and Pam Conkle, Ridgewood FFA. Winners received a rosette and $10 cash for attending the banquet.
Kirk Scheurman was recognized as the winner of the Coshocton SWCD’s Big Tree Contest. The winning big tree was a Sycamore tree which measured 191” in circumference with a vertical height of 110’ and an average crown spread of 109.’
Tom Heading from the Coshocton is Blooming Committee presented the third annual City Big Tree Contest award for anyone living in the City of Coshocton. Paul Wiley was recognized for his Oak tree that measured 133” in circumference with a vertical height of 135’ and an average crown spread of 113.5.’
The winner of the mystery photo contest which was part of the SWCD’s display at the Coshocton County Fair was Kim Lacy. Lacy was among 68 winning entries received. The mystery photo was of Bill and Caroline Daugherty’s farm in Millcreek Township.
The meeting adjourned after door prizes were drawn.
“Thank you to everyone for attending,” said Greg Waters, Coshocton SWCD supervisor. “The Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District employees work hard and we appreciate what they do to help the community.”
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