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Ericsons recognized with Continued Conservation Award
Ever since Henry and Doris Ericson moved to what they now call Cloverdale Farms, 1090 Eagle Road, in the early 1960s, they have done whatever they can to practice good conservation efforts and preserve the land they call home.
For their efforts over the years, they have gained notable recognition from the Bourbon County Conservation District (BCCD), and this year they are being recognized again. The Ericsons will be presented the Continued Conservation Award at the BCCD's annual meeting at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at Uniontown High School. The conservation award is one of four that will be given out at the meeting.
The Ericsons, who were awarded the Grassland Award last year, have been involved in the county's extension office, which promotes conservation, for many years. In fact, Henry said that since 1970, either he or Doris has served on the extension board. They have also worked with conservation groups throughout the county, district and even at Kansas State University.
Henry has been a driving force behind the effort to get sericea lespedeza classified as a noxious weed. Sericea lespedeza often infests pastures, hay fields, roadsides and abandoned fields.
"I've been on the sericea board, and we've been fighting it tooth and toenail," Henry said.
Doris said that they have set up waterways and have built up terracing, among many others practices, as part of their conservation efforts.
Henry said practicing conservation is important, because the land needs to be properly maintained.
"You have to do that, because they don't make any more of it," he said. "If you can't leave it better than when you got it, you better quit."
It's that belief that keeps Henry and Doris active with conservation.
"We just try to do a better job than we did the year before," Henry said.
It's also important, Henry said, to encourage others to practice conservation.
"Just like a preacher, you've got to spread the word," he said. "That's the way it is in church. You've got to spread the word."
The couple's Cloverdale Farms encompasses 3,000 acres of grassland. Henry said it is a "diversified farm with hogs, cattle and crops."
The other conservation award winners, who will be profiled in upcoming issues of The Fort Scott Tribune are:
* Uniontown residents and brothers Bobby and Randy Rich receiving the Kansas Bankers Conservation Award.
* Fort Scott resident Larry Martin receiving the Grassland Award
* Overland Park resident Dennis King receiving the Wildlife and Parks Habitat Award.
Also at the meeting, the annual poster, essay and limerick contest award winners will be presented to local and area students. In the poster contest, Winfield Scott Elementary School student Linda Minor won first place in the kindergarten through first-grade division, West Bourbon Elementary School student Dakota Mashek won first in the second and third grade division, Eugene Ware Elementary School student Jessica Combs won first place in the fifth and sixth grade division, and Fort Scott Middle School student Josh Buller won in the seventh through eighth grade division.
In the essay contest, Uniontown Junior High School student Cole George won the first-place award, while Fort Scott Christian Heights student Jared Bahr won first in the limerick contest.