Conservation recognition; Bourbon County organization to laud local landowners at Uniontown banquet.

Four major awards will be presented to area landowners for their efforts in conservation during the Bourbon County Conservation District's annual meeting in Uniontown.

The evening's activities include dinner, a short business meeting to elect two supervisors, presentation of the conservation awards and awards for the student poster, limerick and essay contest, and door prizes. The event, which is open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in the Uniontown High School commons area.

The gathering is held yearly to recognize county landowners who promote conservation.

Conservation awards being presented this year include the Kansas Bankers Award, which will be given to Larry and Paula Howard. The laurel recognizes landowners who have applied "major conservation work" to their properties over the years, Bourbon County Conservation District Manager Cheryl Bennett said.

The Water Quality Award, which will go to J.W. "Jingles" Endicott, recognizes landowners who use buffer strips or filter strips on their properties to protect water quality. Strips of grass are planted next to fields and filter dirt before it enters rivers and other bodies of water, Bennett said.

Leon Cleaver is the winner of this year's Continuing Conservation Award, which is given to a landowner who has continued to maintain conservation practices over the years.

Winners of this award must be previous winners of the Kansas Bankers Award, Bennett said.

This year's Grassland Award, which honors landowners who maintain their pastures and any grasses they have planted for quality grass, goes to Frank Lord.

Conservation award winners are chosen each year by a committee made up of several people with knowledge of conservation practices. Committee members meet, take tours of nominated landowners' property and select winners, Bennett said.

Registration starts at 6 p.m. The meal, sponsored by five banks and one savings and loan association in Bourbon County, will be served at 6:30 p.m.

The Bourbon County Conservation District will disclose its financial affairs and district activities for the year. Two supervisors will be elected to serve as board supervisors for a three-year term.

Student awards for the poster, limerick and essay contest will be presented and door prizes will be handed out to conclude the evening.