2022 Kittson County Outstanding Conservationist:
Matt and Jacki Przekwas
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The Kittson Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is pleased to announce Matt and Jacki Przekwas of Lancaster as the 2022 Kittson SWCD Outstanding Conservationists. The Kittson SWCD board of supervisors chose the Przekwases for their rotational grazing systems.
The Przekwas’s farm is located in the southwest corner of section 2 of Poppleton Township. Jacki has lived and ranched in Kittson County all her life and Matt grew up on a cattle farm in Roseau County. The Przekwases have been married for 15 years and have been running their cow calf operation with their children. Matt and Jacki began utilizing conservation practices through the NRCS incentive programs for rotational Grazing. They have expanded their practices to include rotational grazing, mob grazing, cover crops, and no-till. The Przekwases say, they practice conservation to increase profit and decrease dependence on commercial inputs, while improving the land for the next generation. |
2022 Kittson County Rural Beautification Winner:
Jon and Nancy Webster
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The Kittson Soil and Water Conservation District awards John and Nancy Webster of Svea Township the 2022 Rural Beautification Award. They were chosen by the Kittson SWCD Board of Supervisors for their large fertile gardens and long-established tree rows.
Their home is located south of Kennedy, in Svea Township. John moved here with his family in 1952 at the age of 2 and has lived here since. His wife Nancy grew up in Stephen, MN. and moved to the farm in 1980, after meeting John while working at American Crystal in Drayton. The farm is their “little slice of heaven” as John puts it. |
2020/2021 Kittson County Outstanding Conservationist:
Dave and Tiffany Hemmes
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The Kittson Soil and Water Conservation District is pleased to announce Dave and Tiffany Hemmes of Humboldt MN. as the 2020/2021 Outstanding Conservationists. The Kittson SWCD board of supervisors chose Dave and Tiffany for their exceptional farmstead shelterbelt, dedication to their land, and commitment to their community.
The Hemmes’s farm has been operating for 104 years since Dave’s great Grandpa established the homestead in 1917. Today they farm Wheat, Soybeans, and Sugarbeets. Dave has been farming full time for 14 years and he says the best part of being a farmer is the freedom. They practice conservation because “it’s good for the land but it’s good for the checkbook too.” In addition to their farmstead shelterbelt, Dave and his dad are experimenting with flying on Barley in the spring as a cover crop to protect their Sugarbeet seedlings. They also implement best management practices like: soil testing, scouting, and crop rotation; of which they find crop rotation is most effective because it reduces weed and insect pressure and improves nutrient availability for the crops. Crop Rotation has also been shown to reduce erosion and protect the soil. These best management practices work together to protect their land for future generations of farmers. |
2021 Kittson CountyRural Beautification Winner:
Mark and Sally Wagner
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The Kittson Soil and Water Conservation District grants Mark and Sally Wagner of Springbrook Township as the 2021 Rural Beautification Award recipients. They were nominated by the Springbrook Township Board and chosen by the Kittson SWCD Board of supervisors because of their carefully maintained trees, yard, and gardens that celebrate nature’s beauty.
Their home is located in the Northwest corner of Springbrook township. They are originally from North Dakota, where Mark used to farm with his brother. In the early 1990’s, they decided to move to Kittson County where they rented a home in Halma before moving to Karlstad. Their trailer in Karlstad had a small yard and they missed living in the country. After living in town Sally thought, “never again will I complain about mowing”. They bought their current home in 1998 and since then they’ve shingled, sided, and painted the house and added a deck. This was a family affair. “There were times that everyone was up on the roof.”, says Sally. These days Mark drives truck for Johnson Oil and bales hay on their land for sale. Sally is the head gardener with help from her husband, children, and grandchildren. The Wagners have worked to maintain and improve their tree row and enhance the loveliness of their landscape. |
2020 Kittson County Outstanding Conservationist:
Shirley Rydberg
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Shirley Rydberg has been awarded the 2020 Rural Beautification Award. She was nominated for this honor by the Kittson SWCD Board due to her beautiful plantings, love of gardening, and dedication to the gardening community.
Her love of gardening was inspired by her family, when she was growing up on a farm near Grand Forks, ND. As a child, her favorite chores were picking ripe vegetables and weeding the garden. She was eager to help her mother whenever she needed assistance in the garden. On the farm they would eat fresh fruits and vegetables all summer and canned the rest to enjoy throughout the winter. The joy she established while gardening at this young age shines through as she discusses her current gardens. |
2019 Kittson County Outstanding Conservationist:
Roy Frame
The Kittson Soil and Water Conservation District is pleased to announce Roy Frame of Lancaster MN, as the 2019 Outstanding Conservationist. The SWCD board members chose Roy for the conservation practices that he has installed on his land and within his cattle operation.
Roy’s farm is in the northeastern corner of section 26 in McKinley Township. The Frame’s have been farming in Kittson County since 1975. Roy farms both independently and in partnership with his father, Arnold Frame, as Frame Farms. They raise black angus and Simmental mix cattle. Roy has been farming all his life. He says that “Ever since I started, I’ve been trying to improve soil health”. He’s known for trying new practices and experimenting with fresh ideas. Roy Frame is an innovative farmer who utilizes partnerships and conservation practices to make his operation more sustainable and profitable.
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Roy’s farm is in the northeastern corner of section 26 in McKinley Township. The Frame’s have been farming in Kittson County since 1975. Roy farms both independently and in partnership with his father, Arnold Frame, as Frame Farms. They raise black angus and Simmental mix cattle. Roy has been farming all his life. He says that “Ever since I started, I’ve been trying to improve soil health”. He’s known for trying new practices and experimenting with fresh ideas. Roy Frame is an innovative farmer who utilizes partnerships and conservation practices to make his operation more sustainable and profitable.
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2019 Kittson County Rural Beautification Award Winners:
Roger and Judy Dziengel
Roger and Judy Dziengel have been awarded the 2019 Rural Beautification Award by the Kittson SWCD Board due to their beautiful home, outstanding tree plantings, and impressive vegetable and flower gardens.
Their home is located east of Kennedy, MN on Section 3 of Davis Township. This large ranch style home is set back from the road at the end of a well-kept driveway. Work on the home began in 2005 and was completed in 2007. Roger will proudly show you a scrap book filled with pictures and detailed explanations of the house’s construction. Locals will find many of the faces of the construction crew familiar. This house is heated with geothermal coils and built to be airtight.
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2017 NPC Environmental Stewardship Award :
Leon and Lance Hapka
The Hapka family from Halma, MN was recognized for their outstanding stewardship of the land.
2015 Kittson County Outstanding Conservationist:
Kris and Bethany Folland
The Kittson SWCD has selected The Folland’s for the Outstanding Conservationist for their dedication to conservation in Kittson County. On their farm in Norway Township, Section 25, Kris and Bethany have applied many conservation programs to their land. Kris has 2 Environmental Quality Incentives program (EQIP) contracts for Rotational Grazing which includes an installed exterior and interior fences, complete watering system which includes new well, pumping plant, underground pipeline and watering tanks. Kris also broke up 360 acres into 6 different paddocks where his livestock is rotated throughout. Kris also has an EQIP Cover crop contract where he has currently planted Rye and prescribed burning practice. An EQIP No-Till practice where Kris has planted Soybeans into Corn and Rye stubble, EQIP Mulch Tillage, and 2 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts for grazing and cropland. Kris also has a Highly Erodible Cropland (HEL) Conservation crop rotation and Residue Management practice. Trees are another important part of the Folland Ranch, Kris has voluntarily left tree rows and pollinators established for wildlife on his farmland.
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2015 Kittson County Rural Beautification Award Winners:
Merle and Marlys Nelson
The Nelson’s farm is located north of Robbin MN in Teien Township Section 9. The Nelson’s farmstead is a beautiful eye catching sight as you drive on Kittson County Highway 7. Merle and Marlys built their home on this farmstead in 1973 and it wasn’t until 1994 when their youngest child graduated from High School when Marlys began growing her beautiful flower beds. In 1997, Merle and Marlys added a greenhouse addition onto the South side of their garage, before the addition Marlys kept seeds from 20 varieties of flowers in 1 stall of their garage, the basement and laundry room. In the greenhouse addition, they set up germination racks 6 levels high with 75 florescent shop lights starting in the middle of March. In the Spring and Summer months, they have the greenhouse set up with tables and chairs to host visitors enjoying the sites of their beautiful landscaping.
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