Morris County
Conservation District
Council Grove, KS
Morris County Conservation District 69th Annual Meeting Presents
This Year's Contest Winners
POSTERS – GRADE 4-6
Kristina Laizure, Alexis Kahnt, Makayla Stone,
Mara Grover, Alexis Campuzano
LIMERICKS – GRADES 3-8
Alexis Kahnt, Maddy Tischhauser, Morgan Ash
ESSAYS – GRADES 5-8
Megan Goeckel, Tyler Stone, Luke Richardson
PHOTOGRAPHY – STUDENTS AND ADULTS
Jeannie Traskowsky, Grace Wohlschlegel,
Linda K. McDiffett, Valerie Wohschlegel
COLORING – GRADE K
Carly Wells, Michelle Patry, Ally Bacon,
Veronika Macy, Kyra Smith
COLORING – GRADE 1
Isabel Otero, Kristen Watson
1st ANNUAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL $500 SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Jeri Sigle
2008 BANKER AWARD WINNERS
Mike & Linda Carlson
By Joseph D. Hecht, NRCS District Conservationist
Sponsored by Farmers & Drovers Bank of Council Grove
Mike, son of Charles and Arlene Carlson, grew up on a farm South of Burdick. He always had an avid interest in farming, livestock and care of the land. Following graduation from Centre High School, he attended KSTC, Emporia. His real interest, however, was always in farming and ranching. During his time at KSTC, he decided to pursue farming and ranching as a career and life choice. With the help of his parents, and the support of a good banker, he embarked on that calling.
Mike and Linda met while both were students at KSTC. They were married in 1974 and moved to the farm Southeast of Burdick where they continue to farm and ranch. Linda taught Music in the Herington School System. She is now retired after 33 years of teaching. They have one daughter, Cicely, who lives in Wichita with her husband, Jonnie Karst, and their three daughters, Rylee, Preslee and Britlee.
Mike and Linda are this year’s Banker’s award for Morris County. This award is given to farmers and ranchers for their efforts in conserving natural resources.
The Carlson’s have a diversified operation with a cow-calf herd, and stockers grazing over 1,000 acres of grassland. They also operate about 1,000 acres of cropland where they produce alfalfa, corn, wheat, sorghum, and soybeans. Mike and Linda endeavor to take care of the land; conservation is always a high priority, and very important to them.
Cropland is protected from erosion with terraces, contour farming and the use of no-till farming. The grasslands are properly grazed, and brush and weed control practices are used as needed.
They produce Angus/cross cattle. They use half-blood bulls with a Simmental/Angus cross with their cows. Angus bulls are used on first-calf heifers. Mike said that the calves from their operation are kept until they weigh about 800 lbs. before they are sold. The cows are mostly grazed on native range, with some rotated on hybrid Sudan acres. They are typically put on the native grass on May 1st through late October. The stocking rate is usually about 6 ½ acres per cow; a few more acres per cow/calf on spring calving cows.
This can vary with each pasture. Mike works with the landowners when determining the stocking rates. When looking at the Carlson’s pastures, one can see they are doing it right. Pastures are well cared for. The pastures South of their house are in excellent condition, showing the benefits of Mike’s work over the past 35 years. The cows are rotated to pastures closer to home for winter.
Burning is done in the pastures as needed, but usually once every five years. The burning helps control weeds and trees. If the pasture is used for stockers, it may be burned in the spring before grazing. Mike and Linda work to preserve, protect and maintain the integrity of the land.
Most of the pastures have ponds for watering livestock, with some windmills also being used. Some of the ponds have been there nearly 50 years, but within the past few years, at least two of them have been cleaned out so they can be used for several more years.
A number of years ago, Mike got started with no-till farming. By visiting with neighbors and other operators about their no-till programs, Mike has learned practices that work for them. He is always listening to others, and reading new information to use in his farming operation; tweaking it to meet his own particular needs. Mike says you can learn a little in each conversation. Also, as a member of the Kansas Farm Management Association, he has access to information on costs and cropping practices.
On the Carlson’s cropland acres, Mike figures that about 95% of his farm acres are in no-till. This reduces the amount of time needed for farming; it protects fields from erosion, and holds more moisture in the soil. There are times, of course, when he still needs to do tillage, but he tries to keep it to a minimum. The fields have responded well to no-till. Mike and Linda have seen erosion reduced, and yields increased.
As Mike learned from his Dad, he knows the benefit of protecting the land and what it will mean to his operation, as well as to future operators of the land. Mike has promoted the need for terraces and waterways and their benefits to the land to his landlords, as well as using them on his own acres. He has built many terraces and waterways on the land they own. There are presently about 77,000 feet of terraces on the cropland Mike manages. Rebuilding of old terraces is also an on-going method of conservation.
A crop rotation of soybeans to wheat to sorghum is used on the Carlson cropland. On un-terraced land, he uses fewer soybeans since this is the crop where more erosion can occur. Soil tests are used each year to determine fertilizer and lime needs for his fields.
As a board member of Diamond Creek Watershed, Mike is also committed to helping others protect their land.
Along with farming and ranching, Mike and Linda also have an NC+ seed dealership. Test plots are out every year with an annual field day at these sites. Mike and Linda enjoy everyone showing up at the field day; another chance to talk farming.
Congratulations to Mike and Linda Carlson on the Banker Award for Morris County.
AWARD WINNERS
BANKER AWARD WINNERS
Mike and Linda Carlson
2008 WINDBREAK AWARD WINNERS
Kenny & Adella Hiegert
By: Joseph D. Hecht,
NRCS District Conservationist
Sponsored by Morris County Farm Bureau Association
Kenny and Adella Heigert know the value of a good windbreak for protection. They have planted several at their current home, but others as well. They are this year’s windbreak award winners.
They are both originally from Paxico, Kansas. They married in 1948 and have five children; Kenneth Jr., Peg, Terri, Judy, and Steve. After they were married they moved to Jetmore where Kenny worked for a Hereford ranch. This is where Kenny first got started with the Hereford cattle that he now produces. They were there for five years before moving to the Council Grove area. Kenny helped plant windbreaks in Jetmore for the ranch, and knew how much good it would do.
When they moved into their current home in 1965, it was not long before they started to plant their own windbreaks. Armed with the knowledge learned at Jetmore, they knew that they needed some protection from the wind as soon as possible. The north wind blew hard through the livestock pen areas. They first planted pine trees to protect their cattle, but the pine trees did not last long. Then they planted what they called “free trees” from the pastures, cedar trees. The Hiegerts dug up the cedar trees from the pastures and they planted them for their windbreaks. The cedars grew very well, and do an excellent job of protection.
The first trees were planted around the corral. The second windbreak was planted along the north and west sides of the hog pens, which are now used for cattle. The third windbreak was planted around the home area. All the trees planted were cedar trees.
The cedar trees grew fast. When they were first planted they were watered, and mowing was done around the trees to keep the weeds down. Now that the trees are established they still need care. About every other year the trees are sprayed to control bag worms. If this wasn’t done, there wouldn’t be much left of the trees. Bag worms can kill whole windbreaks if not taken care of.
Kenny raises Hereford cattle and their bloodlines have roots to the Herefords in Jetmore where he and Adella worked when they were younger. He wanted to make sure these cattle were protected, so windbreaks were planted. Calves are kept in the pens during the early part of the winter. The far west pen is where the cows are put in February to calve, and this is where the second windbreak was planted. They are locked in the pens in the evening, and during the day they have access to the pen area and small pasture next to it. Once the cow has its calf, then they are moved to another pen area east of the house on fescue for ten days. This is also protected by a windbreak.
Kenny and Adella are happy with the windbreaks. Kenny said around the west windbreak, when the wind blows, there is not a breath of air moving. The trees are important to the Heigerts. They have an investment in the cattle and know that the windbreaks are protecting that investment
AWARD WINNERS
WINDBREAK AWARD WINNERS
Kenny & Adella Hiegert
2008 MORRIS COUNTY WILDLIFE
AWARD WINNERS
Chuck & Kim Kniebel
By: Jo Bea Titus-Hutchinson, District Mgr/Water Quality Coordinator
Sponsored by the Neosho Valley Quail Unlimited Chapter
Hunting and fishing are two activities we all seem to take for granted and believe will be available to us forever, but what happens if our fish and game birds all start disappearing? That’s why this year’s Morris County Wildlife Habitat Award goes to Chuck and Kim Kniebel. The Kniebels own and operate land in the Delavan, Diamond Springs, and White City areas. They were married in White City in 1987, and have three children: Mandi, Chelsey and Chase. They have lived at their current residence north of Delavan since 1988.Chuck and Kim know the importance of best management practices, a practical, affordable approach to conserving a farms soil and water resources without sacrificing productivity. They also know the value of developing improved wildlife habitat areas. Trying to help support wildlife conservation and hunting heritage efforts here in Morris County, Chuck and Kim Kniebel became active volunteer members of the local Neosho Valley Quail Unlimited Chapter in 2003. Being members of the local chapter they are improving private and public land habitat development and enhancement projects, and also promoting hunting heritage. Quail Unlimited has had a memorandum of understanding with the Morris County Conservation District since 1995 purchasing 15’ no-till drills for Morris County landowners. By establishing high quality habitat acres with no-till drills, wildlife species benefit, soil is saved and water quality is improved. Kniebels are farming approximately 400 acres strictly with no tillage. Quail Unlimited has also purchased for members use: an 8’ agricultural disk, a 6’ pull-type no-till drill and a 4’ ATV pull-type food plot planter.
Planting food plots on land they own and operate is of upmost importance in bringing in game birds. They have noticed that fencing the food plots improve bird populations immensely. This January they counted around 75 quail and 30 pheasants making for excellent hunting. By not fencing the plots, the cattle eat and trample the vegetation making bird habitat almost minimal.
Q.U. members have been active planting food plots on private land throughout the county. Species planted on land owned and operated by the Kniebels are Egyptian wheat, pheasants forever mixture consisting of forage sorghum, grain sorghum, proso millet and pearl millet, and milo. The relationship between food, winter cover, movement and bird mortality make food plots a critical component in upland wildlife management. The reason is simple - well-planned food and cover plots help establish safe foraging patterns that minimize movements and provide a dependable source of high-energy food to help carry birds through the winter.
Cattle and Wildlife Management is another very important best management practice. Fire is one of the most important quail habitat management tools. Chuck and Kim burn their rangeland every other year. Burning performs several vital functions including removing accumulated litter, stimulating new growth and controlling excessive woody invasion. Native rangelands that are burned periodically have a wider diversity of plants beneficial to quail than unburned prairies. In years not burnt residual cover is left, which is critical for ground nesting birds such as quail, pheasant and prairie chicken.Legumes are important to the quail hen in the spring when she is gaining physiological condition for nesting. Green legumes also attract a diverse array of insects beneficial to quail chicks. Structural practices have been utilized to control soil erosion, and also for wildlife habitat. A recently constructed diversion has been planted to wheat, oats and alfalfa. Chuck and Kim Kniebel have been avid in planting trees and shrubs the last three years to improve wildlife habitat and for wind erosion. They have been planting eastern red cedar and ponderosa pine trees and food shrubs consisting of American Plum, Choke Cherry, Fragrant Sumac and Golden Currant. Birds and small animals need concealed places for nesting and hiding, protected from the eyes of predators. The Kniebels have been using a root plow to cut tree roots that sap soil moisture from adjoining field crops. The use of this tool helps produce better crops next to tree rows.
The Kniebels know the importance of maintaining grass and timber along their streams. Riparian areas help provide most of the needed elements of good habitat to a wide variety of fish and wildlife. Wildlife heavily use riparian areas because the moist, fertile soils support a rich food supply and offer good shelter from predators and the elements.
Chuck and Kim Kniebel stand out as being good stewards of the land for this generation and managing for generations to come. They are doing their part practicing best management practices to make their farming and cattle operation successful and also promoting excellent wildlife management. They enjoy hunting and fishing themselves, so know they have to keep up the good work of wildlife management for the future to enjoy Mother Nature’s greatest resources. AWARD WINNERS
WILDLIFE AWARD WINNERS
Chuck and Kim Kniebel
2008 MORRIS COUNTY
BUFFER AWARD WINNERS
Galen & Jean Johnson
By: Katie S. Miller, Buffer Coordinator
Sponsored by the Morris County Conservation District
Buffers are an incredibly important part of our landscape. These simple strips of grass do a tremendous amount of work. They not only provide habitat and vital food sources to wildlife, they can also filter up to 90% of all sediment out of cropland runoff. These excellent natural filters are the best, most effective tools for cleaning and improving the quality of the water in our creeks and lakes. It not only takes buffers to improve our watershed, but more so, willing landowners to install these voluntary practices. Galen and Jean Johnson from Dwight are two of these fantastic landowners.
Galen began farming with his dad near Dwight at an early age, and not only has learned and gained an appreciation for the land, he strives to conserve it with good farming practices. He has also always had a love for wildlife, and particularly enjoys hunting quail. When Galen heard about the Wildlife Habitat Buffer Program, which allows the installation of grassed buffers on cropland for wildlife emphasis, he was definitely interested. Galen and Jean enrolled 38.7 acres of cropland into this buffer program, with high hopes of not only promoting and increasing the quail population, but also for water quality improvement as well. These buffers were established in 2005, and in three short years, Galen adamantly states that he has seen an increase in the quail numbers. He has a covey of quail that he sees regularly, running between the soybean stubble and into the Wildlife Habitat Buffers.
The Johnsons have a unique layout to their property; Wildlife Habitat Buffers surrounding soybean, wheat, alfalfa, and brome ground, with close proximity to good watering areas and hedge rows. All of these considerations added together equal a nearly perfect habitat for quail.
Galen and Jean run a diversified operation. They raise soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, brome, and prairie hay. They also have a Black Angus and Hereford cow/calf herd. Galen discussed the decision to enroll the land into buffers, knowing he would no longer be able to graze the areas he once had utilized. Although at times it would be nice to still have those grazeable acres, Galen raises his own hay, allowing him a sound alternative to the lost grazing opportunity on the cropland. Especially after realizing the increase in his quail population, Galen is a firm believer in the buffer program, and supports land being enrolled into CRP programs.
The Johnsons have been actively involved in other USDA programs such as EQIP and utilizing cost-share assistance for terrace and waterway installation and maintenance, as well as the buffer and CRP program. They recently re-enrolled a CRP field of ten acres to extend the contract; Galen and Jean see the value in land established to native grass and wish to preserve it. The Johnsons appreciate the beauty and vitality of not only our native grasses and forbs, but for the precious wildlife they support as well. Congratulations to the 2008 Buffer Award Winners, Galen and Jean Johnson!
AWARD WINNERS
BUFFER AWARD WINNERS
Galen & Jean Johnson
2008 GRASSLAND AWARD WINNERS
Keith, Anita & Brant Mahanay
By: Katie S. Miller, Twin Lakes WRAPS/
Buffer Coordinator
Sponsored by Sharp Brothers Seed Company in Healy
It is often hard to find words to describe the natural, pristine beauty of the Flint Hills. This tremendous ecosystem has remained intact and naturally amazing because of daily dedication of ranchers and landowners like Keith and Anita Mahanay. Keith and Anita Mahanay, along with their son Brant, own and operate their property south of Council Grove, and in the heart of the Tall Grass Prairie.
Through the years of growing and living in the area, Keith realized at an early age how essential he is to maintaining and improving the pastures that he would come to own and operate. The Mahanays know the vital importance of proper grassland management; in order to be profitable in raising livestock, grass and water are the most important commodities. Good grassland management is second-nature to this family. They have spent years working on their pastures, from clearing trees to spraying brush, rebuilding fences to maintaining the fescue in the bottom draws. It is obvious when seeing the Mahanay pastures that they are not just maintaining the land to be profitable, but restoring the prairie to what it is meant to be; a natural rolling pasture without invasive tree and brush species, and always putting more back into the land than what is taken off of it.
Keith, Anita, and Brant have spent many hours and resources taking care of their property. They have managed to rebuild the perimeter fence in its entirety, as well as clean out numerous ponds and develop a spring for watering livestock and increasing grazing distribution. Keith has built gravel pads to hold his mineral feeders to decrease disturbance to the grass surrounding the area. They have also cleared nearly every draw on their property, freeing it from invasive brush, hedge rows, and cedar thickets. Yearly burning also contributes to not only their tremendous grass stand, but to the brush management as well.
The Mahanays double-stock yearlings on their land but have a unique grazing system to this part of the Flint Hills. Through fertilizing and maintaining cool season fescue pasture in some of the low areas and draws, they are able to begin their grazing season 30-40 days before the traditional May 1st turn-out date. By fencing off these tremendous stands of fescue and grazing earlier, they are also able to pull the yearlings off earlier to ship, generally around the end of June to the 1st of July. This early shipping date allows the grass a vital rest time during the stressful summer heat, giving it a head-start to re-growth later in the season. Keith also praises the fescue for allowing him to utilize fall grazing as well after the first hard frost.
While the care the Mahanays give to their pasture is immeasurable, one cannot talk about their property without giving proper recognition to their pens. Keith spent a tremendous amount of time and resources designing and constructing their amazing set of pens. Starting with a creative design, work, blood, sweat, and 500 pounds of welding rod later, the Mahanays have an incredible landmark to truly be proud of.
The pens and grassland alike, the Mahanays are continuously building and adding to their legacy. This legacy will continue through hard work and an admirable love for the land; something we should all strive to accomplish. Congratulations to Keith, Anita and Brant Mahanay, the 2008 Grassland Award Winners!
AWARD WINNERS
GRASSLAND AWARD WINNERS
Keith, Anita & Brant Mahanay
