The 60
th annual Resource Conservation Speech Contest State Finals were held at the State Capitol in Pierre on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
The contest theme was “What Have You Done for Conservation Lately?”
Winning first place and a $1,100 scholarship was Isabelle Mairose. Isabelle was sponsored by Brule-Buffalo Conservation District and is a homeschooled sophomore. She is the daughter of Mary and Steve Mairose of Kimball.
Winning second place and a $750 scholarship was Seth Schoon. Seth was sponsored by Mellette Conservation District and is a sophomore at Sunshine Bible Academy. He is the son of Jennifer and Lealand Schoon of White River.
Winning third place and a $450 scholarship was Remington Miklos. Remington was sponsored by Custer Conservation District and is a sophomore at Custer High School. He is the son of Amy and Tom Miklos of Custer.
Photos courtesy of NOLO
OPEN MINDS: “Both people benefit,” says Jerry Moench (right) of his agreement with cattle producer Mike Blaalid. “His cows grow healthy, and I’m developing healthy land that’s being enriched instead of being depleted. I just don’t know how you beat that.” Three common goals united a tenant and landlord in a cattle grazing agreement.
Editor’s note: This is the first of seven stories on the relationship between landowners and tenants, and how soil health goals can be achieved more efficiently if both parties are on the same page.
Jerry Moench and tenant Mike Blaalid have a flexible lease agreement. Instead of a lease for grazing based on acres per year, it’s a custom-grazing lease with payment on the basis of how many head of cattle graze per day.
Nominations and applications are now being accepted for the 2021 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award
®. The $10,000 award honors ranchers, farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 21 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In South Dakota, the award is presented with the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition. The 2020 recipient of the award was Blair Brothers Angus Ranch of Sturgis.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relat