LONDON, Ohio – Five Ohio families were recognized as winners of the 2023 Conservation Farm Family Awards last month at the Farm Science Review in London, Ohio. The five families honored were the Rethmel family (Defiance County), Todd and Melissa Miller (Columbiana County), Julius and Jodee Verhovec (Jefferson County), Brent and Jenna Clark (Miami County) and the Wickerham family (Adams County).

“Conservation of our soil and water resources is paramount to the future of agriculture and all the benefits it provides to every Ohioan,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. “These winners have made it their life’s work to conserve soil, water, woodland and wildlife on the land they farm and they commit to being good stewards.”

Since 1984, the Conservation Farm Family Awards program has recognized Ohio farm families for their exemplary efforts conserving soil, water, woodland, wildlife and other natural resources on the land they farm. Conservation farm families also host a variety of educational programs, opening their farms to schools, scout groups, farm organizations and others.

 “Ohio’s farmers are on the front lines of conserving the state’s natural resources,” said John Wilson, Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service state conservationist. “We applaud these families who have gone above and beyond in incorporating conservation planning and implementation, demonstrating the benefits of good stewardship.”

 Brothers Roy, Rod, Ron and Roger Rethmel were crowned Area 1 Winner. They farm 1,335 acres of corn, soybean and wheat, and raise sows, feeder pigs and market hogs/replacement gilts on their Defiance County farm. They use a variety of soil and water resource management practices, including 240 acres in cover crops, 1,170 acres in crop rotation, two waterways, and 39 filter strips. In addition, they include 1,335 acres under a nutrient management plan, use 15 acres in wildlife habitat, and 25 acres in drainage water management.

 “We won the award because we did the processes that the Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation District recommended that would be good for the soil, and implemented farming processes that aid in conservation practices, like the H2Ohio program,” Roy said. “Dad (Frank Rethmel) passed away quite a few years ago and he would be really proud of this recognition. He was the one who started implementing the conservation measures years and years ago. We followed along with that. He wasn’t a farmer. He worked off the farm for income to build the farm so the four of us could have a career in farming.”

 Area 2 Winner was Todd and Melissa Miller of Columbiana County. The couple farms 115 acres in hay and pasture and operate a 60-head beef cow operation, which includes bred heifers, bulls and freezer beef.

 The Millers’ farm includes 19 acres in forestry and uses a multitude of conservation practices including cover crops, filter strips and a wetland with exclusion fence. Their entire acreage operates under a nutrient management plan, and are under grazing management and rotational grazing. They incorporate wildlife habitat and drainage water management through a pond with riparian buffer.

 Area 3 Winner is Julius and Jodee Verhovec of Jefferson County. The couple operates a 132-acre farm of pasture and hay on which they incorporate a 41-head cow/calf operation including replacement heifers, bulls and steers in Jefferson County.

The farm includes 52 acres of woodland and other conservation practices, including filter strips and livestock exclusion fencing. The operation includes 61 acres in a grazing management plan and 51 acres in rotational grazing. 

 Both 70 and retired (Julius a steelworker, Jodee a middle school science teacher) they remain very active. They both have roots in agriculture, but it wasn’t until Jodee’s father, Fred Straus, passed away in 2005 that they considered becoming farmers.

 Area 4 Winner is Brent and Jenna Clark of Miami County. The couple farms 1,376 acres on which they produce corn and soybeans and raise 700 head of feeder cattle on 45 acres of pasture.

The Clarks use a variety of conservation and water resource management practices on their land including 20 acres in forestry, cover crops, crop rotation, water ways, livestock exclusion fencing, nutrient management, grazing management and rotational grazing, wildlife habitat, drainage water management and conservation tillage.

 Area 5 Winner are brothers Bill, Dan and Mark Wickerham of Adams County. The trio farms 220 acres on which they raise 85 head of beef cattle.

 The Wickerhams use many soil and water resource management techniques on their farm, including 5.1 acres of livestock exclusion fencing, all acres in a nutrient management plan and grazing management plan, and all acres in rotational grazing including multiple acres in wildlife habitat.

 “For farm families, many traditions are passed on from generation to generation, but few as important as conservation,” said Adam Sharp, Executive Vice President of Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. “They are an example of what every farmer across the state strives for to ensure a balance between healthy soils and a vibrant Ohio food system.”

 The families each receive $400 from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. Nominations are sought annually between January and May, and Ohio farming families are encouraged to apply. For more information or to apply, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District.