COLUMBUS, Ohio – For their demonstration of farm efficiency, farm management and innovation, Michael Watercutter, of Anna, and Jerry McBride, of Dola, were honored as 2026 Ohio Master Farmers at the Ohio Tillage and Technology Conference in March in Ada, Ohio.

Each year, Ohio Farmer bestows the prestigious Master Farmer award on two individuals who have made a great impact on their farm operation and those around them.

The Watercutter family has farmed the same land since 1895. Michael joined his father in the operation in 2009 after graduating from college. Since then, the farm has experienced a period of growth and transformation. The cattle enterprise has expanded from 40 to 240 head annually, adding new facilities to support animal care and nutrient management, and growing a successful direct-to-consumer beef business with plans for further expansion this year.

Watercutter’s farm has been fully no-till since 2018, with 100 percent cover crop adoption since 2019. His regenerative farming system includes diverse cover crop mixtures, planting green, roller-crimp termination, and reduced fertilizer inputs guided by soil health testing. For Watercutter, it’s all about enriching the soil and helping those around him do the same.

At his farm in west central Ohio, Watercutter tends to corn, wheat, beans and a little grass hay on his 250 acres. He says it’s “all about the soil.”

“Soil is what you’re farming and what you own,” Watercutter said. “We need to protect that and keep it alive for the next generation. That means keeping soil in place by reducing wind and runoff erosion, and building soil health with cover crops and no-till. These practices improve water quality, boost infiltration, and strengthen nutrient cycling to support a healthier cash crop.”

Watercutter is a conservation agronomist for American Farmland Trust and Mercer Landmark in west central and northwest Ohio. He advises farmers on cover crops, soil health and any programs that might pertain to sustainability and conservation.

He studied soil health at Ohio State’s Agriculture Technical Institute (ATI) in Wooster. Since then, he has led educational events, supported on-farm research, and presented at conferences nationwide. His ability to connect with producers and translate complex agronomic concepts into practical, real-world solutions has made him a valued and trusted adviser.

“I started getting some more of the sustainability and conservation minded things early on,” Watercutter said. “I think dad and grandpa really started doing no till in the early 2000s and then kind of toward that 2015 timeframe we started to dabble a little bit in cover crops.”

Both farmers were nominated by those farming around them.

“It was an honor in nominating Michael as I think he’s in the forefront of things. I think he’s someone that’s always on the cutting edge of new technology and the research that he was doing on his farm,” said Tim Lyden, Logan County farmer.

Lyden taught agriculture in schools for 35 years, but learned a few things from Watercutter as well.

“He’s interested in regenerative ag and trying to bring soil health back to the farm,” Lyden said.

“Michael has worked with hundreds of landowners across the area trying to advance their operations from an economic standpoint while assisting them to be better stewards of the land,” said Jason Bruns, district administrator for the Shelby Soil and Water Conservation District.

McBride currently farms 1,500 acres in Dola. He, too, puts soil at the forefront of the things he’s doing on the farm.

“I was asked to join the local soil and water district board and I did, and being on the board I saw some of the practices that they were recommending,” McBride said. “I just thought that a board member ought to be an example for the rest of the community to do the right things and today I’m 100 percent no till, and that’s the first thing I do.”

According to McBride, “take care of the soil and the soil will take care of you.”

 “I do have some drainage control structures,” he said. “I’ve got a couple of blind inlets now that I’ve had in for 10 to 12 years. All the data shows that a lot of the phosphorus that is getting into the rivers and the lakes is coming from surface runoff, so if I get that phosphorus in the ground two to three inches and we get a two-inch rain and the water runs off the surface, my phosphorus is still where I put it right there in the ground.

“I haven’t seen any difference on yield plus or minus, but the biggest thing I see is dollar savings. I’m not putting phosphorus where I don’t need it. I’m putting on maybe a little more where I do need it but not overkill and it’s in the ground so I’m not worried about that running off. It takes me a lot of time to cover 1,500 acres. I cover crop every acre, every year.”

McBride said there are several ways to get started in improving the soil.

“The first thing you need is a good soil test,” he said. “I started grid sampling on the very first farm that I bought and I’ve been grid sampling that and variable rating that ever since 1985. I also have the pH out more than what it should be on the farm and that’s helped the nutrients become more available.”

Cover crops and no-till have been McBride’s path to success.

“You gotta be patient. You’re not gonna see results right away,” McBride said. “You’ll learn you have to be determined and you gotta set your mind to doing the right things to further your conservation efforts.”

Many around McBride have taken notice of his diligence.

“I first became acquainted with Jerry 48 years ago when I was a student teacher and Jerry was one of my students,” said Gary Wilson, professor emeritus and former Hancock County agriculture Extension agent. “I’ve followed his high involvement in ag-related activities and he has been known to be an innovator and willing to try new things. He’s always been willing to conduct on-farm research to test new methods and inputs. He even installed solar panels on his barn to help dry corn. He’s always been willing to advance agriculture by helping other farmers.”

Gene McCluer, retired OSU Extension ag and natural resources educator in Hardin County, said, “Jerry was one of the first young and exciting farmers I met when I came to Hardin County in 1989. He started using no-till and other conservation practices early in his farming career and has helped many of his farming cohorts learn to adopt these useful systems. Jerry believes in the next generation of agriculturalists, both in his family and in the community.”

McBride doesn’t settle for the norm. His friends say he’s very innovative.

“I enjoy that there’s something different every day,” McBride said. “You never do the same thing twice, and you’ve got to be open to change. Don’t be afraid to take some chances. Don’t stretch yourself too thin, but try new things. It’s not a failure, it’s a learning experience.”