2024 Conservation Farmer of Year
Karl Swenson of Otisco was selected as the 2024 Outstanding Conservation Farmer by Waseca Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).
He grows sweet corn and soybeans on the west side of highway 13 by Otisco. Karl started farming 10 years ago after his father retired from a long farming career. For the past 10 years you may have noticed much of his farm is greening up in the fall and one of the first fields to be green and growing in the spring because he plants cover crops after sweet corn harvest every year. He also manages around 50 acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for his family that is too wet to farm. Karl uses strip tillage and cover crops to protect his soil from water and wind erosion. On some winter days the results are literally a night and day difference. Snow drifts next to his fields are white like they are supposed to be and sometimes fields within just a few miles are jet black from blowing soil from the field. He has also witnessed better infiltration, soil tilth, and soil structure since implementing these soil health practices. He notes that what he does is considered conservation, but he thinks of it as making farming easier and better.
Karl Swenson of Otisco was selected as the 2024 Outstanding Conservation Farmer by Waseca Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).
He grows sweet corn and soybeans on the west side of highway 13 by Otisco. Karl started farming 10 years ago after his father retired from a long farming career. For the past 10 years you may have noticed much of his farm is greening up in the fall and one of the first fields to be green and growing in the spring because he plants cover crops after sweet corn harvest every year. He also manages around 50 acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for his family that is too wet to farm. Karl uses strip tillage and cover crops to protect his soil from water and wind erosion. On some winter days the results are literally a night and day difference. Snow drifts next to his fields are white like they are supposed to be and sometimes fields within just a few miles are jet black from blowing soil from the field. He has also witnessed better infiltration, soil tilth, and soil structure since implementing these soil health practices. He notes that what he does is considered conservation, but he thinks of it as making farming easier and better.
2023 Conservation Farmer of the Year
Jurgen Peters has been chosen as the 2023 Conservation Farmer of the Year by the Waseca SWCD Board of Supervisors.
Jurgen and his wife Jackie live south of Waseca on 25+ acres along the Le Sueur River. Approximately 17 of those acres covered with trees, some that he planted 40 years ago. Jurgen has the tillable land rented out and is planted in permanent alfalfa, which controls erosion. Over the years, they have installed 2 streambank protection projects that have been a success. Jurgen has surrounded his life with Agriculture and Conservation. For 36 years, he was a Waseca High School Ag Instructor during which time he would get his FFA members to raise and release pheasants on his farm. He constructed buildings using the wood and stones from his property to house his variety of livestock and maintained an orchard. After retiring from the High School, he went on to be a Waseca County Extension Agent until the Extension Offices were restructured to the Regional Office format around 2003. He would help out when needed at SROC and emceed many Horticulture Day Programs. Jurgen was also an active Waseca Soil and Water Conservation Board Supervisor for 10 ½ years from January 1, 2003 to June 3, 2013. Jurgen is an avid story teller, having a tale for many topics. He has inspired and helped many people throughout his lifetime, whether it be teaching, volunteering, talking over coffee or a fence post. His support and devotion to agriculture and conservation has been admired by many.
Thank you Jurgen and Jackie for all the things you have done to better Waseca County.
Jurgen Peters has been chosen as the 2023 Conservation Farmer of the Year by the Waseca SWCD Board of Supervisors.
Jurgen and his wife Jackie live south of Waseca on 25+ acres along the Le Sueur River. Approximately 17 of those acres covered with trees, some that he planted 40 years ago. Jurgen has the tillable land rented out and is planted in permanent alfalfa, which controls erosion. Over the years, they have installed 2 streambank protection projects that have been a success. Jurgen has surrounded his life with Agriculture and Conservation. For 36 years, he was a Waseca High School Ag Instructor during which time he would get his FFA members to raise and release pheasants on his farm. He constructed buildings using the wood and stones from his property to house his variety of livestock and maintained an orchard. After retiring from the High School, he went on to be a Waseca County Extension Agent until the Extension Offices were restructured to the Regional Office format around 2003. He would help out when needed at SROC and emceed many Horticulture Day Programs. Jurgen was also an active Waseca Soil and Water Conservation Board Supervisor for 10 ½ years from January 1, 2003 to June 3, 2013. Jurgen is an avid story teller, having a tale for many topics. He has inspired and helped many people throughout his lifetime, whether it be teaching, volunteering, talking over coffee or a fence post. His support and devotion to agriculture and conservation has been admired by many.
Thank you Jurgen and Jackie for all the things you have done to better Waseca County.
2022 Conservation Farmers of the Year
This year the Waseca SWCD Board of Supervisors have awarded Brad E & LeAnne Krause The 2022 Conservation Farmers of the Year.
This year the Waseca SWCD Board of Supervisors recognize Brad and LeAnne Krause of Waseca, as Conservation Farmers of the Year. They currently have a corn and bean operation on 400 acres. Brad and LeAnne started farming in 1987 after having off-farm jobs. Starting with a tillage program, then trying a ridge till program, they are now committed to no-till beans and strip till corn programs. They have experienced more productivity, increased resilience to drought, and a better return on investment through these practices. Brad also does some custom strip tilling allowing others to try this conservation practice. The windbreak pictured below was installed by soil and water conservation district staff 25 years ago. Brad and LeAnne also have a RIM easement that was put on a marginal field which now provides tremendous wildlife habitat. The Krause’s have adopted technology into their operation and look forward to the day when they can use a driverless tractor.
This year the Waseca SWCD Board of Supervisors have awarded Brad E & LeAnne Krause The 2022 Conservation Farmers of the Year.
This year the Waseca SWCD Board of Supervisors recognize Brad and LeAnne Krause of Waseca, as Conservation Farmers of the Year. They currently have a corn and bean operation on 400 acres. Brad and LeAnne started farming in 1987 after having off-farm jobs. Starting with a tillage program, then trying a ridge till program, they are now committed to no-till beans and strip till corn programs. They have experienced more productivity, increased resilience to drought, and a better return on investment through these practices. Brad also does some custom strip tilling allowing others to try this conservation practice. The windbreak pictured below was installed by soil and water conservation district staff 25 years ago. Brad and LeAnne also have a RIM easement that was put on a marginal field which now provides tremendous wildlife habitat. The Krause’s have adopted technology into their operation and look forward to the day when they can use a driverless tractor.
Brad and LeAnne at MASWCD Annual Convention. December 14, 2022
2021 Conservation Farmer of the Year
This year the Waseca SWCD Board of Supervisors have awarded Jason Norton The 2021 Conservation Farmer of the Year.
Jason Norton farms 430 Acres in Blooming Grove Township in Waseca County. Jason is very conservation minded. He strongly believes in Cover Crops and has proven the benefits of using this practice. Jason has designed and assembled many different forms of equipment to help in his practices. He has been very willing to share his accomplishments with others by attending meetings and forums and also by participating in Soil Health Tours. His plots are one of the stops on the Waseca SWCD & NRCS Self-Guided Tour in 2020-2021. Jason is also active in installing Buffers and in Rotational Grazing for his cattle.
Congratulations Jason for all your conservation efforts.
This year the Waseca SWCD Board of Supervisors have awarded Jason Norton The 2021 Conservation Farmer of the Year.
Jason Norton farms 430 Acres in Blooming Grove Township in Waseca County. Jason is very conservation minded. He strongly believes in Cover Crops and has proven the benefits of using this practice. Jason has designed and assembled many different forms of equipment to help in his practices. He has been very willing to share his accomplishments with others by attending meetings and forums and also by participating in Soil Health Tours. His plots are one of the stops on the Waseca SWCD & NRCS Self-Guided Tour in 2020-2021. Jason is also active in installing Buffers and in Rotational Grazing for his cattle.
Congratulations Jason for all your conservation efforts.
2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year
The Waseca SWCD Board of Supervisors awarded
Carl Guse
The 2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year.
Carl farms 425 acres in Waseca County, raising corn, beans and beef cattle. He has installed terraces to keep soil on the hills, a grassed waterway to decrease gully erosion and installed a pond to catch sediment before it enters the Le Sueur River. Carl has one of the few Nitrogen Bioreactors in Waseca County. The reactor uses wood chips to remove some of the nitrogen in tile water before it enters our service waters. Carl hopes to see more of these installed.
Carl has also participated in the Le Sueur River Watershed Network, encouraging land stewardship ethics within the watershed. Carl’s conservation plan is to maintain the conservation practices he has and monitors his land to see if he needs more.
Congratulations Carl for helping conserve our precious lands and waters.
Carl Guse
The 2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year.
Carl farms 425 acres in Waseca County, raising corn, beans and beef cattle. He has installed terraces to keep soil on the hills, a grassed waterway to decrease gully erosion and installed a pond to catch sediment before it enters the Le Sueur River. Carl has one of the few Nitrogen Bioreactors in Waseca County. The reactor uses wood chips to remove some of the nitrogen in tile water before it enters our service waters. Carl hopes to see more of these installed.
Carl has also participated in the Le Sueur River Watershed Network, encouraging land stewardship ethics within the watershed. Carl’s conservation plan is to maintain the conservation practices he has and monitors his land to see if he needs more.
Congratulations Carl for helping conserve our precious lands and waters.
Established Grassed Waterway
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Cover Crops
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The Conservation Farmer of the Year is picked each July at the District Board of Supervisors Meeting. Below is a list of the past Conservation Farmers of the Year.
