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Randy Caviness, Adair County SWCD Chairman, has been serving the surrounding communities as an Adair County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner for over 10 years. He grew up on the farm that was owned and operated by his parents, Harold and Beverly Caviness. As a small child, he was always involved with livestock and farming practices under the guidance and care of his parents.
He learned first-hand about the “do’s and don’ts” of farming techniques from his predecessors and the important need to protect and maintain our natural resources for the future generations. Caviness began farming with renting 80 acres in 1975.
Caviness states, “The 1985 Farm Bill was a big deciding factor for a lot of farmers to seek better conservation practices.” He began doing No-till farming practices in 1988 and has seen and reaped the benefit of this method of farming.
The advanced technology and chemicals have increased benefits using the bio-technology available - one of the biggest changes - over the past years with precision farming today.
With agricultural producers making up less than two percent of the population, it is extremely important that local farmers and the “small-town” population take conservation seriously. Caviness states, “Conservation is everyone’s business, but we, as farmers, are responsible as agricultural producers.”
As commissioners, we are faced with the challenge of offering programs to help educate our future generations about soil and water conservation with our limited resources. The cost-share program is a partnership between the District and local landowners to help get conservation practices on the land that prevent soil erosion and protect water quality. Now is the time for farmers to plan ahead. By contributing to the District, you help to ensure the continuation of conservation programs in our communities, to our landowners and to our schools. Your donated funds provide us the ability to offer Local High School Senior Scholarships, Poster Contest winners, Photo Contest winners, Annual 5th Grade Field Day, Envirothon Team support and other out-reach activities.
The only funding we receive is self-generated, through the use of equipment rental, tree sales, and private donations. If you would like to support the Adair Soil and Water Conservation District, please send a contribution to the Adair SWCD, 705 NE Sixth Street, Suite E, Greenfield, IA 50849. Contributions in any amount are greatly appreciated and your name will be printed in next year’s report. Thank you in advance for your support.
The Adair County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners have opportunities throughout the year to recognize individuals for their various contributions to highlighting and encouraging conservation practices and water quality.
Adair County SWCD Chairman, Randy Caviness, presented Nodaway Valley sophomore student Ben Breheny (son of John and Leisa Breheny, of Greenfield) with a $25 award for his photo entry in the NACD Photo Contest.
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the NACD Auxiliary host an annual Photo Contest, open to all amateur photographers who reside in the US or its territories. Contestants are allowed to enter as many as five photos each year that each fit into one of the following four categories: 1.) Conservation Practices 2.) Close-up Conservation 3.) Conservation in Action 4.) Agriculture and Conservation Across America. There is a Youth Division (ages 18 years old or younger) and an Adult Division (ages 19 years old or older) for photo entry submissions.
Ben’s photo was entered in the Youth Division under the category of Ag/Conservation Across America with a title of “Cornfield” with a description of “cornfield with sunset”.
The 2018 Photo Contest submission deadline has passed – winners will be announced at the 2019 NACD Annual Meeting (December 2019) in San Antonio, Texas. The 2019 Photo Contest is now open – submissions must be completed on or before December 1, 2019. Therefore, individuals have nine months of the year for opportunities to catch some breathtaking shots of mother nature’s impressive work of art on the landscape and in action! For more information, please contact the Adair SWCD Greenfield office at 641-343-7033.