Crawford County Conservation District Newsletter Rural Fire Protection Program Grants Awarded to Local Fire Depar tments

The Arkansas Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils, Inc. (RC&D) awarded 2 Rural Fire Protection Program grants in Crawford County. BDR Fire Department re-ceived $4360 and Mulberry Fire Department received $3900. The funds were awarded to purchase specific equipment. The Crawford County Conservation District works with the RC&D and the Rural Fire Protection Pro-gram to bring these grants to Crawford County.

The 2010 Stewardship Theme is ...

Stewardship Week begins April 25th. The Crawford County Conservation District cele-brates by sponsoring an annual Poster Contest for 5th grade students. Everyone should practice being good stewards not just during Stewardship Week but throughout the year. “Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats”

Poultry farms remember to register Nutrient Management your operation this year! Plans are available free of

charge for landowners and are Every poultry producer is required by law to register good for a period of 5 years. Do

their operation each year and pay an annual $10.00 you have an updated plan for your

registration fee. Producers have until a deadline date of March 31, 2010 to register their operation with the Crawford County Conservation District.

conservation needs? Contact the Crawford County Conservation District to schedule an update for your plans today.

District Coordinator: Sherrie Lech

Phone: (479) 474-2281

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Monday –Thursday

Office Location:

101 South 7th Street

Van Buren, Arkansas 72956

Dale Oliver, Water Quality Technician

NRCS Staff: Neal Martin, District Conservationist

Shirley Petties, Soil Conservationist

Jane Lowry, Soil Conservation

Technician

Pictured from left are: Bob Neidecker, Crawford County Conservation District Board Chairman; Tim Oldham, Fire Chief for Mulberry District 2; Scott Price, Fire Chief for BDR Volunteer Fire District 1; Crawford County Judge John Hall and Les Jenkins, Fire Department Coordinator.

District Board Meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. held at the District Office in Van Buren.

District Directors: Bob Neidecker, Chairman

Randy Arnold, Vice-Chairman

Wanda Meadors, Secretary-Treasurer

March 2010 Volume 3, Issue 1

Gene Robertson, Member

James Arnold, Member

Farm Bureau

Page 2 Crawford County Conservation District Newsletter

Envirothon Team

The 2009 Mountainburg Envirothon Team was sponsored by the Crawford County Conservation District. Pictured above are the Envirothon team members. (front) Coach Frankie Delmonego, Shea G., Jackie R. (back row) Michael B., Dustin H. and Andrew G.

The Crawford County Conservation District sponsors high school teams to participate in this national program. If you would like more information on the Annual Canon Envirothon or want to have an Envirothon Team from your school for 2010 contact the Crawford County Conservation District.

Youth Conservation Workshop (YCW)

Crawford County Conservation District will sponsor 2 youths from Crawford County to attend the 2010 YCW scheduled for the week of June 27th thru July 2nd. Students must be entering the 9th-12th grades to be eligible. This camp is a fun filled week of hands on activities that include things such as farm tours, river float trips and several education scholarships for the top participants. Topics covered include a forestry day, water day, soils day along with life skills and team building activities. Interested participants should contact the Crawford County Conservation District Office. Applications are due by April 22nd.

Outdoor Classrooms Outdoor Classrooms can help you teach in a different way. They offer benefits to many individuals. An Outdoor Classroom is a great way for people to get outside and enjoy nature while learning. Kids seem to get more interested when we take it outside to an Out-door Classroom. Make learning fun! If your school is interested in an Outdoor Classroom contact the Craw-ford County Conservation District. We can help you with your school’s Outdoor Classroom.

“Believe in yourself, and there’s no limit to what you can accomplish!”

Neidecker Farms

James F. McGhee, Agency Manager Crawford County Office

P.O. Box 627 Van Buren, AR 72957

Office (479) 474-5229 ext10 James.mcghee@afbic.com

Equipment Rentals: No-Till Drill $6 per acre

with a $50 minimum per day Sprayer $35 per day without a boom

or $50 per day with a boom

“Thank you to all who purchased nuts from our nut fundraiser. We hope that you enjoyed these nuts & will again support us during this event in the Fall.”

Farm Credit of Western Arkansas John Hall John Hall

COUNTY JUDGE CRAWFORD COUNTY COURTHOUSE

300 MAIN STREET • ROOM 4 VAN BUREN, AR 72956 - 5798

USDA of fers financial incentives for conservation activit ies.

Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) has various programs that are available to landowners interested in promoting conservation. If you are interested in. . . curbing water erosion conserving soil & water resources establishing wildl ife habitat managing forest lands restoring wetlands

Please contact the Crawford County Conservation Distr ict for more information on these programs.

Volume 3, Issue 1 Page 3

Ear th Team Volunteers Jerry McGary from Fort Smith was selected as the “State Earth Team Volunteer of the Year”. Congratulations, Jerry! The purpose of the Earth Team — the volunteer arm of NRCS— is to expand NRCS services by using volunteer t ime, talent & energy to help meet agency needs. The Earth Team is continually looking for volunteers who want to help conserve, protect & maintain our natural resources. To learn more about becoming an Earth Team Volunteer, “Helping People Help the Land,” contact the Crawford County Conservation District.

Congratulations to Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts (AACD) State Photo Contest Winners

Pictured above are Van Buren students holding their winning checks from left to right. Donna F. won 1st place in the Forest/Plants Adult Category. Katelyn J. won 1st place in the Forest/Plants Youth Category as well as being selected as the overall Grand Prize Winner in the Youth Category. Keri A. won 1st place in the Landscape/Waterscape Youth Category. Derrick W. won Honorable Mention in the Forestry/Plants Youth Category.

Pictured above is Sandra McClure from Van Buren holding a copy of her winning photo. This photo was selected at the State Photo Contest as the Grand Prize Winner in the Livestock/Wildlife Adult Category.

Pictured above is Stephanie K. from Alma. She won 1st place for her photo submission in the Cropland Youth Category.

Williams PHONE (479) 474-3900

1221 EAST MAIN • P.O. BOX 463 VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS 72957

FLORIST & GIFTS

Crawford County Conservation District 101 S. 7th Street Van Buren, AR 72956 Phone: (479) 474-2281

Please support our local newsletter sponsors. These sponsors help the District to continue to publish newsletters each September & March. Anyone interested in advertising in our newsletters please contact the Crawford County Conservation District at (479) 474-2281. Thank you!

The Crawford County Conservation District and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA office of Communions at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Upcoming Events:

Conservation Education Workshops Prescribed Fire Workshop for Private Land-owners to be held at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in

Fort Smith (April 24th) Stewardship Week (April 25th - May 1st) Youth Conservation Workshop

(June 27th - July 2nd)

Plat Books available The 2008 PLAT BOOKS and OWNER-SHIP WALL MAPS of Crawford County are available for purchase at the Crawford County Conservation District. These books are the most recent publi-cation of property ownership books and maps available. We are offering them at the following prices:

PLAT BOOK.........$40.00 each

WALL MAPS (36” x 48”) …….……...$50.00 each

Citizens Bank & Trust Company

Crawford County Cattleman’s Association

SAVE A TREE

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Call me at (479) 474-2281

or send me an e-mail at Sherrie.Lech@ar.nacdnet.net

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