Jerry Perkins Honored with SWCD Service Award
Published: Friday, March 16, 2018
The LaGrange County Soil and Water Conservation District last week honored a well-known expert in rotational grazing and soil conservation with its Longtime Service Award.
Jerry Perkins, who retired in 2011 after a stellar career with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, received the award last Thursday at the SWCD's annual meeting at Prairie Heights Middle School.
Perkins, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1965, worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service from 1987 to 1995. He became a specialist in rotational grazing and served as NRCS grazingland specialist from 1996 to 2011. He also served as an advisor to the Northern Indiana Grazing Conference since its beginning in 2002.
Other top awards were presented to a Wolcottville crop and dairy operation that was founded in the early 1900s, a young woman who started her own farm just three years ago, and a longtime physics teacher at Prairie Heights High School.
Perkins Twin Creek Farms, founded in the early 1900s by Minor Perkins, was honored as the Conservation Farmer of the Year. Today, the operation has grown 2,400 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and hay, and a milking herd of 475 Holsteins. The Perkins family utilizes cover crops extensively, and manure and fertilizers are applied according to a comprehensive nutrient management plan. On the milk production side of the equation, the owners have achieved an impressive 99.5 pound per day milking average.
Rachel Maginn, who raises corn and soybeans with her brother and father, received the Young Farmer of the Year award. Maginn graduated from Purdue with a degree in mechanical engineering, where she met her husband, Eric. She is now employed as a test engineer by BAE Systems, manufacturing flight controls. She began farming in 2015.
Jim Van Antwerp, chemistry and physics teacher at Prairie Heights High School, was named Conservation Educator of the Year. During his 33 years of teaching, he has incorporated environmental issues into his science classes. He has also assisted with the rivers and streams project at the high school.
The soil and water district recognized a local recipient of the River Friendly Farmer award from the state of Indiana. Stan and Deb Notestine operate Notestine Farms, a 450-acre crop and hay operation in eastern LaGrange County. All of their crops are 100 percent no-till.
Also receiving an award was the LaGrange County Highway Department, which was honored as the Conservation Cooperator of the Year. According to SWCD officials, the highway department has offered equipment, manpower, information and expertise to many district cost-share projects, conservation efforts, and development and maintenance of the district's property at Par-Gil.
Recognition was also given to the local soil judging teams. All three public schools in LaGrange County last year participated in the soil judging contest held on the David Mass farm near LaGrange. Westview had the first-place teams in both the senior and junior divisions.
In the senior division, the Westview FFA team of Paul Klopfenstein, Peyton Schrock, Zac Morris and Matt Troyer led the way. Klopfenstein was the top individual scorer.
The second-place team, from Prairie Heights FFA, included Katelyn Sperry, Lily Vondran, Luke Wagler and Haylee Henderson.
The third and fourth place teams, respectively, were both from Westview FFA. The third-place team consisted of Cody Collyer, Luke Sharp, Kaylie Rolin and Brad Chupp. The fourth-place team included Alyvea Bender, Damon Strong, Marcus Yoder and Mason Jones.
In the junior division, the first place Westview FFA team consisted of Clay Knight, Justin Lehman, Andrew Baughman and Tyler Glick. The top individual scorer was Clay Knight.
The second and third place teams, respectively, were both from Westview FFA. The second-place team was represented by Vernon Yoder, Micha Lehman, Joel Gingerich and Zachary Miller. Members of the third-place team were Jonathan Yutzy, Sara Miller, Michael Frey and Marcus Hochstetler.
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