Farm Family of the Year

Contact: Erin Pate, (217) 744-3414

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2007

Richland County Producers Named “Farm Family of the Year”

SPRINGFIELD, IL, July 31, 2007—At the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) 59th Annual Meeting and Illinois Land and Water Resources Conference held at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield, Illinois, eight conservation farm families were recognized for their achievements and the statewide winner—the Dehlinger Farm Family from Richland County, was honored as this year’s Farm Family of the Year.

The Dehlinger Farm Family began in 1950 when they purchased eighty acres north of Olney in Preston township. Today, the Dehlinger operation consists of approximately 3,000 acres of feed grains and wheat that is no-tilled – keeping soil loss to a minimum and saving valuable time. You will find numerous conservation practices on the Dehlinger Farm from grassed waterways, block chutes, water and sediment control basins and more to insure that future generations are left with the legacy of the family farm. The Dehlinger Family volunteers many hours to organizations within their community such as, 4-H, the local FFA, church, Safety 4 Just Kids and more.

Illinois Department of Agriculture Representative Steve Chard was on hand to present the prestigious Governor’s Award, to the Dehlinger Family. John Deere and Company donated an x304 lawn tractor for the family and they will also receive a sign to place in their front lawn and will be honored guests at the Ag Day Luncheon during the 2007 Illinois State Fair.

The Dehlinger Family stated, “We hope to continue to expand the farm while protecting our valuable resources, and continue our work as a family in church, community, and school activities. It has been a wonderful experience so far and we look forward, with enthusiasm, toward the future.”

The Conservation Farm Family award recognizes outstanding conservation farm families from each Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) that exemplify Total Resource Management. Each SWCD is encouraged to sponsor a local contest and submit their winner for Council competition. From the sixteen Land Use Councils (LUC) winners, the AISWCD Awards Committee selects the Governor’s Award winner. Brownfield Network, John Deere and Company, Archer Daniels Midland Company, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the AISWCD sponsor this award.

The Regional 2007 Conservation Farm Family winners are:

Don & John Kennay, Lee Co.
Lehmann Brothers Farm, Livingston Co.
Snow Farm Family, Fayette Co.
Bass Family Farm, Union Co.
Meadow Lawn Farm, Will/South Cook Co.
Fredenhagen Family, Bureau Co.
W. Donald & Harriet Ray, Warren Co.
Dehlinger Farm Family, Richland Co.

“We honor the Dehlinger Farm Family with this title and award to showcase their on-going commitment to resource management and protection,” says AISWCD President Terry Davis. “But we also honor and recognize the regional winners and all the other individuals and farmers across Illinois who make a difference on the land they farm by making conservation a way of life.”