Yuma CD 50th Annual Meeting

On Tuesday November 11, 2008 the Yuma Conservation District hosted its fiftieth annual meeting at the Club at Indian Hills.  Roughly 150 members and partners were in attendance.

The night included display boards spanning the previous 50 years which highlighted photos and important documents, Representative Jerry Sonnenberg served as Master of Ceremonies, presentation of the ADM Community Partnership grant by local plant manager Deb Heid, recognition of the Outstanding Cooperators of the Year Carrol and Vicki Flemister, special recognition of Marvin Salvador and Ted Tuell, a Distinguished Service Award for 50 years of dedication and honorable service was presented to Bud & Genève Mekelburg, key note speech by National Association of Conservation Districts, President John Redding, a Certificate of Commendation from the 66th General Assembly of the Colorado House of Representatives was presented by Representative Cory Gardner and the Grand Prize a $500 travel voucher generously donated by Bank of Colorado was won by Tim Powell.

The locally grown menu featured French Onion Soup, onions grown by Jensen Onions producers, garlic mashed potatoes grown and donated by Joe and Kellie Newton, baked beans grown and donated by local ADM producers, pork tenderloin grown and donated by Murphy Brown, prime rib donated by Scharmm, butter and sour cream grown and donated by Yuma County Dairy and cheesecake.

Founding members of the Yuma Conservation District that were present included Perry Blach, Willard Gorman and Bud Mekelburg.

50th Annual Meeting Date has been set

Yuma Conservation District will be hosting their 50th Annual Meeting on November 11, 2008.  The guest speaker will be President of the National Association of Conservation Districts John Redding.  Location and time will be announced soon.  

President, John Redding planting flowers with his granddaughter

John Redding, is a second generation landowner from Monroe, Georgia. Redding’s involvement with districts is vast; he has served as a district supervisor since 1978 and as a Chairman since 1979. He was elected president of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts in 1996. Redding’s participation at the national level began in 1990 when he was elected to the Board of Directors. He has served on NACD’s Executive Board since 2001 and was elected to national office in 2004. Redding’s commitment to conservation and districts was recognized by his colleagues when he was named the Outstanding Supervisor in Georgia in 2003.

Redding owns a 400-acre farm where he raises cotton, peanuts and pine trees. The cotton and peanuts are irrigated using three wells and a nine-acre pond, all of which are permitted. Conservation practices on his farm include riparian buffers, conservation tillage and grassed water ways.

In addition to his work with districts, Redding has served as the Agency Manager of Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance in Walton County since 1970.

Yuma Conservation District celebrates 50 years of conservation history

Yuma Conservation District celebrates 50 years of conservation services for landowners and land users in western Yuma County in partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Services).

The district was formed in 1958 to provide local supervision of federal workers on public lands. Our mission is still providing locally led conservation to protect natural resources while maintaining productive agricultural lands.

“Back to the Future”
In 2008, we celebrate the past while looking forward to the future. We face great challenges today with water issues – can we sustain the Ogallala Aquifer, maintain our agricultural economy and not be penalized by Interstate Compacts for being good stewards?

We faced the challenge and overcame the devastation of the Dust Bowl. We can meet today’s challenges with the same type of dedication and commitment.

Join us this year for a look back at our history together which will culminate with a dinner celebration in November.

District Origins and History
On August 15, 1958, a meeting was held at the library in Yuma to determine the need for a soil conservation district.  Area landowners felt because of the land use change in the Yuma area, more technical assistance was needed.  An organizational meeting was held on October 8, 1958 at Perry Blach’s home.  Eight people attended the first meeting and became the Yuma SCD’s first Board of Supervisors. 

They were: Perry Blach, Sherman Blach, Milton “Bud” Mekelburg, Vernon Myers, Marvin Brockmeier, Harold Peterson, Dale Monk, and Frank Herman. 

On the 18th day of November 1958, the Yuma Soil Conservation District became a lawful entity under the provisions of the Colorado State Conservation Act. 

The district office has been headquartered in many locations: second floor of Mustains, Anderson Lumber, what was originally called the Meis and Pounds Building north of L&L, 804 S. Ash, and the Heltenberg Building at 806 West 8th Avenue.  In October of 1995, the district purchased the building at 508 East 8th Avenue and moved the office there. 

The first Soil Conservation District Conservationist was Tom Skillman in 1958.  Merl Shibble was hired through the Soil Conservation Service in 1958 as the first district manager.  The district newsletter was published in 1960.  Its purpose was to keep area residents informed on what the district was doing. 

Many “firsts

Several first events have happened in the district.  The district helped establish the first youth board in the state.  Nina Stulp, an educator, was the first advisor.  The first living snow fence was planted in the district area.  The Yuma District was one of the first to use weed barrier on tree plantings.  A field windbreak demonstration project was planted at Mekelburg’s, and a snow dispersal windbreak demonstration project was planted at Oestman’s.  The first flat channel terraces in the state were installed in the Yuma District.

In May of 1996, an election was held and a mill levy was approved for the district.  Other funds for district projects are received through the State Conservation Board, an agency of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, sales of supplies, and special grants. 

Information for this article was taken from The Yuma SCD Newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 2, September – October 1998