Schuylkill Conservation District awards recognize environmental preservation
Aug. 17—PINE GROVE — The High family farm in Pitman was named the Dr. James S. Shadle Conservation Farm of the Year on Tuesday by the Schuylkill Conservation District.
The family was presented with the award for having been stewards of their soil and water resources and employing innovative cutting-edge practices in their operation.
Merlin High, who farms 425 acres with his brother, Glendon, said steps were taken in spring to reduce manure pollution.
Cattle on the farm are fed inside a barn, which reduces the amount of manure deposited onto soil. Also, manure is now stored in a building to reduce runoff.
Barron L. "Boots" Hetherington, who chairs the Schuylkill County commissioners, said recognition of High Farms LLC completes a set of preserved farms in the county.
The farms include B&R Farms, operated by Hetherington's family in Union Twp.; the former Byron Breisch farm, operated by Morgan and Kevin Bond in Union Twp.; and High Farms.
"These farms are being preserved," Hetherington said, "and will never become housing developments."
Jenna St. Clair, Schuylkill Conservation District manager, presented the awards at a meeting in the clubhouse at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park near Pine Grove. Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney, the district's environmental education coordinator, assisted in organizing the program.
About 50 people attended the session, during which the conservation district honored the following, in addition to High Farms, for conservation efforts:
—Hyun Soo Lee, a Republican Herald journalist, received the district's Media Conservation Award for stories that informed the public about natural resource and conservation issues.
Among them were articles about the arboretum on the campus at Penn State Schuylkill; the preservation of Frog Hollow in Wayne Twp.; and the Spirit of Tuscarora nature trail at Tuscarora State Park.
—Mary Ann Smith, who teaches biology at Penn State Schuylkill, was given the Conservation Service Award-Public for her effort in creating the campus arboretum. Retired state forester Frank Snyder worked with Smith in developing the arboretum.
—Melissa Aungst, a long-time teacher at Williams Valley Junior-Senior High School, was named Educator of the Year. Her Envirothon team also presented her with an award for dedication to young people in the school district.
Students in the Schuylkill Haven Area High School Life Skills class were named Youth Conservationist of the Year for work in maintaining the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds.
—RSVP Volunteer Resources was named Conservation Organization of the Year. The award cited Darla Troutman's column in the Republican Herald as promoting numerous endeavors to make the county a better place to live, work and play.
—The Forest Stewardship Award went to Jay Baum, an outdoorsman who has managed invasive species on his property.
—Rick Costa, a volunteer with the Schuylkill County Conservancy, was named Volunteer of the Year.
—The Pennsylvania Game Commission's Jason Macunas was named Professional of the Year for his work with young people, including Trout Release Day at the county fairgrounds.
—United Environmental Services of Schuylkill Haven received the Conservation Service Award-Business for projects involving brownfield and wetlands delineation.
Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007
