By: Patrick Troyer, Education Specialist
Recently, the Paulding SWCD held its 67th Annual Banquet & Supervisor Election “A Community Conservation Celebration” at the Extension Hall at the Paulding County Fairgrounds. The community came out to celebrate a year’s worth of many great accomplishments for the Paulding Soil & Water Conservation District in the areas of technical assistance, educational programming, ditch maintenance, and overall district achievements. Attendance was very good with 105 people coming out on a balmy November evening. The evening began with the election of supervisors from 5:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m. with incumbent Brian Ruble from Grover Hill running against Tom Wannemacher from Payne for a seat on the Paulding SWCD Board of Supervisors. Ruble was elected to serve another 3-year term to begin January 1, 2017.
Dinner was prepared by Gibson’s Backyard BBQ from Convoy, OH and served very well by the Paulding FFA Officer Team of Hannah Farr, Paige Fitzwater, Courtney Luderman, Katlynn Fuller, and Kalyn Strahley. During dinner, Deb Hubbard, District Program Administrator introduced Soil & Water and Ditch Maintenance Staff as well as distinguished guests.
Following dinner, Deb Hubbard presented a highlight of achievements for the Paulding SWCD over the last year. The Education Department was highlighted first noting work completed by Staci Miller and Patrick Troyer for 2016. Among work completed for the year is school visits to all schools providing programs on a variety of conservation topics. Several field days were conducted throughout the year for various School, 4H, Girl Scout, and Adult Groups at the Black Swamp Nature Center. One of the biggest field days conducted is the annual 5th Grade Field Day at the Paulding County Fairgrounds and Black Swamp Nature Center where 5th graders enjoy a fun-filled day of hands on activities covering environmental topics. Nursing Home visits were also conducted throughout each Nursing Home in Paulding County. Also noted was the Nature Enthusiast Walking Group which started in April and ran through August and will continue into 2017. Weekly newspaper columns have also been published in area papers.
Next, Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) Nutrient Management Specialist Mick Britenriker’s progress was highlighted. Britenriker has been involved in a variety of projects in the three counties of Paulding, Williams, and Defiance that his position covers. He has been actively involved in handling manure complaint calls in each county where residents have expressed concerns over manure application. Britenriker has also been involved in some technician work designing wetlands and grassed waterways for landowners in efforts to implement Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to reduce the nutrient load in our waterways.
District Technician Daniel Foust was also highlighted with technical assistance that has been provided over the last year between himself and Deb Hubbard. Among one of the programs currently underway is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) which is aimed at reducing nutrient runoff from entering the Lake Erie Watershed. To date, $446,062 in reimbursements have been committed to Paulding County Farmers. Healthy Soils is another program through the Paulding SWCD that has partnered with Mercer Landmark of Payne for nutrient placement and has committed $118,327 in reimbursements to Paulding County Farmers. The CAP & Lake Erie Program focuses on installation of water control structures to keep water and nutrients available and out of the Maumee River with $17,000 approved to fund materials and installations. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) provides incentives for filter strips and buffers with $670 coming in windbreak installations.
Ryan Mapes and Sam Smith with Ditch Maintenance have had a busy year as well full of annual ditch inspections, vegetation management, erosion control, dip outs and reconstruction, as well as assisting the SWCD Staff. Over the last year, the DM department has conducted bottom cleanout on 15 miles of ditches, 14 miles of leveling spoil dirt, 60 dump truck loads of spoil dirt hauled, 350 tons of quarried rock hauled, and 15 erosion site repairs.
Deb Hubbard concluded by reminding everyone to stop by and visit our new offices located at 900 Fairground Drive in the Parc Lane Center across from the Black Swamp Nature Center. She also informed everyone that the Black Swamp Nature Center is available for rent and to call the office for their next rental. For entertainment, Mr. Dick Stoner from Ft. Wayne wowed the crowd with his magic & comedy routine full of amazing tricks and plenty of laughter.
Awards for Educator of the Year and Cooperator of the Year were handed out to distinguished individuals in the community crucial to spreading the conservation message. Linda Mabis, 4th & 5th Grade Teacher at Antwerp Elementary was awarded the Educator award for her work with the nature walk group and her work with the native plant prairie at Antwerp Elementary. Joe Barker of Antwerp was awarded the Cooperator award for his active participation in the conservation programs offered at Paulding SWCD.
Sponsors included Baughman Tile Company, Stahl/Stoller/Meyer Insurance. First Financial Bank, Haviland Drainage, Pendergrast Farm Drainage, Ag Credit, Antwerp Exchange Bank, Bradford Excavating, Cooper Farms, Schlatter Plumbing & Heating, Williamson Insurance Agency, Dairy Queen, Hubbard Company, Mumma Drainage, Pond Seed Company, Archbold Equipment, and Citizen’s National Bank.
