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GIRARD —
Maybe they’ll to come up with something new for Fred and Marjorie Giefer to win, perhaps a Lifetime Accomplishment in Soil Conservation Award.
As of the Crawford County Conservation District 66th annual meeting on Feb. 16, the longtime area farm couple have received every award given by the district. They left the banquet, which they always attend, with the Grassland Award.
In 1975 they won both the Kansas Bankers Award for Soil Conservation and the Goodyear Award. They also have the Natural Resources Award, K.G.E. Award for Completed Soil and Water Conservation and the Continued Conservation Award.
Giefer was born on a farm and has never lived anywhere except on a farm. He remembers when soil conservation took a back seat to scratching out a living.
“At a very early age, when we had a rain, I remember playing in the drainage areas in red water,” he said. “The soil on our farm was red. Also the low furrow left by the mowboard plow had damage. At this time it was accepted, as the farms were small and money was scarce.”
Giefer was introduced to soil conservation in 1937 when he attended high school in Parsons and took a course in vocational agriculture.
“Our teacher taught soil-saving practices, and we had many field trips,” he said. “The early terraces and waterways were constructed with road graders, slips to mowboard plows. Bulldozers were just starting to be used. County agents were responsible for laying out terraces and waterways. At this time we lived in Neosho County, and our farm there included some of the first terraces. We farmed on the contour, and I helped out the county agent.”
Giefer has seen the growth of the soil conservation program, and strongly approves of it.
“This conservation movement has taken a big step in recent years with the abandonment of the mowboard plow to the no-till farming system,” he said. “This leaves crop residue on the soil surface, which controls both water and wind damage. In the 25 years that I served on the Sekan RC&D Board we taught and promoted this. We bought and least a no-till drill for farm use.”
Giefer has also spent 18 years on the Soil Conservation Board, nine years on the ASES board and 12 years on the Farm Bureau Board.
“This was a period that farming went from horse plows and very small operations to the advanced systems that we know today,” Giefer said. “The erosion of our soil is something that cannot be completely controlled. It is said the best and most perfect way would be a cow and calf on a good pasture. Our expanding populations of people demand more. As stewards of the land, it is our duty and responsibility to protect and conserve this God-given gift, our soil.”
Giefer has also found time for more good causes, and has been recognized for his efforts to restore the old Shirly Cemetery on North US 69 Highway. During the growing season he keeps Wesley House supplied with produce, including turnips and sweet potatoes. He has also been very active in Crawford County AARP Chapter 646.
Maybe they’ll to come up with something new for Fred and Marjorie Giefer to win, perhaps a Lifetime Accomplishment in Soil Conservation Award.
As of the Crawford County Conservation District 66th annual meeting on Feb. 16, the longtime area farm couple have received every award given by the district. They left the banquet, which they always attend, with the Grassland Award.
In 1975 they won both the Kansas Bankers Award for Soil Conservation and the Goodyear Award. They also have the Natural Resources Award, K.G.E. Award for Completed Soil and Water Conservation and the Continued Conservation Award.
Giefer was born on a farm and has never lived anywhere except on a farm. He remembers when soil conservation took a back seat to scratching out a living.
“At a very early age, when we had a rain, I remember playing in the drainage areas in red water,” he said. “The soil on our farm was red. Also the low furrow left by the mowboard plow had damage. At this time it was accepted, as the farms were small and money was scarce.”
Giefer was introduced to soil conservation in 1937 when he attended high school in Parsons and took a course in vocational agriculture.
“Our teacher taught soil-saving practices, and we had many field trips,” he said. “The early terraces and waterways were constructed with road graders, slips to mowboard plows. Bulldozers were just starting to be used. County agents were responsible for laying out terraces and waterways. At this time we lived in Neosho County, and our farm there included some of the first terraces. We farmed on the contour, and I helped out the county agent.”
Giefer has seen the growth of the soil conservation program, and strongly approves of it.
“This conservation movement has taken a big step in recent years with the abandonment of the mowboard plow to the no-till farming system,” he said. “This leaves crop residue on the soil surface, which controls both water and wind damage. In the 25 years that I served on the Sekan RC&D Board we taught and promoted this. We bought and least a no-till drill for farm use.”
Giefer has also spent 18 years on the Soil Conservation Board, nine years on the ASES board and 12 years on the Farm Bureau Board.
“This was a period that farming went from horse plows and very small operations to the advanced systems that we know today,” Giefer said. “The erosion of our soil is something that cannot be completely controlled. It is said the best and most perfect way would be a cow and calf on a good pasture. Our expanding populations of people demand more. As stewards of the land, it is our duty and responsibility to protect and conserve this God-given gift, our soil.”
Giefer has also found time for more good causes, and has been recognized for his efforts to restore the old Shirly Cemetery on North US 69 Highway. During the growing season he keeps Wesley House supplied with produce, including turnips and sweet potatoes. He has also been very active in Crawford County AARP Chapter 646.
