HISTORY of the River Friendly Farmer Award
Since 1999, key conservation and agricultural organizations have sponsored the River Friendly Farmer (RFF) Program. The statewide initiative recognizes farmers who, through good production management practices, help keep Indiana’s rivers, lakes and streams clean.
Annually, the Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District nominates up to two farmers who do an outstanding job of protecting Indiana’s rivers, lakes and streams through their every day conservation management practices on the farm.
The RFF program is a collaborative effort of government agencies, agricultural organizations, Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and farmers whose goals are to improve soil and water quality and restore and sustain human and wildlife habitat in Indiana’s watersheds.
The program is sponsored by the:
- Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) and our 92 SWCDs
- Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc.
- Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Division of Soil Conservation
- Purdue Cooperative Extension Service
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
RFF winners are honored in an awards ceremony on Farmer’s Day during the Indiana State Fair. They are also honored by the Steuben County SWCD at our Annual Meeting in March.
A list of River Friendly Farmers in Steuben County:
- 2021 Chris Weaver & Jacob Willson
- 2020 Dailey Farms
- 2018 Jerold Perkins/KPS Farms Inc.
- 2017 Dewey & Marcia Powers
- 2016 Mark Lorntz
- 2015 Travis Fifer
- 2014 Scott Shultz
- 2013 Tyson Franks