Congratulations Robert E. Donaldson, Volunteer of the Year!
Born in New Washington, Pennsylvania, Robert’s family moved to the Akron area when he was just six years- old. Bob’s interest in the environment and conservation practices began when he spent summers helping at his grandparent’s cabin as a young man, riding combines, bagging oats, and bailing hay. This interest in conservation continued into adulthood as Robert began to develop an interest in arial technology and its benefits, including its use in agricultural field monitoring.
Through his interest in conservation, Robert began volunteering with Richland SWCD in 2023, starting as a precipitation monitor, before eventually taking on more tasks. Theresa Rozic Sutter, Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator at Richland Soil and Water Conservation District says, “Bob is a wonderful volunteer. He began as a Precipitation Monitor Volunteer and subsequent conversations led to him creating new and updating existing Excel spreadsheets, assisting at special events, and creating a power point presentation to train new precipitation monitor volunteers. He never hesitates to provide suggestions and is enthusiastic about volunteering with us. He is kind, generous, and a great asset. We are fortunate to have him on our volunteer team.”
While there are many things Robert likes about volunteering with Richland SWCD, one of the most important to him is the opportunity to work with others, “One of the big benefits (of volunteering with Richland SWCD) is interacting with other people. At my age it’s important to stay active. Overall, the type of volunteer work I’ve been able to do for the Soil and Water Conservation District has been very interesting; I’ve learned a lot because of working with the staff.”
Robert continues to stay busy with volunteer work with Richland SWCD and other organizations such as the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, COCoRaHS (Community, Collaborative, Rain, Hail, and Snow), Kingwood Center, and SCORE. In addition, Bob and his wife, Kathy, maintain their own slice of paradise at home that includes numerous flower beds and a pond.
In early September, a Black Gum tree was donated by the District and planted at Patriot Park in Lexington in Robert’s honor. The Lexington Park staff helped with the planting and will maintain the tree in the coming years.
Each volunteer of the year picks a public location for the tree planting and Robert chose Lexington Parks.
Richland SWCD plants a tree in honor of the volunteer of the year because Robert and other volunteers are committed to soil and water health and a tree provides long-lasting benefits. In addition to providing shade and adding beauty to an area, trees reduce the amount of stormwater runoff which helps reduce erosion and pollution in our waterways. Native trees are adapted to our climate, require less watering, and their strong roots help hold soil in place.
Black Gum trees are native to the Eastern United States including Ohio, other than in the drier counties in the northwestern part of the state. A Black Gum tree also goes by the name Tupelo. Each fall the tree will be bathed in beautiful scarlet and orange hues. Although hardly noticed by humans, the flowers and fruit are a good source of nectar for bees and food for birds. As it grows, it will contribute to the beauty of the park to be enjoyed by Leonard and Kathy, their family, our community, and future generations.
Watch this video intern, Julian Papania, created to learn more about Robert and his contribution to Richland SWCD. Thank you, Robert, for all you do for the district and community!
Congratulations Watershed Ranch, 2024 Cooperator of the Year!
Neil and Pam McKown, are first-time farmers who are celebrating their 36th year on their farm, Watershed Ranch. The ranch is aptly named because it is located on the continental divide on a glacial moraine in the Black Fork Watershed, in Plymouth Township of Richland County. The McKown’s operate the farm with their son and partner, Samuel.
Neil and Pam met in college, earning degrees in law and education respectively, and married in 1979. While neither of them had much farming experience, both Neil and Pam had grandfathers who farmed, and Neil worked many farm-related jobs through high school, where he developed respect and appreciation for the work and lifestyle.
As first-time farmers, Neil and Pam faced challenges from the very first year they bought the property in 1988. For one, the property itself was not in good condition. “When we bought the farm, it was in disarray. It was a bit overwhelming,” says Pam. On top of that, the year was marked by the historic North American drought of 1988-1990. Despite the obstacles, Neil was determined to make it work. “He had a vision; he could see the big picture,” says Pam.
The McKown’s learned about farming and conservation as they went along. One day while Neil was planting soybeans, three neighboring farmers stopped to give Neil advice on how to plant. Over the years, neighborly advice and expertise from other individuals and government agencies have been invaluable. “There are a lot of neighbors who are books of knowledge. I don’t think I have ever asked anyone (individual or government agency) for help, that has refused. I reached out to people, and boy there’s all kinds of good resources out there, if you are willing to take the time to look for them and are open to advice.”
Since then, the McKown’s have transformed Watershed Ranch into a place they happily call home. They employ many conservation practices on their farm that have revitalized the land. To prevent soil erosion, minimum to no-till plowing, rotational grazing, and crop rotation of corn, soybeans, hay, and wheat has been implemented on the farm. They responsibly manage manure and utilize buffer strips and waterways, greatly reducing the amount of run-off from the farm. With recommendations from Richland SWCD, USDA-NRCS, and state foresters, timber stand improvements have been made through the removal of invasive trees, shrubs, and grapevines. They maintain their farm pond primarily through organic products that filter out UV light and maintain water quality.
While constructing a drainage ditch, Neil says Richland SWCD was helpful in providing guidance. “Richland SWCD gave us advice, and helped determine where our water comes from and drains to.”
In addition, the couple reached out to USDA-NRCS, United States Department of Agriculture – Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA), and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) to create conservation plans that benefit their ranch. “It’s a comprehensive thing, it’s not just a single practice” says Neil.
Watch this video about Watershed Ranch created by intern Julian Papania.
Thank you for being commendable stewards, Neil and Pam!
Cooperator of the Year Award Recipients 1964-Present
1964: Chester Hampton
1965: Lee Oswalt
1966: Jack Gatton
1967: Al Schumacher
1968: John Winger
1969: Chester Mowry
1970: Ralph Winters
1971: Leonard Krietemeyer
1972: Ken & Robert McConkie
1973: LaVaughn Oswalt
1974: Harry Benson
1975: Tom Kranz
1976: John Simmons
1977: Bob Kissel
1978: Jim Zimmer, Sr.
1979: John Scherer
1980: John Ramsay
1981: Bill Bierly
1982: Carl Mowry
1983: Owen Galloway
1984: Howard Doner
1985: Ken Nixon
1986: Jim & John McCarron
1987: Floyd McFarland
1988: Leonard Krietemeyer
1989: Ted Hickerson
1990: Howard & Dean Cook
1991: Gene & Steve Spoerr
1992: Dr. Charles Young
1993: Bill & Charlie Briner
1994: Dean Swigart
1995: Ed Huff
1996: Kenneth Ernst
1997: Van Ross Wade
2004: John Culler
2005: Grant Milliron
2006: Ivan Ulmer
2007: Robert Niese
2008: Fred & Lynn Cooke
2013: John & Martha Sherer
2014: David Burley
2015: Charles &Diane Winger
2016: Walter, Regina, Peter, Cathy Berg—Berg Farms
2017: John Akers & Beer Farms
2018: Jay Miller
2019: Winfield Meek
2020: Eisenhauer Family Farm
2021: Kingwood Center Gardens
2022: Roger Baird
2023: William R. Flanegan, Jr.
2024: Watershed Ranch