2016 Conservation Farm Family of the Year
Grant Farms - Richard & Ruth Grant and Charles & Renee Grant
Each year the District Supervisors select a family to receive the “Conservation Farm Family” award. They base their selection on the use of complete conservation systems, attention to maintenance requirements for existing soil conservation practices and service to the local district.
The Board of Supervisors of the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District has selected Grant Family, Richard & Ruth and Charles & Renee as the winners of the “Conservation Farm Family” award.
The current Grant family farm was started in 1957 when Richard graduated from high school and joined his father Leo in the operation. The diversified farming operation consisted of cattle, hog, hay and row crops primarily for livestock feed. The early conservation efforts were to keep the highly erodible acres in grass and only grow crops on the least erodible land.
Richard and Ruth raised five children on the farm and their son Charles joined the operation after graduation in 1985. As more acres were added, row cropping increased. The family saw the need and developed conservation plans with the local conservation district and NRCS to help protect the land.
Under the plan, some of the acres were enrolled in the CRP program, a cropping rotation was developed, and a system of no-till was implemented along with contour farming. The farm utilized the district’s no-till drill rental program to get started and after trying it, they purchased their own drill in 1993. The farm has used the state cost-share program and the Missouri River Basin Incentive Program to assist their efforts. Over the years they have completed many conservation practices. In 1995 they purchased a dozer and started building ponds and structures for the livestock water. The last few years have found them building terraces on the cropland. The latest practice is the growing of cover crops and grid sampling soil testing to further enhance the farming operation.
Charles and Renee have 2 children, William and Katy. Both are active in 4H and FFA and help out on the farm after school when time allows.
The Grant Farm is a prime example of the conservation efforts completed by Carroll County farmers over the years. It was awarded Century Farm status in 2010 and continues to grow and get better with time.
The district is grateful for the efforts of the Grant family in their lifelong goal of protecting and conserving the natural resources of their land and is proud to present them with the Conservation Farm Family of the Year award.