2010 PULASKI FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR: THE NICKERSONS
The Fredrick and Sandra Nickerson Family of Sweet Home,
Arkansas were recently named the 2010 Pulaski County Farm Family of the
Year. The Nickersons operate a cow-calf (Brangus, Limosine, and
Hereford Crosses) operation. In addition to managing the cattle
operation, Fred does custom hay baling for his neighbors.
Mr. Nickerson is applying land treatment measures to
increase the farm's grass production by renovating the pastures,
establishing cool season grasses, and upgrading the fencing system (to
enhance pasture management), and to reduce soil erosion by controlling
runoff. He has several contracts with NRCS (Natural Resources
Conservation Service) involving the NRCS' EQIP (Environmental Quality
Incentive Program) that are designed to help realize these goals.
In addition to Fredrick and Sandra, the Nickerson Family
consists of their daughter, Tena, and her husband, Craig, their son, Bobby,
and his wife, Crystal, and their granddaughters, Tori and Cayla.
Fred and Sandra are active in community affairs. Fred
serves on the Pulaski Farm Bureau Board of Directors and is active in the
Central Arkansas Cattlemen's Association. Sandra is an active member
and life member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. They are both
active members of Bethel A.M.E. Church of North Little Rock.
The Pulaski Conservation District congratulates the
Nickersons for achieving this honor.
NRCS: A CONSERVATION LEGACY REACHING BACK TO
1935
2010 marks the 75th anniversary of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) and the beginning of the federal commitment to
conserving natural resources on private lands. Originally established
as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), NRCS has expanded to become a
conservation leader for all natural resources, ensuring private lands are
conserved, restored, and more resilient to environmental challenges, like
climate change.
Seventy percent of the land in the United States is
privately owned, making stewardship by private landowners absolutely
critical to the health of our Nation's environment.
Science and technology are critical to good conservation.
NRCS experts from many disciplines come together to help landowners conserve
natural resources in efficient, smart, and sustainable ways.
Whether developed in a laboratory or on the land, NRCS science and
technology helps landowners make the right decisions for every natural
resource. The agency has succeeded by working closely with landowners, local
conservation districts (such as the the Pulaski Conservation District),
other government agencies, and private groups that care about the quality of
America's natural resources.
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe will proclaim April 27, 2010,
Natural Resources Day in Arkansas.
ATTENTION TEACHERS: PROJECT WET-WILD-LEARNING
TREE WORKSHOP (JULY 29, 2010)
A Project WET-WILD-Learning Tree
Workshop is scheduled for July 29, 2010 (8:30 am - 4:30 pm) at the
Faulkner County Natural Resource Center located in Conway, Arkansas.
Workshop participants will receive training in three internationally
recognized environmental educational programs in ONE DAY and earn 8
hours of ADE approved professional development!
As a participant, you will received
activity guides from each program, with hundreds of hands on activities
correlated to state and national education frameworks for grades K-12 and
will learn how to implement these activities in your own classroom or
education program.
Although the program is free, you must
pre-register in order to participate. To register, please contact
Becky Hays at becky.hays@fws.gov .
PULASKI CONSERVATION DISTRICT ELECTION
On March 2, 2010, Mary Ratcliffe, Bill Dorough, and Dennis
Hackbart were re-elected to three years terms on the Pulaski Conservation
District Board of Directors. Sam McGhee and Debbie Moreland also serve
on the Board of Directors.
Attention High School Students: 2010 Youth Conservation Workshop
The Pulaski Conservation District and the Arkansas
Association of Conservation Districts (AACD) conducts an annual summer Youth
Conservation Workshop for students entering 9th through 12th grade from
across the state. The date of the camp is 06/27/10 until 07/02/10 at
Camp Clearfork, Mt. Ida, AR. Students are nominated by the local
Conservation District to attend a week of outdoor hands on educational
experiences dealing with natural resources. Life skills, water
resources, forestry, soils, a farm tour and potential career opportunities
are the emphasis areas, with two $500 scholarships and a laptop
presented to the top participants each year. There is no cost to the
participants except for travel to and from the workshop. Students will
have multiple hands-on opportunities for canoeing, boat safety instructions
and team building. If you know of a student who would be interested in
participating, he or she can stop by their high school counselor, local
library or contact the Pulaski Conservation District Office (501-758-2544
Ex. 3) for more information or visit
www.aracd.org under youth activities.
England Joint Venture Wetlands Reserve Project
Restoration has started on the 10,940
acre Joint Venture Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) site located in Pulaski
and Jefferson Counties, Arkansas. Tree planting began in January and
will continue for several weeks, with approximately 2,500 acres of tree
planting to be accomplished on the WRP easement by March 31, 2010. The
tree species to be planted will be a diverse mixture of trees (12 species)
that will be located in specific areas according to what occurred there
under normal conditions. Weather permitting, the summer of 2010 will
see the construction and installation of water control structures, dikes,
and moist soil units needed to complete the wetland restoration.
The project, funded through the
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), will create excellent wildlife habitat
and will restore a large block of wetlands area along the Arkansas River.
WRP is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in
cooperation with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Ducks
Unlimited (DU).
Arkansas Envirothon Competition: