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: