The Wood Soil and Water Conservation District hosted its 65th annual meeting and awards banquet on Sept.
6 at the Riverview Banquet Centre in Pemberville. An election for the Board of Supervisors was held with
Bernard Scott and Ron Snyder being re-elected to another 3-year term. Awards were given out for Farm
Beautification to Nathan and Jennifer Foos, Bowling Green; Rod and Loretta Wenig, Bowling Green for
Backyard Conservationist; Friend of the District Award went to the Wood County Historical Center and
Museum and Outstanding Cooperator Award was presented to Brendyn George of Jackson Township.
Farm Beautification
In 1975, the late Harold and Iva Lou Bordner established the Farm Beautification Award. The award was
designed to encourage farmers’ pride in their farmsteads and is continued through the Wood Soil
& Water Conservation District.
The winning farm is chosen after considering such things as the condition of the buildings, care and
upkeep of the garden and lawn, landscaping, windbreaks, absence of unnecessary equipment and the overall
appearance.
The Foos family Bowling Green farmstead was purchased in 2005 from the Lemmerbrock family and continues
as a working farmstead today.
The original house has been maintained and updated including an exterior staircase. Old windows were
replaced, and new sidewalks were added to try and maintain what they considered "the charm of the
original construction."
The original barn also has been maintained, yet updated to accommodate modern equipment and use.
Livestock fills the barn before going to market and stacks of hay and straw are stored inside. He farmed
with his father since a young age and now partners in hay and straw marketing. The couple also operates
Foos Lawn Service from their farmstead.
The family’s vegetable garden provides fresh vegetables for canning and freezing and the flower beds are
planted with the ‘help’ of their young sons. Strawberry plants and a fire ring are the newest additions
behind a couple of outbuildings.
Judges state, "Overall, the Foos family farmstead is an outstanding example of farm
beatification."
Backyard Conservationist Award
The Backyard Conservationist Award, sponsored in partnership with The Andersons, is designed to recognize
homeowners in rural Wood County for taking steps in conserving soil and water resources right where they
live. The winning home site is selected by considering backyard conservation practices such as the use
of rain barrels, ponds, composting, rain gardens, vegetable and flower gardens, windbreaks and prairie
grasses.
The Wenigs live on a rural lot of nearly two acres. Maintaining a large lot with multiple flower beds,
sitting gardens, a coy pond and a strawberry patch, are conservation practices in which the judges said,
"the yard looks like the pages in a gardening magazine."
These practices reduce the amount of open lawn to be mowed and provide habitat for beneficial birds and
insects as well as add beauty to the surroundings.
Rod Wenig has created a multi-stage composting program with recycled pallets and a screen for the early
stages and a tumbler for the finishing stage of composting. The rich compost is then used for the
vegetable and strawberry patches, and flower beds.
Rainwater is collected in the 250-gallon drum from the barn roof. It is then carted through the yard to
water the plants during the dry spells.
Three windbreaks, planted with the seedlings from the Wood SWCD tree sale, shield the property from worst
of the Northwest Ohio winds.
Composting the yard and garden waste, establishing a windbreak, and capturing rain water demonstrate the
qualities of a backyard conservationist.
Friend of the District
This award honors those individuals who the district officials feel have gone beyond the call of duty.

The 2014 honoree went to the historical center and museum for how it works with the district in hosting
the multi-county Woodland and Wildlife Family Festival, the Ohio Envirothon – an environmental knowledge
competition for high school students from all parts of the state; and most recently, the district
utilized the grounds for a teacher workshop focusing on energy.
Outstanding cooperator
Brendyn George, of Jackson Township, is recognized at the 2013 Cooperator of the Year for the Wood Soil
and Water Conservation District
The George farm is a family operation involving row crops and small grains. His operation includes more
than 1,900 acres in Wood County. Over the years, he has installed numerous conservation structures
including: surface drains, drop boxes, rock chutes and most recently, tile drainage management
structures. He also utilized the district’s rental equipment on the farm for conservation practices.
His farm is currently participating in the NRCS CSP program enrolling 1,100 acres into cover crops. His
initiatives are all on a voluntary basis and began by inquiring at the Wood SWCD office.
Other news
Additionally, four supervisors were recognized for their years of service to the district. Kris Swartz
with 20 years, Scott with 15 years, Dennis Ferrell with 10 years and Lee Sundermeier with five years.

Prior to this year’s meeting, the district held its second annual Conservation ATV Tour. The tour covered
roughly 35 miles on the Eastern side of the county. Stops included Hirzel Canning, Hirzel Compost,
Hirzel Farms, Luckey Farmers and Kenny Brinker’s.
Retired NRCS Soil Scientist Frank Gibbs discussed two unusual soil types found in the county.