Two with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center were among those awarded at the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Society (NSWCS) awards night on Wednesday, June 12, in Scottsbluff.
Dr. Bijesh Maharjan and Extension Educator Gary Stone received the Commendation Award which recognizes SWCS members for service to their chapter or council of chapters.
“I am honored to receive this Commendation Award from the SWCS Nebraska Chapter,” said Maharjan, Nebraska Extension soil and nutrient management specialist at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center (PREEC) in Scottsbluff. “I work closely with local and regional stakeholders to improve soil health and enhance productivity in diverse cropping systems in dry and irrigated land.” He added that challenging soil conditions, changing climate, unpredictable and severe weather events, and the dwindling quality and water supply require all of us to intensify our efforts to conserve finite natural resources such as soil and water. “My research, extension, and education program has always focused on natural resource conservation.”
Stone is a Nebraska Extension water and integrated cropping systems educator at PREEC. He promotes and educates producers about the importance of irrigation water management utilizing Evapotranspiration Gages (ET) to determine crop water use. “I was honored to receive the award. My work with water management is important to be because clean water is a finite resource, and we must manage it with the utmost diligence. Water is life, life is water.”
Also receiving the Commendation Award were Brian Dierberger and Galen Wittrock.
The full list of awardees is as follows:
Soil and Water Conservation Society Honors Award Winners
International Awards
Society Service Award: In recognition of SWCS members for service to their chapter and/or to the Society
Corey Brubaker
Darwin Hinrichs
Outstanding Chapter Award: recognizes chapters for their success in carrying out their overall program during the past year.
Nebraska Chapter
WiN (Women in NRCS) Conservationist of the Year Award
In recognition of an outstanding woman farmer/producer/conservationist who demonstrates a vital role in supporting women in agriculture and conservation.
Nancy Fisher, Nebraska
Nebraska Chapter Awards
Honor Award: recognizes non-members for outstanding accomplishments reflecting the society’s objectives.
Dallas Johannsen
Mark Watson
Merit Award: in recognition of an outstanding effort or activity by a group, business firm, corporation, or organization that promotes wise land use. There are two recipients this year.
The Business Farmer
North Platte NRD
The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is the premier international organization for professionals who practice and advance the science and art of natural resource conservation.