Sussex Conservation District holds Cooperators Dinner
The Sussex Conservation District held its biennial Cooperators Dinner Dec. 4 at the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company to recognize the 2017 and 2018 Cooperators of the Year. Proceeds from the event totaling $1,500 were donated to Delaware Envirothon.
The 2017 Cooperator of the Year, Vernon “Chip” Baker of H&V Farms Inc. in Millsboro, was recognized for his dedication to agriculture and soil conservation. Now retired, Baker farmed over 620 acres of corn and soybeans, and had a 50,000-bird broiler operation. Baker practiced no-till for 25 years and regularly participated in Sussex Conservation District or USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program cover crop programs. He is a National Association of Conservation Districts Soil Health Champion, one of six in Sussex County and 240 nationwide. Baker was also an early participant in the conservation district’s air seeder pilot program. His commitment to conservation is leaving a legacy for future generations to grow upon.
Richard Carlisle of Pine Breeze Farms Inc. in Bridgeville was recognized as the 2018 Cooperator of the Year. Carlisle farms 1,120 acres in western Sussex County. He has been a longtime conservation district cooperator, has participated USDA-NRCS cover crop programs, and was instrumental in the purchase and implementation of the district’s air seeder. Pine Breeze Farms has consistently improved irrigation, nutrient and pest management systems to protect the environment, the lives of Delawareans and the Chesapeake Bay for years to come.
A special recognition ceremony unveiled the renaming of the SCD office building on Shortly Road from Cashar W. Evans Conservation Center to Vanderwende-Evans Conservation Center. The center is currently undergoing expansion and renovations; it is expected to reopen in fall 2020.
“Recently, the SCD board of supervisors voted to rename the facility, Vanderwende-Evans Conservation Center, to recognize the efforts of two of the district’s instrumental and longest-serving chairmen,” said David Baird, district coordinator.
William “Bill” Vanderwende served on the SCD board of supervisors for 36 years and as chairman from 1992 until his retirement at the end of 2013. Evans served on the SCD board of supervisors from 1952 to 1991, with the last 16 years as chairman.
“Vanderwende was instrumental in establishing the foundation for SCD’s success. He helped implement the SCD conservation cost share program, sediment and stormwater program in addition to the creation of the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays. Vanderwende currently serves on numerous boards and commissions including the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission, the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation and as a tax ditch officer, to name a few,” said Baird.
The Delaware Envirothon, sponsored by the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts is an environmental challenge for teams of five high school students to compete in the areas of air quality, aquatic ecology, forestry, soil and land use, wildlife, public speaking and an annual special environmental topic. For 25 years, Delaware has instructed students in conservation methods, promoted sustainability and increased environmental awareness and stewardship amongst teenagers. The Envirothon program consists of yearly workshops to educate the teams in these areas.
Teams from across the state compete in a daylong event, and the winner advances to the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon to compete against teams from across the United States, Canada and China in a weeklong event. For more information, visit www.delawareenvirothon.org.
The Sussex Conservation District is dedicated to serving Sussex County by providing technical guidance and financial assistance to enhance, maintain, protect and improve land and water resources. For 75 years, SCD has worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and implement effective conservation practices. For more information, go to www.sussexconservation.org.
