(Ankeny, Iowa – June 23, 2021) The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) would like to congratulate the winners of the 2021 SWCS awards. Awards are presented annually to individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions in advocating and advancing the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. All award winners will be showcased within the SWCS 2021 International Annual Conference virtual platform during the July 26-28, 2021, event. Additional information about each recognition can also be found at www.swcs.org/awards.
The Hugh Hammond Bennett Award, the Society’s most prestigious award, recognizes extraordinary accomplishments in the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources.
The 2021 Hugh Hammond Bennett Award is presented to Michael Kucera, Nebraska, for his widely recognized major contributions to the conservation of natural resources. Professionally, Kucera has served in various capacities with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) since 1981, rising the ranks to serve as the Nebraska State Resource Conservationist, and the Nebraska State Agronomist and State Water Quality specialist. He is currently supporting national erosion prediction technology at the National Soil Survey Center as the National Erosion Database Steward. Beyond his primary work duties, Kucera is recognized for his development of Soil Health Buckets as an educational tool to teach high school agricultural science students the importance of soil health and natural resource conservation. This effort earned him an Honorary State FFA Degree, the highest award a state FFA organization can bestow. He has been recognized for his role in international efforts to bring soil health and watershed planning education to Pakistan, as he was awarded the Abraham Lincoln Honor Award by the USDA Secretary of Agriculture. Through his tenure with USDA, Kucera has been the consummate professional whose career has wholeheartedly supported the goals and objectives of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. For these efforts, SWCS is proud to present Kucera with the Hugh Hammond Bennett Award.
Three Society Fellow Awards are given this year, in recognition of SWCS members who have performed exceptional service in advocating the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. Fellowship is an honor bestowed upon the best in the conservation profession. This year’s Fellow awardees include
- Craig Derickson, Nebraska
- Don Wysocki, Oregon
- Lynn Betts, Iowa
Additional awards presented in 2021 are listed below:
Conservation Innovation Award
In recognition of an outstanding activity, product, or service by a group, business, firm, corporation, or organization that promotes natural resource conservation.
- Area IV Cooperative Research Farm, North Dakota
- Conservation Station Mobile Education Trailer Program, Iowa
Harold and Kay Scholl Excellence in Conservation Award
In recognition of individuals who work on the ground to provide direct and personal delivery or conservation planning and technical assistance.
- Jon Stika, North Dakota
Conservation Professional of the Year Award
In recognition of outstanding accomplishments in practicing and advancing the science and art of natural resource conservation.
- Jean Eells, Iowa
Society Service Award
In recognition of Society members for service to their chapter or to the Society.
- Duane Friend, Illinois
- Kelly Wolff, Arizona
- Leah Duzy, Alabama
Chair’s Leadership Award
In recognition of exemplary assistance in helping to carry out the goals and objectives of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
- Andrew Sharpley, Arkansas
- Catherine DeLong, Iowa
- Iowa Chapter SWCS
- Jorge Delgado, Colorado
- Kris Johnson, Minnesota
- Rex Martin, Missouri
Conservation Research Award
In recognition of Society members or teams of members whose research has led to exceptional improvements in soil conservation, water conservation, and/or related natural resources research.
- Marisol Berti, North Dakota
- David Lobb, Manitoba, Canada
Best Research Paper for Impact and Quality Award
In recognition for the impact and quality of a research paper published in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation in the previous five years.
Finney, D.M., J.S. Buyer, and J.P. Kaye. 2017. Living cover crops have immediate impacts on soil microbial community structure and function. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 72(4):361-373. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.72.4.361.
- Denise M. Finney, Pennsylvania
- Jeffrey S. Buyer, Maryland
- Jason P. Kaye, Pennsylvania
Best Research Paper for Impact and Quality Honorable Mention
In recognition for the impact and quality of a research paper published in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation in the previous five years.
Teague, W.R., S. Apfelbaum, R. Lal, U.P. Kreuter, J. Rowntree, C.A. Davies, R. Conser, M. Rasmussen, J. Hatfield, T. Wang, F. Wang, and P. Byck. 2016. The role of ruminants in reducing agriculture's carbon footprint in North America, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 71(2):156-164. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.71.2.156.
- W.R. Teague, Texas
- Steven I. Apfelbaum, Wisconsin
- Rattan Lal, Ohio
- Urs Kreuter, Texas
- Jason Rowntree, Michigan
- Christian Davies, Texas
- Russ Conser, Texas
- Mark Rasmussen, Iowa
- Jerry Hatfield, Iowa
- Tong Wang, South Dakota
- Fugui Wang, Wisconsin
- Peter Byck, Arizona
Editor's Choice Award Winner
In recognition of the following article of excellence appearing in the “A” Section of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation in the previous year.
Sanderson, J.S., C. Beutler, J.R. Brown, I. Burke, T. Chapman, R.T. Conant, J.D. Derner, M. Easter, S.D. Fuhlendorf, G. Grissom, J.E. Herrick, D. Liptzin, J.A. Morgan, R. Murph, C. Pague, I. Rangwala, D. Ray, R. Rondeau, T. Schulz, and T. Sullivan. 2020. Cattle, conservation, and carbon in the western Great Plains. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 75(1):5A-12A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.75.1.5A.
- John Sanderson, Colorado
- Curtis Beutler, Colorado
- Joel Brown, New Mexico
- Ingrid C. Burke, Connecticut
- Teresa Chapman, Colorado
- Richard Conant, Colorado
- Justin Derner, Wyoming
- Mark Easter, Colorado
- Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Oklahoma
- Grady Grissom, Colorado
- Jeffrey Herrick, New mexico
- Daniel Liptzin, Colorado
- Jack Morgan, Colorado
- Rachel Murph, Colorado
- Chris Pague, Colorado
- Imtiaz Rangwala, Colorado
- David Ray, South Carolina
- Renee Rondeau, Colorado
- Terri Schulz, Colorado
- Tim Sullivan, Colorado
Editor's Choice Honorable Mention
In recognition of the following article of excellence appearing in the “A” Section of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation in the previous year.
Lal, R. 2020. Soil organic matter content and crop yield. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 75(2):27A-32A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.75.2.27A.
- Rattan Lal, Ohio
Editor's Choice Honorable Mention
In recognition of the following article of excellence appearing in the “A” Section of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation in the previous year.
Moriasi, D.N., L.F. Duriancik, E.J. Sadler, T. Tsegaye, J.L. Steiner, M.A. Locke, T.C. Strickland, and D.L. Osmond. 2020. Quantifying the impacts of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project watershed assessments: The first fifteen years. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 75(3)57A-74A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.75.3.57A.
- Daniel Moriasi, Oklahoma
- Lisa Duriancik, Virginia
- John Sadler, North Carolina
- Teferi Tsegaye, Kentucky
- Jean Steiner, Kansas
- Martin Locke, Mississippi
- Timothy Strickland, Georgia
- Deanna Osmond, North Carolina
Associate Editor Excellence Award
In recognition of associate editors for their contributions to the success and development of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
- Clark Gantzer, Missouri
- J. Arbuckle, Iowa
- Jane Johnson, Minnesota
Chapter Achievement Award
In recognition of chapters for significant achievements through a single activity conducted during the year.
- California Nevada Chapter
- Michigan Chapter
- North Dakota Chapter
- South Dakota Chapter
- Wisconsin Chapter
Outstanding Chapter Award
In recognition for the chapter’s success in carrying out its overall program during the past year.
- California Nevada
- Iowa
- Michigan
- National Capital
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
- Southern New England Chapter
- Wisconsin
Melville H. Cohee Student Leader Conservation Scholarship
The Melville H. Cohee Student Leader Conservation Scholarship provides financial assistance to members of SWCS who are in their junior or senior year of full-time undergraduate study or are pursuing graduate level studies with a natural resources conservation orientation at a properly accredited college or university.
- Christopher Burch, Pennsylvania
Kenneth E. Grant Research Scholarship
The Kenneth E. Grant Research Scholarship provides financial aid to members of SWCS for interdisciplinary graduate-level research on a conservation topic that will extend the SWCS mission of fostering the science and the art of soil, water, and related natural resource management research.
- Lijing Gao, Iowa
WiN Conservationist of the Year Award
The Conservationist of the Year Award is designed to recognize an outstanding woman farmer/producer/conservationist and demonstrates a vital role in supporting women in agriculture and conservation.
- Jean Eells, Iowa
WiN Individual Award of Excellence Recipient
The Individual Award of Excellence is designed to recognize an individual who, over a period of-time, has contributed substantially and creatively to our Natural Resources Conservation profession. The recipient should exemplify excellence in a particular discipline and, possibly, multi-discipline efforts that promote excellence and creativity. The recipient should also demonstrate involvement in WiN.
- Julie MacSwain, Oregon
WiN Group Award of Excellence Recipient
The Group Award of Excellence is designed to recognize a group who, over a period of-time, has contributed substantially and creatively to our Natural Resources Conservation profession. The group should exemplify excellence in a particular discipline and, possibly, multi-discipline efforts that promote excellence and creativity.
- Powerhouse of Women - the FAB 5, Indiana
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About SWCS
For seventy-six years, the Soil and Water Conservation Society has been the premier international organization for professionals who practice and advance the science and art of natural resource conservation. We believe sustainable land and water management is essential to the continued security of the earth and its people. Our goal is to cultivate an organization of informed, dynamic individuals whose contributions create a bright future for agriculture, the environment, and society. The Soil and Water Conservation Society is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, with chapters across the United States and Canada.
For More Information:
Courtney Allen, Event and Professional Development Director
Soil and Water Conservation Society
courtney.allen@swcs.org