KACD - Grasslands Committee

The KACD Grasslands Committee is committed to addressing issues affecting the health, preservation, and management of Kansas grasslands by educating others and promoting the use of best management practices.

By recognizing leaders in the grasslands management arena, this vital natural resource has continued to remain a focal point of conservation work and stewardship. Resolutions that improve or enhance the best management practices of Kansas’s grasslands are frequently reviewed in committee and successfully adopted, while educational opportunities are developed and put into practice.

The committee encourages conservation districts to present local grazing lands awards to those who provide leadership within their county regarding grassland management. With the cooperation of Sharp Brothers Seed Company, up to two signs are provided annually for each district to present at their annual meeting.

2012 Sign order form for County Grasslands Award

Grasslands Committee

Sam Baier, Barber County
Pat Sauble, Chase County
Helen Arnold, Clark County
Mike McCarty, Clark County
Kyle Hoffman, Area III KACD Director - Advisor
Jess Crockford, NRCS - Advisor
Walt Fick, KSU Agronomy - Advisor
Vaughn Sothman, Sharp Brothers Seed Co. - Advisor
Don Jones, SCC - Advisor
Cheryl Davis, KACD-EO - Advisor

Ted Alexander, Chairman
(620) 247-6443 - banzai@sctelcom.net

The Kansas Grasslands Merit Award is a state-wide award from the KACD Grasslands Committee offered annually in an effort to recognize an individual, organization or business that provides exceptional service and support to the conservation, management and/or education of the grasslands of Kansas. Many worthy recipients of this coveted award have been honored over the years and remain as standards of excellence in grasslands management.

Criteria for KACD Grasslands Merit Award

2011 KACD Grasslands Committee Meeting Minutes

2010 KACD Grasslands Committee Meeting Minutes

2011 Grasslands Merit Award Winners - Corky and Jeri Albright

l-r: Ted Alexander, Bruce Yonke, Barb Albright, Scott Albright ; accepting the award for Jeri and Corky is their son Scott and his wife Barb. Presentation was made by Ted Alexander, KACD Grasslands Committee Chairman, and Bruce Yonke, District Conservationist for Jackson County

Corky and Jeri Albright
Family

G.M. (Corky) Albright was raised on the family farm and grew up raising cattle. The Albrights have been in the full-time cattle business for at least 35 years. Their son, Scott, has joined the family business and the operation is now called Dutch Creek Farms.

The Albrights live on a farm west of Hoyt which consists of backgrounding 2,000 calves, operating a 450 head cow/calf herd, farming 1,400 acres of crops, and managing 7,800 acres of owned and rented pasture. In 2006, they entered into an EQIP contract to upgrade their ag waste system; practices included fencing out Dutch Creek, planting filter strips, land smoothing , installation of watering facilities, underground outlets, and a water well. The Albrights have established filter strips under the CCRP on leased land. They have also participated as a demonstration project for plugging an abandoned water well.

Corky and Jeri’s active involvement in their community as well as their service on several boards and associations has earned them many awards and well-deserved recognition over the years. With great appreciation and respect for their management philosophy and promotion of the proper use and wise stewardship of rangeland resources in Kansas, the KACD Grasslands Committee is honored to acknowledge the Albrights as the 2011 Kansas Grasslands Merit Award winner.

The Albrights were nominated for the Grasslands Merit Award by the Jackson County Conservation District.

2010 Grasslands Merit Award Winner - Gary L. Kilgore