Nominated by the Chippewa Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, Ron and Pam Schultz of Montevideo were named 2022 Conservationists of the Year. The Schultz’s are involved in a diverse array of conservation practices. They own 600 tillable and non-tillable acres and have been farming for 46 years. Ron is a 5th generation farmer of this land. They operate a corn, soybean, and wheat rotation as well as raise beef cattle. The pasture and wild hay field have never been tilled. Across their land they have implemented and maintained field windbreak tree plantings, CRP acres, pasture, remnant prairie, wildlife food plots, buffer strips along waterways, and waterfowl nesting boxes.

Recently, the Schultz’s installed a 3.1 acre sediment pond on their farm. Ron and Pam were recognized for their works on December 14, 2022 at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s Annual Meeting and Trade Show in Bloomington, MN. The district has enjoyed working with the Schultz’s as they have made conservation improvements on their land. As a thank you for their hard work and dedication to conservation, District Board Chair Steve Jacobson presented Ron with “The Conservationist” print by Terry Redlin at the December 19, 2022 board meeting (as see below).