Haxtun Conservation District celebrates 75 years on June 14

Over 150 patrons of the Haxtun Conservation District joined together, June 14 to acknowledge the accomplishments of the district over the past 75-plus years. Congress passed the Soil Conservation Act on April 27, 1935 during the dust bowl days to allow districts to form. The Haxtun District originally consisting of two townships Logan County and three townships south and east of Haxtun, was established by referendum of the landowners. They were issued a certificate of organization on May 25, 1945 and declared to be a lawful Soil Conservation District by the Colorado Secretary of State on Aug. 20, 1946. In September of 1956, a majority of the land in Phillips County and Townships 6W, 7W and 8W of Range 48 in Logan County and several parcels in northern Yuma County were added to the District.

Wallace Bruce was the Soil Conservation Service Area Conservationist with Chuck Allen, District Conservationist, for many years. In 1959 Jack Falk joined the SCS serving as the Engineering Technician for 40 years until his retirement in 1999. The SCS became the Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1994 to better reflect all resource concerns and not just soil. This caused a nationwide combining of NRCS and Farm Service agencies offices in the county seat.

Falk served as District Manager until Dec. 31, 2000. Joe Crowder became the District Manager on Jan. 1, 2001 through Dec. 31. 2003, when he joined NRCS as a Soil Conservationist. Denise Swanson served as District Manager from Jan. 1, 2004 until Dec. 31, 2014 when Connie Ferguson took over. She served until June 30, 2017 when Crowder returned as Manager and continues today.

The District has a number conservation partners including Phillips County Pheasants Forever, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, NRCS, FSA and the Phillips County Weed and Pest District. Wildlife habitat and shelter belts have been major projects over the past 30 years. It was once calculated the enough trees and shrubs have been planted to have a row on each side of Interstate 76 from Julesburg plus a row on each side of Interstate 70 from the Utah line to the Kansas line.

Twenty-one years ago the Haxtun CD began as a contractor with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife's new Walk-in Hunting Access Program. Properties are leased from landowners for pheasant, dove and small game hunting. Two years ago big game was added. This spring over $111,700 were paid to contract holders. Other major events are the Farming Evolution soil health workshop held in mid-February. This two day event draws an attendance of 150 to 200 people from various parts of the country to hear experts and local producers discuss ways to improve soil health and increased profitability.

Youth educational programs are a focus. The Arbor Day tree give away to fourth graders has been taking place in Haxtun, Holyoke and Fleming for over 30 years. Two years ago, a sixth grade farm safety class was started. This year four local graduates received $1,000 scholarships to attend a college or trade school to major in agriculture or education.

Cost share programs are available for many conservation or rodent control projects. Check with the district for information and applications before beginning a project.

One highlight of the evening, in addition to the meal of smoked brisket, was Trent Loos of Loos Tales. Loos had not been featured here since 2016 and there had been requests to have him return.

Loos noted that in 1900 it took one person 10 acres to produce enough food to feed one person for a year. In 2021, it takes only one third of an acre to produce enough food to feed one person for a year.

"True conservationists are the ones that own the land. The land must be utilized, not allowed to return to its natural state," he said.

Prior to the meeting, Daniel Palic, NRCS District Conservation, presented the rainfall simulator that showed the difference of water holding capacity in the same soils based on surface residue. The water ran off the tilled soils with muddy water running into the glass jars. The more residues on the surface, the more the soil absorbed the water and any run off water was clear. The wind erosion simulator also showed that soil with more residues had less soil movement.

"One ton of soil loss over an acre is only as thick as a dime," said Palic.