Buffer Ohio Award Winner- Hugh Core

News Release
For Release: Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Columbus, Ohio

Hugh Core of Wapakoneta was recognized today as one of ten statewide Buffer Ohio Award Winners. The award was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Buffer Ohio is a statewide awards program, which recognizes exceptional landowners who have done an outstanding job of applying and maintaining conservation buffer practices to the Ohio landscape. It is co-sponsored by Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Corn Growers, Pheasants Forever, ODNR Division of Wildlife, ODNR Division of Forestry, ODNR Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Ohio Wetlands Foundation, Nature Conservancy, Ohio Soybean Association, National Conservation Buffer Council, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Lake Erie Buffer Team.

Conservation buffer practices include grass filter strips, riparian tree plantings, sod waterways, wetland restorations, and windbreaks. They are a fundamental part of the conservation effort to protect and enhance Ohio’s precious soil, water, plant, and animal resources. Buffer practices provide improved agricultural production, erosion control, water quality, and wildlife habitat benefits. Buffer areas trap sediment, nutrients, pesticides, provide food and cover for wildlife, and increase plant and animal diversity.

Hugh Core was recognized for his pioneering work to promote conservation buffer practices in Auglaize County. Hugh has installed nearly 75 acres of buffers along the open streams on his farms. Most of the plantings are in Switchgrass, a native warm season grass which provides excellent wildlife habitat cover. He is an advocate for the warm season grasses and attends the warm season grass training sessions to teach and explain how to establish and maintain Switchgrass. Hugh’s Switchgrass filter strips were one stop on the 2001 Auglaize SWCD Official’s Tour and there he explained the maintenance and care Switchgrass requires as well as the benefits as a wildlife cover. He us eager and willing to show people how grain farming, raising cattle, and installing buffers can all fit together to improve the rural environment and make our streams cleaner. Hugh has done an outstanding job of applying and maintaining the conservation buffer practices he has installed and has also helped others to install and maintain their own conservation practices.

As part of the award Hugh Core received a cash award, recognition plaque, and Buffer Ohio Jacket. Award recipients were selected based on a review of their conservation buffer accomplishments. Judging was done by a committee of the Buffer Ohio Partner Organizations.

< Back to Buffer Ohio Awards Program