Buffer Ohio Award Winner- Ronald (Julie) Siefker

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

Julie Siefker, on behalf of her late husband Ronald Siefker, of Ottawa 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.

Ronald Siefker was recognized for his work in installing conservation buffer practices. Ron had taken an active interest in conservation practices on his farm along the Blanchard River before his untimely death this past April. In the past three years, he had enrolled nearly 30 acres of waterways, and filter strips (including over 27 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program, CREP). Ronald died before the CREP acres could be installed, but his wife, Julie Siefker, with the help of neighbors followed through with the program and the filter strips were planted as planned. Ronald also had converted from using conventional tillage and planting methods to using no-till practices on his farm. The 30 acres of filter strips will serve as a living testimate to Ron’s interest in conservation.

As part of the award Julie Siefker, on behalf of Ronald Siefker received a cash award, recognition plaque, and Buffer Ohio Jacket. Julie intends to donate the cash portion of the award to the Putnam County 4-h program. 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.

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