2009 Achievement Winners

The Monilaws'

The Monilaws Family	Monilaws' Farm

Keith and Sharon, now retired from farming, were selected by the Cass County Soil Conservation District for their commitment to conservation. During their farming years, they protected their land through the use of farmstead and field windbreaks. They have installed 11,540 linear feet of field windbreaks, 5.5 acres of farmstead and feedlot windbreaks and about 15 acres of upland wildlife habitat. During their peak farming years, Keith and Sharon managed about 100 head of cattle, while rotating them through 240 acres of pastureland. They also managed 30 hogs, farrowing twice a year. They used a crop rotation system on the remainder of their land, planting wheat, corn and feed barley. Keith's Brother Kenneth has been instrumental in maintaining all of the windbreaks to ensure survivability of all stands.

The North Dakota Soil Conservation Achievement Awards Program has been recognizing farmers and ranchers who have made an outstanding effort to conserve their valuable soil resources since 1948. It is a statewide program with each of the 56 Soil Conservation Districts participating. The achievement awards program is the only program of its kind in the nation.

The North Dakota Soil Conservation Achievement Awards Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Newspaper Association, North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee, North Dakota State University Extension Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts and each soil conservation district.