Conservation district to present awards

Thursday, January 20, 2011
Mick and Wilma Bradbury

During Saturday's annual meeting of the Bourbon County Conservation District, four local families will be honored for their contributions to conservation in the county.

Larry and Kathleen Gilliland will be presented with the Grassland Award in recognition of their efforts to maintain native grassland areas on their 2,600 acres in rural Fort Scott. The two have been maintaining a cattle operation for more than 40 years with about 200 head of registered Angus cattle.

Of their 2,600 acres of owned and leased land, the Gillilands have about 400 acres devoted to crops. The rest is pasture land, about one-third of which consists of native vegetation. To help maintain the native grassland, Gilliland began rotating his cattle's grazing on 80-acre strips about five years ago. In addition, he takes soil samples about every three years to determine what fertilizer is needed.

Joe and Ann Ludlum

The Banker's Award will be presented to Mick and Wilma Bradbury who work a cattle operation on 225th Street near the old Hammond Seed Co. elevator. Mick worked at Hammond Seed Co. for 37 years during which time he worked, managed, and eventually owned the company before selling it to Midwest Fertilizer two years ago. The Bradburys kept the Hammond Seed Co. name and their daughter now runs a small operation out of her garage.

While working for Hammond Seed Co., Mick worked on his own farm. He was born and raised on a farm in Uniontown. Wilma had never been around a farm until she and Mick got married 48 years ago.

The Bradburys own about 530 acres that is used to raise 60-70 head of cattle, and grow wheat and beans. Mick said they use about 160 acres for grass and pasture land, 40 acres as meadow and 40-100 acres to grow wheat and red clover, with the rest being used to grow beans.

Larry and Kathleen Gilliand

On the property, Mick said he has worked on some waterways and is currently undercutting his hedges in order to allow for better water flow and cut down on erosion.

Joe and Ann Ludlum will be honored with the Continuing Conservation award for their continued work on their farm about six miles south of Uniontown. Joe said he owns about 800 acres and leases 1,600 more. About 450 acres is used for corn, soybeans, and wheat, while 250 acres is used for hay, red clover and fescue. They also have some cattle.

Joe said he has terraced many of the slopes on his farm and has what he believes to be the first and only parallel terraces in Bourbon County. To take care of his land, he uses nutrient management practices and works with several of the United States Department of Agriculture conservation programs.

Clyde and Katherine Wendel are being recognized with the Wildlife Conservation award. The Wendels are involved in the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks' Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program. WHIP is set up to assist landowners with food plot seed, grass and for planting or interseeding including seed and providing the grass drill, tree and shrub plantings and water developments or enhancements.

Saturday's meeting will be held at the Uniontown High School commons area. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

The program will consist of a short business meeting to elect two supervisors and presentations of awards to students winning the poster, essay and limerick contests.