Ryan Busch elected to board
Ripley County SWCD honors Milan man
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

As members of the Ripley County Soil & Water Conservation District honored the memory of Charles Rohlfing, they also paid tribute to the years of service Bob Brewington has given to the organization and elected Ryan Busch as a member of the board of supervisors.

Gathering for the 56th annual meeting on Tuesday, January 31, 130 members heard Jerod Chew from the Indiana Department of Agriculture speak about the seven strategies the ISDA has earmarked.

Explaining that over 80% of the forests in Indiana are privately owned and that 95% of the tree species are hardwoods, Chew said the ISDA will create new growth opportunities and work to attract and retain hardwood industry companies.

Other strategies included bioenergy, regulatory coordination, pork production, diversity of production, and food processing. The seventh one had to do with working with the Federal Farm and Trade Policy in order to understand programs and funding availability.

Chew's speech concerning what the ISDA is earmarking as important was followed by brief remarks from Frank Thompson on behalf of Congressman Mike Sodrel about what is going on nationally pertaining to soil and water conservation.

Jeff Meinders, vice-chairman of the board of supervisors, presented the 2005 Conservation Farmer of the Year plaque to Steve Rohlfing, son of the late Charles Rohlfing, whose Deerfield Farm near Milan was honored. Rohlfing spoke of the love his father had for the land and his interest in conservation practices.

As chairman of the board of supervisors, Irvin Harmeyer honored Bob Brewington for his seven years of service to the SWCD board. "Bob has helped in many ways and served on various committees. We thank him for everything he has brought to our group."

In introducing Ryan Busch, the newly elected member of the board, Chuck Folz suggested that Nick Simon, who had run against Busch, be named an associate member. This is a position he already holds, according to printed information.

Busch attended Purdue, where he majored in landscaping and currently operates Busch Landscaping. He lives north of Osgood on a 130-acre farm. Simon, who is employed with Bruns Gutzwiller, has a grain farming operation and raises cattle near Osgood.

Folz led the oath of office for new board members Ryan Busch and Dan Reece to repeat. Other board members are Harmeyer, Meinders, Chris Linville, and William Borgman. Associates are Folz, Simon, and Dr. Robert Mulford.

Staff members in charge of the annual meeting were Becky Reatherford, Heather Wirth, Jim Schwipps, and Doug Daggy.

This year's event took place at the Napoleon Community Center.

MARY MARGARET MOORHEAD PHOTO

Irvin Harmeyer, chairman of the board of supervisors, presents a plaque to Bob Brewington in honor of his seven years of service on the Ripley County Soil & Water Conservation District board. The presentation took place at the 56th annual meeting of the SWCD on Tuesday, January 31, at the Napoleon Community Center.