Second Installment of Holt Soil
An dWater Conservation Report
Supervisors
From Area at
National Confab
Two bus loads of supervisors and
their wives made up the Nebras
ka delegation which left Omaha on
Jan. 30 for the National Convention
in Lowsville, Kentucky Seventy
farmers and ranchers from Soil
and water Conservation Districts
otf Nebraska represented our State
at the National convention, Feb
ruary 1 to 4.
Supervisors from the Holt Soil
and Water Conservation District
who were on the trip: Mr and
Mrs. Elmer, Juracek, Mr. and
Mrs. Merwyn French, Sr. and
Walter Fick.
The trip from Omaha to Louis
ville is nearly 750 miles, so there
was an overnight stop at Spring
field, Illinois. This is located right
in the heart of the “Land of “Lin
coln’’. Time was taken on Sun
day morning, Jan. 31 to visit the
Lincoln museum, his home and the
Lincoln tomb. Those who had
missed attending their church that
Sunday morning mentioned that
they couldn’t help feeling that vis
iting the Lincoln tomb was as
good as going to church. As you
left, you had a feeling of deep
reverence and a knowledge that
though all great men must die,
the principles by which they lived,
live forever.
It was night and neon signs
played their continual flash and
sparkle every where as the busses
pulled to a stop at their destina
tion, the Kentucky Hotel. Soon the
already filled lobby was over flow
ing as the folks from the Beef
State, all wearing their Western
hats and Nebraska ribbons ming
led through the crowd. Folks
soon knew that the friendly people
from Nebraska, one of the most
soil conservation minded states,
had arrived.
There was not room for all of
the crowd to see the premiere
showing of the film, “The Earth
is the Lord’s, that evening at the
Soil Stewardship inspirational
meeting.
This film was shown again lat
er and every one should try to
see this film when they have the
opportunity to see it this year.
The mam part of the convention
opened on Monday, Feb. 1 in the
Flag room of the Kentucky hotel.
From the very start Nebraskans
figured strongly in the picture at
the convention. Mr, Bill Richards
of Orleans, Nebraska is the nation
al president of the National As
sociation of Soil Conservation Dis
tricts. He was later re-elected to
a two year term. Nebraskans also
took a very active part in the
discussions m the Area meetings
and committee meetings which fol
lowed. The most discussion seemed
to center around the Great Plains
Program and increasing concern
over the use of water in the fut
ure. Even the speaker at the
Wednesday evening banquet, ano
ther Nebraskan, Secretary of the
Interior Fred Seaton, talked on
this increasingly important subject,
water. His speech was an excel
lent one, not only in subject mat
ter and presentation but the end
ing left his audience in complete
agreement.
Other Nebraskans figuring in the
convention were Warren Fairchild.
Executive Secretary of the Nebras
ka Soil and Water Conservation
Committee, Dempsey McNeil, pres
ident of the Nebraska Association
of Soil and Water Conservation
Districts, and Everett Barr of Lib
erty Nebraska was given recogni
tion. He was presented a bronze
plaque for being one of the men
of the first group who gathered
in Chicago in 1946 and helped found
the National Association of Soil
Conservation Districts.
Aside trom the more serious
business at the convention, some
other events were "Kentucky
Night" and the Nebraska break
fast. The Kentuckians won many
friends for their genuine Blue grass
hospitality and their entertain
ment was well received by the
20(H) guests. Two radio shows were
recorded plus other musical num
bers and audience participation
stunts. Nebraskans again shared
in the winning of several door
prizes and taking part in the pro
gram.
Dale Williamson, Assistant Ex
ecutive Secretary of the Nebraska
Soil and Water Conservation Com
mittee was our tour manager. As
the convention came to a close on
Feb. 4, we had the opportunity to
take several side trips and we made
stops at the Calvert Distillery,
Speed museum and Churchill
Downs, site of the Kentucky Der
by. While the ladies visited a pot
tery factory, the men went to the
International Harvester factory and
saw them make Farmall tractors.
Here they saw every step in their
manufacture, from the hot, mol
ten metal as it was poured into
the molds, to where the operator
climbed up on the seat, pushed
the starter button and drove it off
the assembly line. To most of
these farmers and ranchers this
was one of the most interesting
parts of all the tours. Other side
trips included Fort Knox, Pattons
Museum and a trip into the world
famous Mam mouth Cave
On Feb. 5th. we drove toward
the Blue grass section around Lex
ington. This day we encountered
more of Kentucky's “unusual wea
ther The area was a beautiful
sight with gentle rolling hills cov
ered with a thick carpet of blje
grass sod. Each small farm boasted
a set of attractive buildings and
well trimed shade trees. All corral
and line fences were uniform white
board fences. One could drive for
miles and the neat, white board
fences were every where. The
barns and stables on the places
where stops were made were bet
ter built than many houses we had
seen.
When they started talking houses
you heard figures which would
make you dizzy. A colt just a few
weeks old was valued at $2,500
At Spendthrift farm which is a
boarding farm for many of the
famous horses, we saw Nashua,
the immortal racer. Other world
famous horses here included Roy
al Charger, Gallant Man and Jet
Pilot, all valjed from a half to
a million dollars each. Real es
tate values are high here, too. One
74 acre place had sold last spring
for $132,000. When one thinks of the
money involved in this kind of so
ciety, you get to thinking maybe
, the Lord loves the rich, too.
We hadn’t noticed in the rain that
the busses had headed north and
by afternoon we crossed the Ohio
river into Cincinnati and evening
found us stopping in Peoria Illi
nois. One comment heard often
was “where is all of the corn
stored which was harvested off this
deep, rich farmland?” We saw
few cribs of bins anywhere. And
where were the cattle? We
saw hardly any feed lots along the
highways we traveled
As we drove westward across
! Iowa, we saw more and more
I snow. Conflicting weather reports
oustate began to worry many
about the folks they had left in
charge at home, as tne group oi
farm and ranch folk disbanded ev
ery one expressed gladness that
they had taken the time to visit
with old friends and make new
ones at the convention, but it was
good to be home again.
Any one would have enjoyed
meeting these people who are in
volved in the work of conserving
our most valuable possessions, so
il and water. They are a dedicated
people and you couldn’t buy what
they are doing. Nearly every one
is busy back in his home terri
tory in many different kinds of
civic work. They could discuss
not only conservation, but one
could start a friendly, fact find
ing conversation on such subjects
as education or delinquency. Upon
meeting them you would be con
vinced that there is no more neces
sary work to be done than invest
ing a little of our time in build
ing a better tomorrow.
Excerpts from
National Talk
Excerpts from a talk made by
D.A. Williams, Administrator. Soil
Conservation Service, before the
annual meeting of the National As
sociation of Soil Conservation Dis
tricts. Louisville, Kentucky, Febru
ary 1, 1960.
“It is a great pleasure to meet
with you once again, and to share
with you some views and obser
vations on the soil and water
conservation job we work at to
gether.
We all agree that the soil con
servation job doesn’t move ahead
as fast as we’d like. Many pro
blems and frustrations arise in
this work that worry and hinder
us.
One oi our nig prooicuis wiiu
too many people in the country
still do not know what a soil con
servation district is, or even what
soil conservation really means.
This is true, despite the fact that
your 2,8<V7 soil conservation dis
tricts now include within their
boundaries about 95 percent of
all the farms and ranches in the
country.
This is true despite the fact
' that today nearly two million far-,
mers and ranchers and other land
' owners have become cooperators
i with their districts.
It is true despite the fact that
20 States in the country are com
pletely covered by districts, and
only four States have less than
70 percent of their land within dis
tricts.
Yes, we have reason to be im
patient when we see that so many
people in the country are still un
informed on the urgency of soil and I
water conservation. Certainly, dis
tricts cannot make their maximum
contribution to the well-being of
our Nation until people generally
know and face the facts about the j
future. In fifty years, for example,
we shall have to feed and clothe j
twice as many people from about
the same acreage of cropland that
we use today. The improved tech
nology of soil and water conser
vation, brought to the land through
soil conservation districts will be
one of our principal means of
meeting that doubled demand.
• _ -
But not many people really under
stand this problem We still have
some distance to go before the
soil conservation program achieves
that degree of understanding
throughout the Nation
It is true, nevertheless, and a
matter of great satisfaction, that
soil conservation districts have al
ready had a very great impact up
on American agriculture. One of
the ways of obtaining the greater
public understanding we seek is to
do a better job of calling to public
attention those very considerabl*
changes and advances that the so
il conservation district program
has brought to bear in less than
25 years.
Fly across this country on a
clear day and you’ll see many of
the trademarks of the soil con
servation district program.
The familiar contour stripcrop
ping pattern was not an exclusive
invention of soil conservation dis
tricts, of course. But it was not
until the widespread organization
of districts that this effective
means of establishing soil conser
ving crop rotations on rolling land
became a standard feature on the
landscape.
Farm ponds were not invented
by soil conservation districts, but
the district program has sprinkled
them widely across the country
to provide better water and
grazing management and improved
wildlife habitat.
Looking behind the more dra
matic and visible evidences, it was
the soil conservation district pro
gram which put into practical use
the basic concept of classifying
land according to its capability.
The idea of using every acre with
in its capability and treating it
according to its individual needs,
has been the core of the soil and
water conservation program in dis
tricts.
I think this one concept has done
more to help landowners and oper
ators become conservationists than
any other single development in
the district program.
One third, approximately, oi an
the farms and ranches in the coun
try have basic soil conservation
plans built around land capability
information. These conservation
These conservation plans are them
selves an historic development in
American agriculture. The impor
tance of the basic plan, as it is
termed in the district program, lies
not only in the essential soil and
land capability information it con
tains. It also relates to that data
the decisions of the farmer or
rancher as to what treatment and
use he plans to make of each par
cel of land. This approach to plan
ning has been praised the world
over as the first really practical
yet scientific approach to the re
source problems on a given unit
of land.
Another basic concept of tre
mendous importance that has come
out of the district program is rec
ognition of the simple but dra
matic fact that soil, water and
vegetation Eire closely interrelated
in their treatment and use. Early
conservationists tried, unsuccess
fully, to attack soil erosion from a
purely mechancial standpoint. They
were successful only when they
combined vegetative practices with
engineering practices—according to
the needs of the soil—and in com
binations related to the capability
of the land and the plans of the
landowner.
Westerners know the important
change in the approach to range
conservation that came into use
with the soil conservation district
program. The whole conservation
program on Western rangelands
changed when emphasis was shift
ed from the old idea of “carrying
capacity” and control of livestock
numbers to the idea that grass is
a forage crop, to be managed as
such. It was not until the district
program developed this emphasis
that stockmen generally came to
understand and accept efforts to
achieve soil and water conserva
tion and build up ranges at the
same time.
As a matter of fact, it is safe
to say that soil conservation dis
tricts can take credit for much of
the grassland program that has
taken hold throughout the entire
country. Last years farmers and
ranchers in soil conservation dis
tricts alone seeded grass on more
than 1 Ms million acres of range
land and planted improved pasture
on just over three million acres.
This program has been especially
dramatic in the South where di
versified farming has largely taken
the place of the old single-crop
SJF91C1U.
Many of the most useful grasses
and legumes now in wide use were
introduced or developed in nurser
ies or plant material centers es
tablished to aid soil conservation
districts.
Soil conservation districts have
made tremendous contributions in
farm woodland conservation. Work
ing cooperatively with State fores
try agencies and the Department
of Agriculture, farmers in soil
conservation districts alone plant
ed trees on more than one million j
acres in 1959— an increase of 39
percent over the previous year.
We know today that the princi
pal opportunity for increasing wild-,
life numbers lies in improved habi
tat on privately owned farm and
ranch lands. As a result this phase
of conservation work in soil con
servation districts has taken on ad
ded importance. Every year, sever
al hundred thousands of acres in
districts are developed specifically
for wildlife benefit, in addition to
the benefits to wildlife that come
from many of the regular soil and
water conserving practices. A num
ber of outstanding developments
of benefit to wildlife such as the
use of multiflora rose and sericea
lespedeza- have grown out of the
district program.
I could go for some time recit
ing noteworthy contributions to
American agriculture that have
come from or have been closely
identified with the soil and water
conservation program in districts.
These things are all a matter
of great satisfaction, of course.
But they didn’t just happen. They
came about because there was a
need—because districts provided
the kind of conservation organiza
tion and local leadership needed—
because districts provided a med
ium through which effective team
work between local people and
many agencies of State and Fed
eral government could be achieved.
New developments are coming
along rapidly. Some 3,600 farmers
and ranchers now have contracts
and plans for some 10 million
acres in the Great Plains Con
servation Program. Their experi
ence gives districts in that re
gion a new opportunity to demon
strate the effectiveness of proper
blending at technical planning and
cost sharing for conservation
I would be remiss if ! did not
mention one of the most signifi
cant by-products of the district
movement That is the agressive,
non-political, non-sectarian, unsel
fish, and unpaid leadership of men
and women serving on the gover
ning bodies of districts. You have
become leaders m agriculture, lea
ders in conservation, and leaders
of men.
Yes, the contributions and ac
complishments of soil conservation
districts, and their leaders and
their farmers and ranchers, are
tremendous. America already owes
districts—whether it knows it or
not—an enormous debt of grati
tude.
But you are not looking for grat
itude. There is no time for pat
ting yourselves on the back. The
challenge to us all is to look
ahead, not backward. There can
be no stopping place in conser
vation progress so long as part
of the job remains undone.
Districts, and those work with
districts, must remain alert and
flexible, ready to accomodate to
ever-changing conditions—always
seeking new techniques and new
solutions to old and new problems
And they must enlist the support
and understanding of every man,
woman and child in the Nation for
this urgent work.
It is a huge, and a demanding
task, but since the goal is better
living for every one, can there be
any more satisfying, any more
challenging job in the world than
this?
Senator Case
Says Resources
Important
The fourteenth Annual meeting of
the Soil Conservation Society of
America was held at Rapid City,
South Dakota in August 1959.
The following quotation is taken
from an address made by Senator
Francis Case of South Dakota at
that meeting.
“The basic resource of most far
mers is soil. Variations in soil
conditions create for each farm
special managment problems to
which no uniform design or plan of
operations can be applied. This is
where the specialist and the man
on the land meet. The adequate
appraisal of a farm’s capabilities—
its assets and deficiencies— and
the development of a plan of oper
ations requires teamwork of both
the farmers and the technicians.
“There is an increasing tendency
to over-simplify the science of soil
conservation. Too often there is the
view that an adequate plan of
operation can be developed on a
“do-it-yourself” basis. Nothing can
be further from the truth. The
soil scientist and technician knows
his business. Just as each individ
ual needs particular advice from
his physician and attorney, so each
farmer requires the attention of the
specialist in soil planning opera
tions. Despite the massive progress
which has b#en made since the
1930’s, there remains much to be
done. While Such techniques as
contour tillage, contour strip crop
ping. terracing, and sod waterways
are all accepted means of solving
the pace of soil deterioration, there
are still too few farmers utilizing
these methods.”
Great Plains
Program-What
Does It Do?
The Great Plains Conservation
Program was enacted by the Con
gress in August 1956 but appro
priations did not become available
until a year later. In August 1957.
Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra
Taft Benson activated the program
and issued regulations and oper
ating procedures for 221 counties
in the Great Plains States which
were eligible to receive program
assistance. By May 1959, the num
ber of designated counties had
grown from the original 221 to 331.
In the Great Plains States the
number of participants increased
from four in December 1957 to
2,131 in May 1959. In addition, 2.687
farmers and ranchers had appli
cations pending.
In Holt County there are 18
participants and 11 applications
pending. The first contract was
completed May 8, 1958 and the
last application was signed in Feb
ruary 1960.
The objective of the program is
to give technical and cost-sharing
assistance to farmers and ranchers
in developing and carrying out, on
a voluntary basis, a conservation
plan of operations that will use the
land within its capabilities, have
greater stability through cropping
and grazing systems, land use
changes and the application of en
during soil and water conservation
practices.
The plan of operations and cost
sharing of Federal Funds are ar
ranged to get the conservation job
speeded up and done in no less
than three years nor more than
ten years on any farm or ranch.
A complete soil and water conser
vation plan is based on the care
ful studies of the range and soil
condition obtained by the Soil Con
servation Service Technicians. With
these facts, the plan is made to
use the land within its capabilities
and to fit the needs of the unit and
operator.
A xarmer or rancher is eligible
to participate in the program if
the owner or operator lives with
in the county, has control over
land considered to be an operating
unit, furnishes a plan of operations
and enters into a contract.
The Soil Conservation Service
technicians will assist the farmer
or rancher in developing and car
rying out a plan of operations. The
farmer or rancher is encojraged
to carry out his plan of operations
as rapidly as climatic conditions
and his own resources permit.
The contract includes the olan of
operations, the time schedule, and
the amount of cost-shares to be
paid by the Federal Government.
The contract also has flexibility
in that it may be amended to
include additional land or to de
iete land sold and to change the
time schedule to meet the vans-1
lions in weather and farm income
conditions which may interfere with
the completion of a conservation
practice.
An individual can collect a cost
share payment when he ha* car
ned out a practice or an identifi
able unit of his plan, has applied
for payment, and the technician
from the Soil Conservation Service
has certified performance and
compliance.
Atkinson News
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Cblfack went
to Butte Sunday where they at
tended a family get-to-gether at
the home of Mrs. Colfack’s mother,
Mrs Adolph Arp The occasion
was in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Earl
Arp and family, who recently held
a farm sale and have purchased a
trailer home and will move to New
Mexico where Mr. Arp has employ
ment.
Harold Dunlap, a real estate ap-i
praisal agent from Lincoln county
came Monday and is spending the
week working in Holt county. He
is staying at the Wefso home while
In this territory.
Mr. and Mrs, Claude Johnson
and Jim went to Dunning Sunday
where they were dinner guests in
the home of Mrs. Johnson's father,
Mr. H. L. McMullen. Sunday even
ing they were supper guests of her
brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and
Mrs. Art McMullen.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Juracek were
Friday evening callers in the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Johnson
and Jim.
Mrs. Harvey Steinhauser and
Tommy and Mrs John Steinhauser
and Mrs. John Freidel of Stuart
were Friday afternoon visitors of
Mrs. Harvey Steinhauser's parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Johnson in,
Atkinson.
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Sladek
come up from Schulyer Saturday
and were overnight guests of her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Arp
and w'ere Sunday dinner guests of
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lad
Sladek. They returned to their
home Sunday evening. \
Mrs. Ruth Rocko was hostess to
the Atkinson Extension club at her
home in Atkinson assisted by Mrs.
Ruth Funk, on March 9. Fourteen
members answered roll call with,
“How do you clean your windows."
Mrs. Rose Podany was a guest.
There were tw'o lessons given at
this meeting, Mrs. Warren Marr
and Mrs. Richard Crippen present
ed the lesson on, “Shoes That Fit."
anti Mrs Minnie Martens conduct
ed the lesson on Foods and
Meats." Both were very interest
ing.
The next meeting will, be on
April 13 at the home of Mrs Jesse
Dobrovolny.
Mrs Jennie MUnar was hostess
to the Christian Mothers Tuesday
afternoon. March 8 Assisting the
hostess were, Mrs Albert Krysl
ami Mrs. Dan O Connell. Eleven
members were present
Pitch furnished the afternoons
entertainment and high score was
won by Mrs. Ruth Barnes and low
wont to Mrs. Rose Slaymaker.
The next meeting will be on
April 12, the hostess to be decided
later.
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bouska wont to
Norfolk March 9. where they at
tended the Norfolk Junior College
stage production of “Annie Get
Your Gun." Their son, Roland was
a member of the cast. Mr. Bouska
also attended the 14th annual Ne
braska Weed and Pest Control
Conference in the city auditorium
on Wednesday afternoon, which
was sponsored" by the Weed and
Seed Division of the Nebraska De
partment of Agriculture.
Mrs, Fred Neibauer was hostess
on Thursday evening, March 10 to
Kensington with Mrs. Jim Kubart
assisting hostess Aixxit twelve
members were present.
The group discussed the district
meeting which will la' held in May
and the evening was spent socially.
The Birthday club met last
Thursday with Mrs Eddie Sehmii
eeker. There were thr**e birthdays
to celebrate at this meeting, Mrs.
Alois Mlnarik, Mrs. Elsie Cadwal
ader and Mrs. Rena Smith. One
guest, Mrs Elmer Holm of Rutte
Mrs Wilmer McConnell was law
tess on Wednesday afternoon to the
Eldeen Extension club. Twelve
members answered roll call by
naming their favorite kind of
shoes. The lesson was presented
by Mrs. Ed Jensen and Mrs, Ed
Dvorak cat "Shoes That Fit,"
Contest winners were Mrs. Dale
Barnes and Mrs Arthur Pacha.
The next meeting April 13 will
be with Mrs. Harry Mlinar and
roll call will be answered with a
"Funny Riddle."
Mrs. Gary Lech was hostess to
the Happy Homemakers Extension
club on Wednesday afternoon, as
sisted by Mrs Dean Funk The lea
son on, "Shoes That bit," was
presented by Mrs Kay Klsburv and
Mrs, Maynard Coleman. Roll call •
was answered by nine members
w ith some thing about St Patrick t
Day.
The nevt meeting will la* on April
13 with Mrs. Maynard (Aileman at
which time a Chinese auction will
be held.
Try The Frontier Want
Ads — It Pays !
Notice To Bidders ...
Specifications for bid on 1900 Police car
4-door sedan; six cylinder engine (Min. Cu In. 23(1'; Automatic
Transmission: Oil Hath air cleaner (or Comparable'; Oil Filter;
Standard radio; Heater and defroster; TiO amp. lowcut in Gen.
with matching regulator; electric windshield wipers; back-up
lights; front seat covers (fibre'; Both driver and passenger sun
visors; Flasher type red dome signal lamp on car top; transfer
two way radio from old to new car; transfer fender police lamp
from old to new car.
Trade in- 1958, 6 cyl. Ford, 4-door
Bids will tie opened Wednesday, April 6, 7:30 p.m., at City
Council meeting. Submit bids to City Clerk. Council reserves the
right to accept or reject all bids.
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