by April Scheinoha
Reporter
Myron and Sonia Iverson have been named the 2018 Pennington County Outstanding Conservationists. The Iversons will be honored in December during the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention in Bloomington.
The Iversons and other Outstanding Conservationists from throughout the state may then receive Area and State Outstanding Conservationist awards at the convention.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Myron, who noted they have to do the best they can to preserve natural resources for future generations.
The Pennington Soil and Water Conservation District selected the Iversons from a group of property owners in Black River, Bray, Norden, Numedal, Polk Centre, River Falls and Sanders townships. The Iversons farm in Sanders Township.
Bryan Malone, Pennington SWCD, said the Iversons have utilized a long list of conservation practices over the last 20 years. Most recently, they were accepted into the Conservation Stewardship Program, a voluntary program in which producers enhance natural resources and improve their business operations.
The Iversons farm on about 1,500 acres. Of that total, 1,200 acres are in wheat and soybeans. Two hundred acres are hay, and the remainder is pasture land. The Iversons own some of the property, and the rest is leased. They also own 60 Angus cross-breed cow-calf pairs.
The Iversons have a 115-acre rotational grazing system with a water control structure that retains water off of a 700-acre drainage area. About 10 side-water inlets were installed on their property as well. Selective harvesting is another practice utilized on their farm. Myron said they may plant another shelterbelt next year.
Myron, who formerly worked at Textron, now farms full-time. Sonia continues to work full-time at Textron. The couple has three sons, Jonathan (Amanda), Justin (Desirae) and Joshua (Samantha), and seven grandchildren. Jonathan is a mainstay on the farm. Their other two sons assist as needed.
The Iversons have farmed on their own since 1997. Prior to that time, Myron helped Sonia’s father on his farm. The couple now lives on property formerly owned by Sonia’s late parents, Vernon and Jean Wold.
If farming and working weren’t enough to keep the Iversons busy, they also find time to watch their grandkids participate in sports.
Sonia also serves as a leader in the Satellite 4-H Club. “It keeps me busy,” said Sonia, who has served in a leadership capacity for about 30 years.