The longtime publisher of The Farmer's Exchange was honored during the 73rd annual meeting of the Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District last Thursday in Goshen.
The Exchange's Steve Yeater received the Friend of the SWCD award. He has worked at the Exchange for 40 years, serving as publisher from 1987 to 2014.
This is the third time the newspaper has received an award from the SWCD, with the first being in 1990 and the second in 1993. Yeater and The Farmer's Exchange have been supporters of the Elkhart County SWCD for more than 25 years.
Other adult award winners include: Bryan Kauffman, Conservation Farmer of the Year; Doug Beasy, River Friendly Farmer; Dean and Kathy Rink, River Friendly Farmers; Jeff Komins, Conservation Educator of the Year; and Maynard Yoder, Urban Conservationist of the Year.
After dinner, Alex Wait, SWCD supervisor and election committee chair, conducted the supervisor election. Tom Kercher of Goshen was reelected to serve a three-year term on the SWCD board. Elkhart County commissioner Mike Yoder administered the Oath of Office to Kercher.
Youth awards were presented to individuals who participated in the SWCD's poster contest. The winners included Genevieve Carreno, annual report cover, Kayellen McConnell, county third; Noah Wright, county second; Makayla Borosh, class third; Lindsey Bagby, county third; Jessica Satelo, class second; Will Nicason, class third; Britlynne Sowders, class third; Mekenna Miller, county third; Brooke Blotkamp, class second; Theresa Lietzan, class third; and Jeffrey Binkley, class third.
Four-H awards were presented to Tristan Swihart, Forestry; Sarah Fuller, Recycling; Alison Robinson, Soil and Water Conservation; and Mason Kintigh, Wildlife.
The Fairfield High School soil judging team was also recognized. Members include Samuel Burtsfield, Cody Haab, Emily Miller and Micaela Yoder.