Denys Farms wins Conservationist of the Year Award
Denys Farms Inc. – Jim, Dan and Mike Denys, of Parkhill area, honoured with Conservationist of the Year Award for more than 25 years of conservation farming
Ausable Bayfield Conservation has announced that the Conservationist of the Year in 2022 is Denys Farms Inc. – Jim, Dan and Mike Denys, of the Parkhill area.
The Middlesex County family has been an early adopter of practices that sustain and improve soils in their farming operation while also limiting erosion and managing runoff.
“Ausable Bayfield Conservation is pleased and honoured to announce that Denys Farms Inc. – Jim, Dan and Mike Denys – are this year’s deserving winners of the Conservationist of the Year award,” said Dave Jewitt, Chair of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Board of Directors. “The Denys family has practised best practices and land stewardship for decades, helping to build soil health and to manage and reduce runoff to the benefit of their farming operation and their community.”
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Jim Denys is President of Denys Farms Inc. He says the family is honoured to receive the award.
“Our goal is to build the soil and build the business and we believe it’s possible to do both,” he said. “We use a number of best practices to reduce erosion of topsoil and to reduce nutrient loss while also achieving high yields.”
Denys Farms Inc. is a pork and cash crop producer. They have run a three-crop rotation including corn, soybeans and wheat. The Denys family has practised no-till farming for more than 25 years. The Denys family planted no-till wheat in the 1990s as a way to conserve soil and stop erosion. Jim Denys was a recipient of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s 2019 Soil Champions Award.
Denys Farms Inc. is committed to building soil structure and organic matter. They accomplish this with strip-tilling and by planting cover crops including multi-species cover crops. Spreading of manure onto a cover crop in August encourages biomass production and limits runoff. They practise 4Rs stewardship using variable-rate fertilizer application and applying when it is needed by the crops.
The recipients received their award at a ceremony at their farm on June 9, 2022.
They received a locally handcrafted, engraved dual-purpose board, made of Maple wood, that is a piece of art on one side and a serving tray on the other. In addition to the prize, Ausable Bayfield Conservation is donating towards a tree and plaque at a Commemorative Woods.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation has presented the Conservationist of the Year Award for more than 35 years – since 1984.
To learn more visit the conservation award web page:
Photo information:
DENYS FARMS INC. WINS CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR AWARD – The winner of the Conservationist of the Year Award for 2022, presented by Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), is Denys Farms Inc. – Jim, Dan and Mike Denys, of the Parkhill area. Presenting the award on June 9, from left to right, on behalf of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) are Adrian Cornelissen, Municipality of North Middlesex representative on the ABCA Board of Directors; and Nathan Schoelier, ABCA Stewardship Manager. Accepting the award, at the farm north of Parkhill, are: Dan, Mike, and Jim Denys.
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Clinton Conservation Area Video
Watch this short video about Clinton Conservation Area near Clinton, Ontario.
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South Huron Trail Video (MDCA Section)
This video is of the Morrison Dam Conservation Area (MDCA) Section of the South Huron Trail, east of Exeter, Ontario, Canada.
MDCA is an Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) property.
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South Huron Trail (MacNaughton-Morrison Section)
This video shows the MacNaughton-Morrison Section of the South Huron Trail in Exeter, Ontario, Canada.
Watch the video now:
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Parkhill Conservation Area Video
This video is of Parkhill Conservation Area in Parkhill, Ontario, Canada.
To find out about Parkhill Conservation Area and other conservation areas in the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) watershed visit this web page:
Watch the video now:
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There are more than 100 videos for your enjoyment and information and we add new ones regularly.
The videos have received tens of thousands of views.
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Conservation Foundation offers $1,000 student award
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation (ABCF) offers $1,000 Student Environmental Award bursary in 2022
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation (ABCF) is offering a $1,000 Student Environmental Award scholarship in 2022.
“We are very proud to offer the Student Environmental Award in 2022,” said Dave Frayne, ABCF Chair. “This $1,000 student bursary helps a local student in their studies and we encourage local young people to apply.”
The deadline to apply is Thursday, June 30, 2022 by 4:30 p.m. local time.
For the application form and flyer poster, and for complete details, please visit the abca.ca website at this web page link:
The successful applicant must be a graduating secondary school student or student currently enrolled in university or college pursuing education in a conservation-related course of study such as biology; ecology; geography; forestry; fish and wildlife; agriculture; or outdoor education.
Interested students are to write a creative two-page essay on their personal involvement with a conservation or environment-based project or organization.
Eligible students must be between the ages of 17 and 25, have a permanent address in a municipality of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) watershed.
Municipalities in the ABCA watershed are: Adelaide Metcalfe; Bluewater; Central Huron; Huron East; Lambton Shores; Lucan Biddulph; Perth South; Middlesex Centre; North Middlesex; South Huron; Warwick; and West Perth.
There have been ten local recipients of the award. Past winners are: Ryan Finnie (2010); Raina Vingerhoeds (2011); Greg Urquhart (2012); Ryan Carlow (2013); Connor Devereaux (2014); Barb Alber (2015); Samantha Bycraft (2016); Marina Lather (2017); Ethan Quenneville (2018); and Meghan Glavin (2019).
Visit abca.ca for complete details.
The photo at top, taken at Bannockburn Conservation Area, shows a common white-tail female dragonfly and an avens plant.
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Student Environmental Award Winners
This video shows the ten recipients, of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation's Student Environmental Award $1,000 bursary, between 2010 and 2019. The video shows the students being presented with their scholarships.
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ABCA reminds users of rules at Clinton Conservation Area
Clinton Conservation Area offers nature enjoyment, recreation and benefits for water and habitat, ABCA says; Most people follow rules but conservation authority reminds public why rules are in place and need to be followed; ABCA staff take on work previously completed by volunteers of former Clinton Lions Club; Conservation authority thanks club members for years of dedication there
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is reminding users of the rules at Clinton Conservation Area. Nathan Schoelier is ABCA’s Stewardship and Lands Manager. He said the rules are in place at the conservation area “so everyone can enjoy this beautiful location, for people to enjoy passive recreation, along the Bayfield River.”
The former Clinton Lions Club adopted the conservation area for many years. ABCA appreciates the dedication and contributions of the Lions Club volunteers who maintained this property for many years, said Schoelier. (The Clinton Lions Club served the Clinton and area community for 85 years – the club decided to disband in 2021 after membership numbers declined). ABCA owns and manages Clinton Conservation Area and staff have assumed all the functions previously completed by volunteers.
Most people are very good about following the rules at the property, Schoelier said, but the recent changes at the conservation area make it a good time to update the public about management of the property.
Clinton Conservation Area is open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Hiking, bird-watching, snowshoeing and cross-county skiing are all permitted uses at Clinton Conservation Area. The park has a pavilion for people to enjoy, and to host events at such as family gatherings, and picnics. Certain uses, such as weddings, require prior permission from ABCA. You may contact Nathan Schoelier, Stewardship and Lands Manager for Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, to find out more about using the pavilion at Clinton Conservation Area and other conservation areas owned by ABCA.
ABCA reminds users that motorized vehicles, horses, hunting, alcohol use, fires, camping, and overnight parking are not permitted. Dogs must be on a leash, under control, and you must clean up after your dog. Unauthorized activities may be reported toll-free to ABCA at 1-888-286-2610. ABCA has contracted the Municipal Enforcement Unit (MEU) to enforce the laws applying to conservation areas and trails.
Clinton Conservation Area offers nature enjoyment and exercise. It also provides benefits such as flood retention and flood attenuation (providing a place for flood waters to go during a storm event), said Schoelier. The conservation area helps to reduce the potential downstream impacts of flooding, he said. He said the natural green infrastructure in place there helps to filter sediment from the water and protect and improve water quality. The conservation area also provides habitat for wildlife, fish, and other aquatic species.
To learn more about Clinton Conservation Area visit the conservation area web page on the abca.ca website:
You may also contact Ausable Bayfield Conservation staff to learn more.
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Rock Glen Conservation Area Video
This video shows some of the highlights of Rock Glen Conservation Area (RGCA) in Arkona, Ontario, Canada.
To learn more about this Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority property visit this web page:
Watch the video now:
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