Contributed Photo The Shawano County Agricultural Society handed out its 2014 awards on April 4. From left, seated, Jay and Angie Schultz, Outstanding Young Farmers; Lindsay Anderson and Ashley Bergsbaken, Farm Bureau Scholarship recipients; standing, Gary Tauchen, Friend of Agriculture; Roger Neumann, 2nd Miler; Allen Kohn, Soil & Water Conservation award; and Jack Kucksdorf, Tree Farmer of the Year.
The award for the 2014 Outstanding Young Farmer was given to Jay and Angie Schultz, of Gresham, on April 4 at the 57th annual Shawano County Agricultural Awards held at The Main Event.
The Schultzes operate a fifth-generation, 96-cow dairy farm consisting of Holsteins, Brown Swiss and Jerseys. They also farm about 380 acres of alfalfa, corn and small grains. The Schultzes are members of the Gresham Town & Country 4-H Club, Shawano County Farm Bureau, Gresham FFA Alumni and Miniature Horse Club.
Rep. Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel, was recognized with the Shawano County Friend of Agriculture award. He is an active member of several area organizations, including the Rural Health Initiative.
Roger Neumann, of Krakow, was recognized with the Second Miler award. Neumann is an active member of the Shawano County 4-H Junior Dairy Key Committee and the Small Animal Key Committee. He has also volunteered at the Shawano County Fair for 34 years.
The Jack Kicksdorf family, of Red Springs, was recognized as the Tree Farmer of the Year. The Kicksdorfs own 77.5 acres of mixed woodlands and have actively managed their forest, consisting of red oak, sugar maple, basswood, white pine, aspen, balsam fir and black ash, since 1979.
Allen Kohn, of Angelica, was awarded the 2014 Conservation Farmer award. Kohn farms 500 acres of alfalfa and corn. He maintains buffer strips to reduce soil erosion and sediment transport from his fields and has planted more than 2,000 trees to aid in soil and water conservation.
Shawano County Farm Bureau awarded two $500 scholarships to students who have previously volunteered at Brunch on the Farm. Scholarship award winners were Lindsay Anderson, of Gresham, and Ashley Bergsbaken, of Bonduel. Anderson will study agricultural education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Bergsbaken plans to major in communications and public relations with an agriculture minor at UW-La Crosse.