The Pope SWCD invites you to stop on in for a limited copy of this year’s 2025 calendar. The Pope SWCD hosted a photo contest, and the winners are featured in this year’s calendar. Watch for details early in 2025 as we announce next year’s photo contest for the 2026 calendar.

Pope Soil and Water Conservation District each year along with other SWCD’s from across the state of Minnesota recognize landowners for implementing conservation projects or conducting work of an exemplary nature that helps improve and protect our lakes, rivers, streams, and land.

This year we are pleased to select Richard, Victoria, Paul, and Josie Syverson for the 2024 Pope County Outstanding Conservationist. The Syverson’s operate a 1,500-acre MDA Water Quality Certified farm raising corn, soybeans, forage, and cover crops. They irrigate 155 acres. They have implemented: cover crops, a shelterbelt, no-till, vertical tillage, water quality intakes, water and sediment control basins, grass plantings, irrigation water management, grid sampling, pasture and forage management, and nutrient management. The Syverson’s have 160 mixed breed mostly polypay ewes and feed 320 market lambs annually. They work closely with Pope SWCD and NRCS on implementing several practices.

Richard has been a strong advocate for Minnesota producers. The Syverson’s are good stewards and agricultural leaders that are using conservation methods in their operation and enjoy learning and sharing their knowledge with others.

We presented the Syverson’s their award and recognition at the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s Annual Conference on December 4th in St. Paul and on December 17th at the Pope County Commissioners Meeting.

Congratulations again to the Syverson’s. We are proud to select them as this year’s recipient for this recognition and their conservation efforts.  We applaud and thank them for their efforts.