Awards
2009 Farm of the Year
The Warren County Conservation District presented their 2009 annual awards at a ceremony on February 16, 2010. Marc & Cindy Briggs of the Dancing Heart Farm, shown in the picture with the District’s Board Treasurer Dean Johnson, were honored as the 2009 Farm of the Year.
Dancing Heart Farm, which is located just outside of Russell, PA, has been a 37 acre highly productive family farm since 1919. Marc and Cindy raise Heritage breeds of livestock such as Shetland sheep, Cashmere goats, and Glouchester Old Spot and Tamworth hogs.
Best management practices over the years have included over 9000 feet of pasture fencing divided into several paddocks for rotational grazing, a combined solar pumped and gravity fed watering system, companion grazing, and a 2400 square foot covered building for a manure stacking pad. The pigs will be housed here during the winter and will turn the bedding and manure mixture to produce a high quality compost to later be spread on the pastures.
Gravel has been mined from the farm for a number of years and the reclamation of the former pits is astounding. The terrain was shaped to prevent erosion, topsoil applied, and the highest quality sod base was established back into productive pasture.
Marc’s attention to soil ecosystem needs has produced pasture plant diversity and quality that are unmatched in our region. Many conservation practices on the Brigg’s farm are done at the owner’s expense simply because it is the right thing to do.
Marc and Cindy also received citations from Pennsylvania State Representative Kathy Rapp, who attended the ceremony, and from Pennsylvania State Senator Mary Jo White.
The Warren County Conservation District is proud to recognize the Dancing Heart Farm as the 2009 Conservation Farm of the Year. Their enthusiasm and dedication truly make them very deserving of this award.
2009 Educator of the Year
John Fedak, a teacher from Warren Area High School, shown in the picture with the District’s Board Chairman Dave Miller, was honored as the 2009 Educator of the Year.
John teaches Intro to Environmental Science, Wildlife Biology and Ornithology. He has been active in the “Trout in the Classroom” Project for many years. In January, John and his class were featured in a PBS program on the environment that shows them working on the “Trout in the Classroom” Project. John actively engages his students in classroom activities that focus on the environment. He is willing to work outside the normal school day in an effort to get his students involved in their environment as evidenced in the large number of students who volunteer to participate in his annual “releasing of the trout” event. Assistant Principal, Steve Parinella, stated “John is a quality teacher who works very hard to promote the environment and foster a love of nature among his students and is an asset to Warren Area High School and very deserving of this honor.”
John also received citations from Pennsylvania State Representative Kathy Rapp, who attended the ceremony, and from Pennsylvania State Senator Mary Jo White.
The Warren County Conservation District is proud to recognize the excellent work which Mr. Fedak does each and every day for the students at Warren Area High School. His enthusiasm and dedication truly make him deserving of the Educator of the Year Award.