Winona County SWCD

2011 Outstanding Conservationist:

The Winona Co. SWCD 2011 Outstanding Conservationist is the Greden Family Farm of Altura Minnesota.  The Greden's were recognized for their many years, 4 generations, of demonstrating a conservation ethic.  They own over 1500 acres of cropland, pasture and woodland including the home farm that’s been in the family since the late 1800’s.  Most of the Greden’s cropland is in a corn-hay rotation with residue management, and farmed on the contour and contour strips.  They have installed countless grassed waterways, diversions, terraces and ponds, and have implemented timber stand improvement practices on much of their 750 acres of woodland.

Some marginal lands have been taken out of production and planted to prairies and trees through the RIM Reserve and CRP programs.  The Greden’s have been active with the Winona SWCD over the years with two generations of former SWCD Board Supervisors.