Master Farmer 2007
Alvin (Bud) and his wife Rita own 360 acres and farm 1200 acres. Alvin retired in 1994, but still assists his sons in the farming operation.
They put in 20 WASCOBs, 18 Pipe Structures, 1 acre Grass Waterway, 0.5 acre Filter Strips, 40 acres of no-till corn on the home farm, minimum till with 50% Residue, alfalfa on 30 to 40 acres, manure management and Nutrient & Pest Management.
Alvin’s son Mike is the 5th generation on a farm that was purchased from Joshua & Elizabeth Elkins on September 25, 1850. They paid it off and took possession in 1860. The farm passed to Conrad & Elizabeth Gries in 1867, to Peter Gries in 1940 and on March 24, 1961 Alvin Gries took over the farm.
In addition to corn, beans wheat hay they also milk 75 cows and raise on an average of 30 steers. They raise 15 acres of silage and 30 acres of Wheat for silage for the cattle.
Alvin and Rita have been married for 51 years; have six sons, three daughters, 29 grandchildren & one great grandchild. Alvin is a member of St. Vincent DePaul and Armstrong Recreational Center.
CONGRATULATIONS ALVIN!
The Vanderburgh Soil and Water Conservation District honors an individual who has proven to be a true conservationist in speech, thought and deed throughout his life time as a steward of the land. This recognition is called "Master Farmer" because they feel this person has truly mastered the conservation ethic and has proven this ethic through implementation of conservation practices as well as their involvement in conservation groups.
This year’s recipient is Leland "Lee" Schnepper. Lee began his farming career as boy on the home farm and has always loved the feel and smell of the soil as it was cultivated for various cropping systems. Lee moved to his farm located at the corner of Green River Road and Hirsch Road in 1945 which is the same year he married his lovely wife Mary Ann. Lee later converted much of the farm to pasture and hayland on which he raised a nationally recognized Polled Herford cattle herd for 25 years. Lee reminisced of a time he met a cattle buyer at the Canadian border to deliver a couple of award winning heifers and left Mary Ann to milk their one milk cow. Mary Ann said "the cow was never the same after this city girl got finished getting milk down her sleeves, in her shoes and very little in the milk pail."
Lee installed "w" ditches, tile and a grassed waterway and notill crop rotations during his farming career and turned the farming over to his eldest son Victor in 1975. He went to work at Stahl Equipment where he assisted with the installation of grain systems throughout the tri-state area for 24 years.
Lee served faithfully on the Soil and Water Conservation District board for over 30 years and sometimes treated the board and staff with his famous peanut brittle. He is also an excellent wood craftsman and the computer desk used by the SWCD District Secretary is a perfect example of his craftsmanship.
Lee and Mary Ann have been active members of the Bluegrass United Methodist Church for 55 years, teaching Sunday school, serving as Lay Leader and assisting the needy through the Feed My Sheep food program.
Lee also served several terms as a Vanderburgh County Fair Board member.
Congratulations Lee and Mary Ann on a job well done!!!
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