County acknowledges environmental initiatives

By Janet Kanters Times Editor

Two separate environmental awards were handed out recently by Wheatland County.
Kooter and Craig Kaiser received the J. Laslo Legacy Award on March 13, during the county’s annual general meeting held in Lyalta. The Kaisers, who manage a cow/calf operation north of Hussar, were nominated for their commitment to conserving environmentally sensitive areas on their land and leadership in using conservation as a land management tool.
According to their nomination, the Kaisers understand the environmental benefits for their operation when conservation programs are used and have taken land stewardship to the next level, allowing them to be productive while running their operation in a positive way.
“This is further demonstrated by their strong involvement in agricultural conservation programs offered through Wheatland County, as noted by our agricultural services staff who have had the pleasure of working with the pair on many occasions,” said Jason Wilson, Wheatland County councillor and chair of the county’s Agricultural Service Board.
The J. Laslo Legacy Award is named in honour of now-retired long-term Wheatland County employee Jim Laslo. The award is presented to an agricultural producer in Wheatland County who has “shown exemplary leadership in the implementation of beneficial management practices on their farm. The winner will have shown dedication to reducing the environmental impacts of their operation and has an interest in promoting lessons from their efforts to others in the industry.”
During his career, Laslo was the agricultural fieldman, and then general manager of agriculture, community and protective services. His passion for education and outreach about agricultural conservation initiatives, and dedication to harnessing the innovation of the agricultural community, led to the uptake of sustainable agriculture practices throughout the municipality.
On Feb. 27, the Carseland School Garden and Outdoor Classroom and Nature Connection Program received the county’s Youth Stewardship Award. This award aims to recognize the importance of engaging youth in environmentally beneficial initiatives, as the youth of today represent future generations of the Wheatland County community.
According to the county, Carseland School’s Garden and Outdoor Classroom and Nature Connection Program are creating a culture of wellness for the school and community while connecting students to the natural environment. A recent addition, the Park Partnership Program, will see students visiting Wyndham-Carseland Provincial park once a month to better connect with nature.
“Through its programs Carseland School shows commitment to fostering learning about ecological stewardship, sustainability and healthy living principles,” said Donna Biggar, Wheatland County councillor who presented the award. “They’ve offered students an opportunity to take part in building garden boxes, gaining community support for the program, caring for the garden, making use of the outdoor classroom space and visiting the Bow River valley to learn about nature. This type of initiative is cultivating a generation of leaders in our community, and we look forward to watching the programs grow.”