Media/Awards
Friend of Soil Health Award Winners
2026 Peter Sexton
Dr. Peter Sexton is an associate professor at South Dakota State University, supervisor of the Southeast Research Farm, and a SDSU Extension sustainable cropping systems specialist. In addition to serving as an outstanding advisor to students and overseeing excellent field research, he also shares his time and knowledge at several Coalition events to help further sustainable agriculture education throughout the state!
2025 Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones has been the NRCS South Dakota State Soil Scientist since 2014, and in that time, he has helped countless producers, gardeners, landowners, professionals, and students learn more about the life-sustaining soil under their feet and how to conserve it for our future generations. He works closely with partners across the sustainable agriculture world, and he presents at workshops, field schools, conferences, lectures, and classroom visits across the state and beyond.
Nathan grew up in Pleasant Grove, Utah, and he graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in environmental soil science. He began his career with NRCS in 2006 – first mapping soils in Wyoming and then working as the MLRA soil survey project leader in Pierre beginning in 2010. He and his wife, Marva, have four children, ages 16-25.
Nathan has a unique gift for explaining the deep complexities of soil science in ways that can be easily understood by everyone, regardless of their educational backgrounds. His dedication to helping others improve their understanding of soil health and their land management practices comes through in everything he does. His knowledge and experience have been invaluable in helping the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition provide scientifically accurate and up-to-date information to thousands of people across the state. He is a true friend of healthy soil!
2024 Paul Jasa
Paul Jasa, Extension Engineer with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, develops and conducts educational programs related to crop production that improve profitability, build soil health, and reduce risks to the environment. He received both his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Nebraska and has been working with planting equipment and tillage system evaluation at the University since 1978. Across the years, he’s worked with soil and water conservation, residue management, crop rotations, and, more recently, cover crops and soil health.
With Paul’s experiences gained from research and Extension activities, he has become one of the best sources of information in the Midwest on no-till planting equipment and system management to protect and build the soil. Paul admits, if there is a mistake to be made with no-till, he’s either made it himself or has seen it done. More importantly, he has learned from those mistakes and shares that information in presentations that stress the systems approach and the long-term benefits of continuous no-till.
2023 Dan Forgey
During the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition’s Annual Meeting, the Coalition presented Dan Forgey with the 2023 Friend of Soil Health Award. Forgey was an active member of the SDSHC Board from 2015-2021. He was also the longtime agronomy manager for Cronin Farms where he helped to run a cow/calf livestock operation as well as low-disturbance, no-till management of crop ground since 1993. He also used diversified cropping rotations and cover crops. Forgey was also a member of the Dakota Lakes Research Farm Board of Directors for many years. He travels across the state and the nation to share his knowledge and experience with others who are working to improve the land. Forgey’s vision for the future of soil health is “to see more interest in soil health so that one day it is as common in farmers’ conversations as no-till.”
“I was tremendously touched that the peers, the people all in soil health gave me that award,” Forgey said. “It means a lot to me, especially coming from the people that live and preach soil health. I really appreciate that.”
2022 Anthony Bly
During the conference, South Dakota State University Extension Soils Field Specialist Anthony Bly was presented with the 2022 Friend of Soil Health Award. Departing SDSHC Board Member Dan Forgey said that Bly’s work has touched just about everyone in South Dakota agriculture.
“He has done a tremendous amount for the Coalition,” Forgey said. “Every time we turn around and need something, he’s always there.”
Bly thanked the Coalition for the award, and he noted that while soil health was a “forgotten science for many years,” many people are beginning to recognize its importance. “It’s really great,” he said. “I’m living the dream!”
2021 Lon Tonneson
During the 2021 Soil Health Conference, the SDSHC Board of Directors presented longtime Dakota Farmer editor Lon Tonneson with the 2021 Friend of Soil Health Award for his coverage of soil health and agriculture over the course of a 39-year career in print journalism. Speaking of his recent retirement and all the trends he had seen over the course of his career, Tonneson said, “I wish I had a front-row seat on what the next big thing is going to be in agriculture. I got a feeling it’s probably going to come from groups like yours, what you’re doing – intercropping, companion cropping, just a whole host of things.”
2020 Jay Fuhrer
The SDSHC awarded the 2020 Friend of Soil Health to Jay Fuhrer of Bismarck, ND. He was selected as this year’s deserving recipient because of the great impact he has had in the area of resource conservation and education. Jay recently retired after many years of service with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service where he mentored countless producers, USDA employees, and partners within the industry, in preserving natural resources for future generations. Jay’s expertise and leadership has contributed to the success of the SDSHC Soil Health School and many other outreach events throughout the upper Midwest and beyond.
2019 Ruth & Dwayne Beck
The Friend of Soil Health award was created to recognize those who have made a substantial and lasting impact in the areas of soil health education and advocacy. The 2019 winners of this award were Ruth Beck, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Agronomy Field Specialist, and Dwayne Beck, Dakota Lakes Research Farm Manager. Chosen for their many, many years of work in education and research they have impacted countless numbers of individuals. “The Becks will always have a legacy of promoting the adoption of no-till, diversity, and cover crops, for the betterment of the soils not only in the United States but worldwide” Levi Neuharth, SDSHC Board Member.
2018 Jeff Hemenway
The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition (SDSHC) awarded its first ever South Dakota Friend of Soil Health award at their second Annual Meeting held January 17, 2018. The recipient was retired Soil Health Specialist Jeff Hemenway who was honored for his decades long work advocating for improvements in soil health and soil health management throughout the state of South Dakota. As the key organizer of the SDSHC’s first Soil Health School he established a means for a holistic learning experience that has proven to make a real impact on all those who take part. Hemenway’s soil health message has convinced countless producers of the need to change how we manage our greatest natural resource, the soil.
Legacy Award Winners
2026 Doug Sieck
Doug Sieck was a founding member and the initial chairman of the SDSHC Board of Directors. In this role, he was instrumental in growing the SD Soil Health Coalition from an idea to a highly active non-profit organization working to promote regenerative agriculture across the state. He shares his time and knowledge generously to help anyone he can, and his deep care for both the land and his fellow humans is evident in his every word and action. Doug is the owner and operator of Deep Root Ranch in North Central South Dakota. He was awarded the “Excellence in Range Management” Award in South Dakota at the annual meeting of the South Dakota Section in 2015.
2025 Rock Hills Ranch
Rock Hills Ranch was founded in 1976 by Lyle and Garnet Perman near Lowry SD. They were joined by their son Luke and his wife Naomi Perman in 2006. Luke, Naomi and their children Isaac, Ella, Micah and Noah are the fifth and sixth generations of the family to farm and ranch in the Lowry area.
The family was honored to receive the 2014 SD Aldo Leopold Conservation Award and the 2014 National Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
They are active proponents of conservation, especially as it relates to soil health and grassland.
2024 Dennis Hoyle
Dennis Hoyle has been a member of the board since its beginning in 2015. He attended Black Hills State, Northern State, and South Dakota State. Additionally he served as an Edmunds County Commissioner, Advisor for the Edmunds County Conservation District, as well as a member of both the Edmunds County Predator Control District Board and Five County Translator District Board. Hoyle’s agricultural operation includes raising cow calf pairs, finishing grass fed beef, some grain farming as well as wild pheasant hunting.
As a passionate soil health advocate Hoyle utilizes No-Till, rotational grazing, cover crops, and works to integrate livestock grazing onto cropland.
Hoyle’s goals for the future of soil health as well as his own operation include “Producing a product that provides a living while also improving the resource. To return my land to where it was before the plow. To encourage and help others to do the same and spread the word about the value of healthy soil.”
2023 Cronin Farms
During the 2023 Soil Health Conference, SDSHC presented Cronin Farms with the 2023 Legacy Award for their dedication to conservation and willingness to share their knowledge with others. The farm transitioned to no-till in 1993, and the fragile perennial pastures were transformed from season-long grazing to a rotational grazing system. Forage and cover crops have been integrated into the diverse crop rotations and are either swath or bale grazed during the fall and winter. The Cronins partner with other organizations to conduct research on their land and have hosted people from around the world who want to learn how they maintain excellent soil health. In 2016 Cronin Farms won the South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award.
Forgey said that the Legacy Award spotlighted the soil that has been built on the land managed by Cronin Farms. “The soil is what brought that award on,” he said. “It’s all about the soil and the soil health and our road down the soil health journey.”
2022 Jorgensen Land and Cattle
During the 2022 Soil Health Conference, SDSHC presented Jorgensen Land and Cattle with the 2022 Legacy Award.
The Jorgensen operation includes Bryan Jorgensen, his son Nick, his brother Greg, and his nephew Cody. Together they operate a hunting lodge, a diverse cow/calf and bull development operation, as well as a 12,000-acre no-till crop operation growing feedstuffs, feed grains, and certified seed. In addition to no-till practices, the Jorgensens use cover crops, diverse crop rotations, livestock integration on cropland, and minimal insecticide applications. The family has been adept at documenting the financial benefits of their soil health practices and sharing that information with others.
SDSHC Board Member Van Mansheim credited Bryan Jorgensen for getting him interested in soil health practices. “He’s done that for many people,” Mansheim said, “They promote soil health, and now his son is doing it, too. It’s just a great award for their family.”
2021 Jim and Carol Faulstich
During the 2021 Soil Health Conference, the SDSHC Board of directors presented Jim and Carol Faulstich of Highmore, S.D., with the 2021 Legacy Award for their long and tireless devotion to promoting conservation practices.
“I’ve known Jim for about 15 years,” SDSHC Board member Doug Sieck said. “I would be hard pressed to find someone in the list of people that I know or have been around that have done more, that have given more of their personal time and effort in the interest of enhancing conservation and the stewardship of the soil, the grasslands, the wildlife, and the environment in general.”
“There’s a lot of reasons why this is a very special award and greatly appreciated,” Jim Faulstich said. “It’s special to be associated with this group of people, so my hat’s off to everything, and I can’t say thank you enough for this award.”
The Legacy Award was created to honor the late Al Miron, who was a founding board member of the SDSHC. Al dedicated his personal and professional life to agriculture and was a dedicated advocate for improving soil health. Al’s wife Joan and two of their adult children, James and Jennifer received an honorary “Legacy Award” in his memory at the 2020 Soil Health Conference.
2020 Kurt & Kathy Stiefvater
The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition (SDSHC) announced the recipients of its 2020 Legacy Award in Watertown at the fourth annual Soil Health Conference. Kurt and Kathy Stiefvater of Salem, SD were presented the award because of the commitment their family has made to practicing soil health management and stewardship on their farm. The Stiefvater’s actively advocate for agriculture and improving soil health through numerous organizations in their local community and across the state. They have shared their knowledge regarding practices such as no-till, cover crops, livestock integration and much more, greatly impacting those they meet. Additionally, the Stiefvater’s have provided Soil Health School participants with the opportunity to experience a working soil health system and learn from their soil health journey.
2019 Craig & Gene Stehly
The SDSHC Legacy Award was created to honor past board member Al Miron who passed away suddenly in November of 2017. He was often heard imparting the wisdom that “the best place to stop erosion is at the top of the hill, not at the bottom” and left behind a life long legacy of conservation and commitment to increasing soil health. Craig and Gene Stehly were honored as the first recipients of this award for their work to improve soil health and water quality on their farm near Mitchell, SD. The brothers, who have been partners in the operation since the early 1980’s, utilize a systems approach which includes the use of no-till, crop rotation, cover crops, and the planting of native grasses and pollinator friendly plants in sensitive areas.
Registration Open for 2026 Soil Health Schools!
The Coalition will host two Soil Health Schools in 2026! The West River Soil Health School is set for June 24-25 near Caputa, SD, and the South Dakota Soil Health School is set for Sept. 15-17 near Twin Brooks and Marvin, SD. These events are designed for agricultural producers as well as anyone with an interest in learning how to manage soils for resiliency and profit. The agenda features classroom style presentations by producers and technical experts from across the state and region, as well as hands-on experiences in the field. Area producers will share their challenges and successes with various methods for improving soil health, to an average class size of 30-40. Registration is open, so check out our events page to learn more!
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