District deserves some applause

What do you do when the people deserving an award are too modest to accept it?
That’s the unusual situation facing the Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District.
For years, in addition to honoring a Conservationist of the Year, the SWCD has handed out River Friendly Farmer awards in the form of a sign that the farmer can put on his or her land.
Trouble is, those worthy of the award say no thanks.
More specifically, they say there’s no reason to single them out for recognition when they’re just doing what needs to be done. They’re just being good farmers and good stewards of the land.
There’s no need, they would argue, in presenting an award for just doing the right thing.
How cool is that?
Smart farming practices, conservation and stewardship are so engrained that something which used to warrant special attention is now the norm.
From our perspective, the previous sentence, by itself, merits a round of applause for everyone involved in the Soil and Water Conservation District.
When good practices and best practices become everyday practices — particularly when it comes to stewardship of our natural resources and soil — there’s real reason to celebrate. — J.R.