Pictured is the SWCD board at its meeting last month The Kleberg – Kenedy Soil and Water Conservation District 356 (SWCD) headquartered in Kingsville recently elected their officers for the new year.

John Prukop remains Chairman of the Board. Vern Crocker was recently reelected to serve in Zone 5 which is Kenedy County and serves as Secretary.

Trey Quackenbush, young farmer from Zone 4 in the District covering the Riviera area, was elected as Vice- Chairman.

David Schubert serves as Director of Zone 2 and Ernest Bippert, Jr. continues to serve as Zone 3 Director.

Sue Whitfield Thompson serves as Bookkeeper.

Adrian Perez from Freer is the liaison between the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) in Temple and the local Board. Andy Garza is Regional Manager at the TSSWCB in Harlingen administering the water quality management program.

Rebecca Cunningham and Julian Vela were recently hired as technicians to assist with daily activities within the District.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the technical arm under the Department of Agriculture who assist landowners and operators with conservation assistance on their farms and ranches dealing with the soil, water, air, plants, and animals.

The unique partnership between the SWCD and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Kingsville has evolved through Memoranda of Agreements.

The local office of the NRCS and the District is located at 401 East King Avenue, Suite #100 in Kingsville.

In Kleberg and Kenedy counties, the Harlingen Regional Office of the TSSWCB provides technical and administrative assistance to the local SWCD for the implementation of a water quality management program for agriculture established with the passage of Senate Bill 503 in 1993.

The program’s primary objective is to implement programs to assist agricultural producers to meet the state’s water quality goals and standards.

Chairman Prukop says, “The District will be busy assisting local schools with the Poster and Essay contest again this year.”

He went on to day, “Our Board, in conjunction with the NRCS, will be pleased to assist the local schools in making presentations on conservation when requested.”

“This contest remains an excellent avenue to educate our youth on soil and water conservation,” he said.

“Our staff is working on our Annual Report and it will be available at the District office, said Trey Quackenbush.

“This highlights the activities of the Board and summarizes some of the programs that are available for cooperators in practicing sound conservation on their land,” he said.

The board will be holding its annual Awards Banquet again sometime in February.”

They Board continues to provide basic one-on-one technical assistance to landowners and operators in Kleberg and Kenedy counties. For additional information on the SWCD and programs available, contact the District office at 401 East King, Suite 100 or call at (361)-592- 0309 Ext. 3.