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A certified crop advisor and several Ohio farm families received special recognition from Ohio Farm Bureau and other organizations during Farm Science Review last month.

Bill McDonald of South Solon was named the winner of the Excellence in Crop Advising Award, which is co-sponsored by Farm Bureau and the Ohio Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) program. And five farm families were recipients of the Conservation Farm Family awards, which have been presented since 1984. OFBF, Ohio Farmer magazine, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Soil & Water Conservation, Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts and Hancor, Inc. are the sponsors of the conservation awards.

The Excellence in Crop Advising Award recognizes CCAs who have performed superior service for farmer clients in nutrient management, soil and water management, integrated pest management and crop production. Ohio has established its own CCA program, and there are now more than 600 CCAs.

OFBF Executive Vice President Jack Fisher presented a plaque to McDonald, who also received a $500 check from Pioneer, a Dupont company.

McDonald is branch manager for Champaign Landmark, Inc.'s office in Derby, which serves Pickaway, Madison, Franklin and Fayette counties. He has been a CCA member since 1995. He also is the key beef leader of the Green Range 4-H Club and is a member and past master of the Masonic Lodge.

Fisher praised McDonald for his "commitment to the agricultural industry, his farmer clients and his continual efforts to improve his professional performance as well as those of his clients."

For the Conservation Farm Family Awards, recipients were honored for their efforts in protecting the environment while maintaining profitability. Each family received a $400 check from OFBF, as well as a plaque and was featured in the September issue of Ohio Farmer magazine.

The winners were:

• Jan Layman of Hardin County

• Heidi and Brian Rennecker of Wayne County

• Joe Mattingly of Muskingum County

• Melvyn and Marilyn Roeth of Miami County

• Eugene and Betty Carter of Ross County

"I’m proud to see those farms and it makes me think of the slogan by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation – ‘every day is earth day to a farmer’," said David Hanselmann, chief of ODNR’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation.

Caption: (Left) Winners of the Conservation Farm Family awards are from left Heidi and Brian Rennecker, Marilyn and Melvyn Roeth, Eugene and Betty Carter, Joe Mattingly and Jan and Cynthia Layman. (Right) Bill McDonald displays the plaque he received as winner of the Excellence in Crop Advising Award.