McLean man receives NRD conservation award

NORFOLK – The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District recently recognized a McLean man for his groundwater and soil conservation efforts.

At its awards banquet this year, the Lower Elkhorn NRD Board of Directors presented Junior Pfanstiel, McLean, with the 2022 Sustainable Agriculture Award.

The Sustainable Agriculture Award is presented every two years to individuals within the district who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the conservation of soil and groundwater.

Pfanstiel is a graduate of Randolph High School and received higher education at Northeast Community College and Northwest Missouri State University, where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree.

Pfanstiel focuses on soil health practices and started implementing his own conservation farming practices in 2015 with no till. In 2018, he added cover crops, and in 2020, he added small grains followed by rotationally grazed cover crops.

Currently, he grows corn, soybeans and winter wheat. This year, he added elbon rye for seed, buckwheat and non-GMO white corn to his list. He also owns his own company – Outside the Box Agronomy.

Pfanstiel led the Farmer to Farmer discussion at the Bazile Groundwater Management Area winter meeting and brought his new highboy to show. His Hagie sprayer has been converted into an interseeder, allowing him the capability of applying cover crops during the growing season in an established standing row crop.

He saw there was a need for this practice by observing and understanding that the timing of planting was an issue.

Pfanstiel is always looking for opportunities to try new things. He is currently enrolled in Soil Food Web School. The program was founded by Elaine Ingham, who is widely recognized as the world’s foremost soil biologist. She’s passionate about empowering ordinary people to bring the soils in the community back to life.