Group honors top volunteers in conservation

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Sheila McBeth of Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, and Myron Wehr of New Waterford, Ohio, were named 2003 Volunteers of the Year by Lawrence County Conservation District.
McBeth has been involved in conservation since the early 1990s and serves as the group's secretary.
Wehr owns a no-till farm and often opens it up to tours and participates in ongoing studies with universities. He also has installed other conservation practices such as lakeside and stream buffers on his property to protect water quality.
Grassycrest Farm in Plain Grove Township received the conservation farm of the year award. Operated by Richard and Blanche Kind, the farm is the site of tours and legislative meetings. The Kinds also have adopted no-till farming and stream fencing.
The conservation district also gave recognition to the Lawrence County Fair as the organization of the year. Penn State Extension office in Lawrence County received the urban conservation award.