Student Wins Minnesota DNR 4-H Award
Kimball Area High School student Shelby Schiefelbein received the 4-H award from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner Tom Landwehr during a ceremony Aug. 31 at the Minnesota State Fair.
The DNR Commissioner’s Youth Award is given annually to a 4-H club or member who has demonstrated initiative, leadership, creativity and achievement in the conservation and wise use of natural and agricultural resources. This is the 21st year of the award program.
Schiefelbein’s project, titled “40 Ways That A Farmer Can Be Environmentally Friendly,” focused on sustainable agriculture and steps her family has taken on their farm to improve the environment. She lives and works on her family’s large farm where they raise prize Angus cattle utilizing rotational grazing.
“Rotational grazing and sustainable agriculture are beneficial to wildlife and our environment,” said Landwehr. “It is great to see a young person working toward solutions.”
In her project, Schiefelbein addressed the problem “of beef farmers being portrayed as the bad guys.” During her research she found a list of 40 ways beef farmers can help the environment and applied those steps to the family farm. Through her commitment to sustainability, she documented 31 ways they are helping the environment on her family’s farm.
Schiefelbein is a member and club officer for the Kimble Krusiers 4-H club. In addition to her
4-H project, she is on the “A” Honor Roll at Kimball Area High School, where she is active in the school’s speech team. For the past two years, she has been a prize winner in the national Cattle Industry Convention’s Youth Public Speaking completion in Denver, Colo., and Nashville, Tenn.
“Somehow she also manages to play volleyball, softball, and participates in band and choir,” observed Landwehr.
Shelby is the daughter of Don and Jennifer Schiefelbein. Also recognizing Schiefelbein at the award ceremony was the Extension Program Leader of 4-H Youth Development, Nancy Hegland.
