Presentation of Banker's Awards were a highlight of the annual Geary County Conservation District meeting Thursday evening. Awards were presented for 2020, 2021 and 2022.
During the presentations Sarah Schmidt announced that Verle and Marie Amthauer were the 2020 winners. Their farm covers 320 acres in eastern Geary County along Davis Creek. The beginnings of the homestead were in 1892 when Verle's great grandfather, Andrew Amthauer, purchased 160 acres from the railroad. An adjoining quarter was purchased in 1897 for his son, John Amthauer.
Doug and Janette Vogelsang were the 2021 recipients. They live just west of Junction City on property homesteaded by Janette's ancestor Sam Ritter. The generational property has been in Janette's family for so long an adjoining road was named after the Ritter family.
The 2022 award recipients were Chuck and Jaye Otte. During the award presentation, Tyson Reimer of the Central National Bank, observed that Chuck, a retired agricultural extension agent, may have done more for conservation than anyone in attendance. Jaye had a long career with the Central National Bank .
In other business Sarah Schmidt and Gary Schellhorn were reelected to the Board of Directors for the Geary County Conservation District.