Garvey Brothers Land and Cattle is the recipient of the Producer of the Year Award from the Shavano Conservation District for their dedication to agricultural conservation practices. They’ll be receiving the award at the Shavano Conservation District’s annual meeting and banquet, held on March 11 at the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose.
The Garveys are being recognized for implementing conservation practices on their farm and ranch; specifically they have completed installing “side-rolls” and an irrigation “pivot” on their farm.
Dustin Garvey, fourth-generation rancher, told the Forum the methods were indeed employed for a more efficient way of using water. He said the side-rolls are the aluminum pipes with wheels that one will see when looking out onto big fields that are being irrigated. He said farmers move those pipes manually every 12 to 24 hours and added it’s a bit labor-intensive.
Garvey Brothers used to use “open flooding” as a method of irrigation, but he said when farmers do that, they miss the high spots in a field. He said using the side-rolls, and a center pivot, helps to get everything saturated, the highs and the lows on a field. He said in these ways you can put down the same amount of water on a field.
Garvey said it’s good for growing the hay, both grass and alfalfa, that his family does.
“We’re trying to keep it all going for the next generation,” he said.
While the Garveys have increased conservation on the farm for more than the last 12 years, locals know they have a much longer history in Nucla’s agriculture. Founded in 1912, their farm has been recognized as a Centennial Farm and Ranch by History Colorado.
Garvey said in the Shavano Conservation District (SCD) news release he agreed stewardship is an important part of their generational commitment to the land. According to him, “conservation makes farming and ranching more profitable and efficient. It helps ensure that we can pass our legacy down to future generations.”
Clifford Chiles, SCD Board Supervisor, said he is excited to present the award to the Garveys because “they are intentional in making the farm ground more productive, all the while using less irrigation water to do it.”
SCD recognizes farms and ranches like the Garvey Brothers for outstanding and innovative conservation and agricultural initiatives and activities. During their upcoming annual meeting, the district will also recognize Dave and Zoe Werden, of Montrose, as Wildlife Producer of the Year; Steve Woodis, of Montrose, as Soil Health Producer of the Year; and Stephanie Cady, at Olathe Elementary, as Teacher of the Year.
Guests are invited to attend and support all the award recipients on March 11. The evening starts off from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. with a local work group meeting hosted by SCD. This is a grassroots collaboration for successfully developing conservation projects with local producers.
The local work group process challenges resource owners, land managers and partners to work together and take responsibility for identifying and addressing their local conservation resource needs. All farmers and ranchers are encouraged to attend and participate.
For those who only want to attend the local work group meeting, there is no charge for attendance. Those individuals are free to leave after the working group meeting ends, prior to the annual meeting.
After the work group meeting, the annual meeting and banquet begin at 6 p.m., including SCDs annual report, followed by the conservation sward presentations. Then, there will be a guest speaker, Brody Wilson, presenting on the Gunnison Tunnel — this will include history and the present — and a meal provided by Blue Ribbon BBQ.
Tickets are $20 per adult. Those attending can buy their tickets ahead of time online at https://SCDAnnualDinner.eventbrite.com, but they can also pay with cash or a check at the door. All planning to attend are asked to RSVP by March 6 by calling 970-964-3582.
