Miles Smith Farm Named Cooperator of the Year by the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts
“The NH Association of Conservation Districts is pleased to honor Miles Smith Farm this year for their outstanding commitment to conservation and agriculture,” The Award will be presented at the NHACD Annual Meeting, November 18, 2011. Earlier this year the MSF was awarded the Cooperator of the Year
The 36 acre Miles Smith Farm (MSF) in Loudon, NH, was first farmed by Miles Smith in the 1850’s, and is now owned and operated by Bruce Dawson and Carole Soule. The farm features naturally raised free range Scottish Highlander and Angus cattle. Over the year, MSF has accomplished many conservation goals. MSF has completed the following conservation practices with help from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: grazing management plan, comprehensive nutrient management plan, manure storage areas, fencing, water systems, and rotational grazing.
Miles Smith Farm was also chosen as NHACD Cooperator of the Year because of their “out of the box” thinking and contributions to agricultural awareness. MSF owners Carole Soule and Bruce Dawson are founding members of the Loudon Agricultural Commission. MSF has also successfully applied for and received USDA Rural Development funds to create a value added product. MSF is currently looking to produce and market their own brand of sausage. MSF is also an innovated in terms of sustainable energy use. With the assistance of MCCD and Southern NH Resource Conservation & Development Area Council, MSF received a free farm energy audit that identified areas where significant energy and cost savings could be found. With financial assistance through USDA Rural Development and the Community Development Finance Authority, MSF opened up their “solar store” on May 20, 2011. This store is 300 square feet and is attached to their 160 year old barn. The space is heated by thermal radiant heat. They water for this system is heated by solar collectors on the roof of the barn. They are also planning a photovoltaic system as part of their solar store. MSF has also been working on a project to brand NH beef and ensure that NH can feed more of itself via local, pasture raised beef.
Miles Smith Farm focused on agricultural education as well. MSF holds a yearly agricultural day at their farm to teach families about local agriculture and where their food is from. MSF also works with local entities to teach Merrimack County residents about agriculture. Cole Gardens and St. Paul’s School in Concord have both hosted MSF cows for educational purposes.
MSF has been honored for BOTH their conservation ethic and their commitment to improving NH’s local food availability. Congratulations to Bruce Dawson and Carole Soule of Miles Smith Farm. For more information about Miles Smith Farm, please visit their website at www.milesmithfarm.com.
New England Leadership Meeting
The New England Leadership Meeting will be March 22 and 23 in Portsmouth.
Rockingham County Conservation District
Mailing Address
110 North Road
Brentwood, NH 03833-6614
Office Location
Same as Mailing Address
Telephone
603.679.2790
Fax
603.679.2860
Email
rccd@ttlc.net
Web Site
www.rockinghamccd.org
Office Hours
8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday
Board of Supervisors Meeting
The third Tuesday evening of each month
District Manager and Other Staff
Leonard Lord, District Manager; Charles Currier, Program Coordinator; Ann Titus, Program Coordinator; Tracy Degnan, Conservation Specialist; Joanne Ward, Administrative Assistant
Board of Supervisors
Chairman Cynthia W. Smith; Vice-Chair James Raynes; Secretary Joanna Pellerin; Daniel Davis; Robert Goodrich
Associate Supervisors
James Nupp; Harold W. Bodwell, Jr. (Treasurer); Camilla Lockwood
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Cheshire County Conservation District
Mailing Address
11 Industrial Park Drive
Walpole, NH 03608
Office Location
Same as Mailing Address
Telephone
603.756.2988, ext. 116
Fax
603.756.2978
Email
amanda@cheshireconservation.org
Web Site
www.cheshireconservation.org
Office Hours
9:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Fourth Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm, USDA Service Center, Walpole
District Manager and Other Staff
Amanda Costello, District Manager
Sharlene Beaudry, Administrative Coordinator
Board of Supervisors
Paul Crosby, Chair, Johan Baybutt, Vice Chair, Pete Throop, Treasurer, Eloise Clark
Associate Supervisors
Tracie Smith, Emily Hague, Chris Gowdy, Bruce Bickford
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Hillsborough County Conservation District
Mailing Address
Chappell Professional Center
468 Route 13 South
Milford, NH 03055
Office Location
Same as Mailing Address
Telephone
603.673.2409, ext. 100
Fax
603.673.0597
Email
kerry.rickrode@nh.nacdnet.net
Web Site
http://www.hillsboroughccd.com/
Office Hours
8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday
Board of Supervisors Meeting
The last Wednesday evening of each month
District Manager and Other Staff
Kerry Rickrode, District Manager
Board of Supervisors
Chairman Art Lyford; Treasurer-Secretary Charles “Chip” Hardy; Chris Connolly; John Parker; Roger Noonan
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Sullivan County Conservation District
Mailing Address
24 Main Street
Newport, NH 03820-1500
Office Location
Same as Mailing Address
Telephone
603.863.4297
Fax
603.863.4730
Email
janice.heighes@email.nh.nacdnet.net
Web Site
http://www.sullivancountynh.gov/conservation.html
Office Hours
Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 4 PM
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Fourth Thursday 7:00 PM
District Manager and Other Staff
Janice Heighes, District Manager
Board of Supervisors
David L. Grobe, Chair; John Luther, Treasurer; Doddridge Johnson, Vice Chair; ; Robert Porter, Cornelia Sargent
Associate Supervisors
Richard Elsesser, Leon Stevens
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Merrimack County Conservation District
Mailing Address
The Concord Center
10 Ferry Street, Suite 211
Concord, NH 03301
Office Location
The Concord Center
10 Ferry Street, Suite 211
Concord, NH 03301
Telephone
603.223.6023
Fax
603.223.6030
stacy.luke@nh.nacdnet.net
Web Site
www.merrimackccd.org
Office Hours
9:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday
Board of Supervisors Meeting
The third Thursday evening of each month
Stacy Luke, District Manager
Board of Supervisors
Chairman Peter J. Blakeman; Vice Chair Gerald Courser; Treasurer Rob Larocque; Brenda Digilio; and Stanley Grimes Sr.
Associate Supervisors
Bob Drown Jr., Jamie Robertson