Frank Baca, Soil Conservationist with the NRCS in Kingsville emphasized the importance of soil and water conservation to the students gathered around the table during Ag Fair Week. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in conjunction with the Kleberg-Kenedy Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) were part of festivities this week called Ag Fair 2009. Sponsored by the Kleberg-Kenedy County AgriLife, the event provides an opportunity for students to learn about agriculture and its importance to our everyday lives.

Schools participating included Ricardo, Gillett Intermediate School, and Kleberg Elementary. The grades ranged from prekindergarten to the 8th grade. These students live in and are surrounded by agriculture – farming and ranching.

Robert Schmidt, District Conservationist along with Frank Baca, Soil Conservationist with the NRCS in Kingsville emphasized the importance of soil and water conservation and the conservation, protection, and enhancement of our soils for future generations.

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY HELD — The Kingsville Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting for Unique Creations Salon & Boutique on Nov. 17. This hair care facility for the entire family is owned and operated by Jon and Jeanie Guerra. It is located in Sundial Plaza, 1024 South 14th Street. In addition to the hair salon, they offer Circle E candles, fashion jewelry, rhinestone merchandise, and gifts for the whole family. Over 1800 students watched intensely as Schmidt demonstrated the importance of keeping the soil on the fields by using the SWCD’s rainfall simulator. The unit shows three different pans with different covers on the soil surface: one with bare soil, another with grass, and the third one with grain sorghum stubble.

This demonstration shows the students the explosive and destructive forces of a raindrops falling upon the soil surface which can cause the process known as soil erosion. The students were amazed to learn most of the soil runs off with no cover and that water goes into the soil when the soil is covered with grass or mulch such as the grain stubble. Jars are used to catch any runoff and collect the ground water.

The importance of soil was emphasized throughout the week because without soil we wouldn’t have anything. Our mere existence depends on the thin layer around the earth called soil. The students were surprised to hear that it takes from 300 to 500 years and in some areas years up 1000 years to form one inch of topsoil.

Topsoil is the most productive layer in the soil which humans depend on each and every day of their lives to survive.

Baca demonstrated the conservation district’s new Enviroscape model which illustrates point source and non point source pollution into our environment with the realistic 3D interactive model.

The students not only learned the sources and affects of pollution, but also the uses of natural vegetative filters in streams and drainages to reduce pollution downstream.

The model was also used to demonstrate the affects of runoff from different scenarios such as cropland, forested land, urban areas, as well as disturbed land. Emphasis was shown that each of these areas had differing amounts and sources of run-off and that there were several ways in which they could alter common practices to help conserve their soil and water.

“It is critical that we educate the youngsters on the importance of soil and water conservation,” says John Prukop, Chairman of the Kleberg-Kenedy Soil and Water Conservation Board. “We take soil for granted every day and need to be reminded from time to time of its importance.”

“We appreciate the teachers and schools to take the time to participate in this important event.” says Vern Crocker, Secretary of the local Board. “We also thank the Agrilife Extension for including our SWCD and NRCS in this important event.”

Anyone interested in possible school programs in the future, contact the NRCS office in Kingsville at 592- 0309 Ext. 3.