On October 18, 2005 students from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas held "Make Every Water Drop Count," a soil conservation and water quality workshop for local agricultural producers and other interested Fort Hays students and faculty.
The intent of the workshop was to allow students to share knowledge gained in their soils, soil & water management, beef feedlot technology & management, and techiques & technology in Beef Cattle Production courses. Nineteen students participated in the service-learning project. The workshop included student presentations on nutrient management, various simulator demonstrations and field demonstrations on measuring crop residue and terrace water holding capacity.
The Waterlink sponsored project was overseen by Dr. Jean Gleichshner, Dr. Brittany Howell, and Dr. Robert Stephenson. Community partners included the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Servi-Tech Laboratories, and the Smoky Hill River-Kanopolis Lake Watershed.
FHSU students demonstrate a trailer that simulates the potential effects
of waste runoff in the lots of small herd cattle producers.
Workshop participants observe the impact of conventional tillage,
reduced-tillage, and no-tillage on soils following a rain event.