Recently the Douglas SWCD Board of Supervisors selected Leroy and Debby Buse from Brandon, MN as the 2009 Outstanding Conservationist for Douglas County.   The Buse's will be honored at the MN Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) Annual Meeting to be held in early December in Duluth.

Leroy and Debby own a diversified hog/grain farm.  They planted shelterbelts, Critical Area Plantings, a CRP Riparian Forest Buffer on County Ditch 22 and are planting a Forest Stand Improvement on Long Lake.  The use reduce tillage and crop rotation.  They installed 800 ft of terrace, sediment blocks, and a water and sediment control structure through EQIP, along with Pest and Nutrient Management.  An earthen manure pit with runoff control was installed for their beef/hog operation.  They finish 1200 hogs per year in their confinement system with under-barn concrete pit.

The Buse's diversified by selling steel buildings (Odyssey Steel), American Quarter horses, Border Collies and Russian Tsvetnay Bolonka dogs.  Leroy and Debby are prime examples of successful agricultural entrepreneurs.