Soil and Water Conservation District River Friendly Farmer of the Year

The River Friendly Farmer (RFF) program in Indiana recognizes farmers for using conservation practices like no-till, cover crops, and buffer strips to protect waterways, reduce erosion, and improve soil health, a statewide effort by Soil & Water Conservation Districts (S.W.C.D’s) and partners to promote sustainable agriculture and clean water. Farmers earn the award by implementing methods that benefit soil and water quality, often through multi-generational commitment to stewardship, with annual ceremonies held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds to honor recipients.

The 2024 Pulaski County S.W.C.D. River Friendly Farmer of the Year award went to Mike Sehstedt. Mike started farming in 1998 after earning a B.S. in Animal Agribusiness at Purdue with a minor in Agricultural Economics. Mike started out farming for Darell Gudeman and, in 2022, was farming on his own. In 2023, Mike began using cover crops, and half of his ground has cover crops.