Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1970)
Wheat League Names Jepsen Conservation Man of the Year Named Conservation Man of the Year for 1970 wag Bob Jep sen at the spring meeting of the Morrow County wheat growers League Tuesday evening In the Lexington Grange Hull. A man of many Interests and talent, thU young man applies BOB JEPSEN checks the number of tillers from one of his best looking fields. This one hod seven. With plenty of moisture each one will produce a head of wheat. - fl 1 BOB JEPSEN shows how far he From his hand to the top of morning. . . , - , .mm ft, - t '' - - " " I Us ;..-. ' " ' j 7 A WELL TRIMMED lawn sets the scene for the remodeled com fortable family home enjoyed by the Jepsen family. z2T -47- y.' BOB SITE and Bill sit for a bit receptionist for Dr. Wolff, was great fervor to his ranching as well an anything else he sets out to do. He feci that sound conserva tion practices are a must In or der to save his soil. He first In .iniioii uvral short diversion ditches In vital places two or .i has built up the siltertion dam. the dam had been added that 4 on the front steps. Mrs. Jepsen, not available for the picture. . m:ii!ij,U!1 V l a j 11 1 CMl three years before the Christ ma flood of llHil. Long Range Plan Working with County Agent Harold Kerr and District Conner vatlonUt. Dale Boner, a long range plan has been developed for his ranch on Keck Creek. To prevent erosion he has grassed waterways, developed diversion ditches, made grass seedings, leaves a stubble mulch when possible by using a chisel plow, does contour farming and trip farming. When asked what else U con sidered when choosing Conserva tion Man of the Year, the com mittee said "how he sprays his weeds, treats his wife and his community activities.'' Bob Jepsen comes through in flying colors on all counts. When approaching the spac ious farm house, over on the right can be seen a line through the growing wheat that would Indicate years previously, there had been a roadway. When questioned, Bob said there had been a road there In the early days that led over to a spring. When viewed later, the spring Is still running quite a sizeable stream of water. Bob said he had tried to plant trees around the area but then comes a wa ter spout" and everything is washed away. An area of wash ed rock shows the truth of his statement. When a roadway is farmed the soil is changed. It is packed down so that it does n't hold water as well and the grain Is light green. The part of the ranch over on the breaks of Rhea Creek is sub jected to summer cloud bursts more than the other areas of the ranch. This spring Bob is in the process of building an additional diversion ditch on this slope 3000 feet long, and a siltation dam on one of the more critical parts of the slope. In working on the siltation dam he was using his ownl equipment to pack in the soil. In its moist condition it packs the best. There's lots of moist ure In the soil. The ranch has Condon, Ritzvllle and Walla Walla soils. By saving his soil, he expects to maintain present production and in the long run increase the yield which makes for more stubble which in turn gives bet ter water holding capacity. Even though working and manipulating machinery around the diversion ditches in a field takes more time and is diffi cult, Bob says he likes the feel ing of accomplishment he has when he finishes each section. It seems to make the Job less formidable to do three smaller sections than one BIG section, The 1969 yield for the farm was 35.99 bushels per acre. Fights Weeds For 18 years since farming the ranch, he has fought weeds. To get rid of rye which was prev alent when he took over, he first used a sterilant, used the swath er, hired a dozen kids to pull rye, one year had an all-woman crew pulling rye until today his son Bill can pull the rye in a couple of evenings after school He says this rainy spring has been a good year for cheat grass, A continuing project is to get a good stand of grass on the diversion ditches and the grass ed waterways. On these he plants 12 to 16 pounds per acre. He has had success with Pubes cent, Stream bank wheat grass and Intermediate wheat grass. He used to farm over areas now grassed waterways. The grassed waterways provide a route for water runoff that holds the soil except in a continual downpour. He has 535 acres in Nugaines wheat, 327 acres in Spring Flynn barley, 78 acres in double sum mer fallow. He has 940 acres in summer fallow. He and his son, Bill, do all the work on the ranch which includes 350 hours of spring plowing. After weeding and down low on the list before seeding is rock picking. He pointed out an area that would have to be done this summer. When asked which of the farm jobs had the most appeal to him, Bob, without reservation said "seeding". It's the last time around. Seeding is a gamble. You never know when to do it." Then he said he liked harvest ing, too . . . "If you've got a good crop." Speaking of this year's crop he says "It looks good". We could use about a half inch of rain any time. Then if the weather doesn't get too hot too soon, we should average about 50 bushels this year." Rainfall averages 11" on his ranch but will vary from 7" 'to 16" on var ious years. Well Equipped Shop Bob has a well equipped shop where he does all of his own mechanical work. This shop figures also in some of his hob bies. In the early 50's he erected a TV tower up on the hill from the ranch house. He Is able to THE GAZETTE Heppner, Oregon 97836, Thursday, May 21, get TV from Portland and Spo kane. lie has an extensive short wave set In his office on the 2nd floor of their ranch home, ilia mnst recent "mercv" contact was following the earthquake In the rhllippines. ne rciayea a miwcifi) to a woman In La Grande from her daughter. Told her to disregard ine stories on the earthquake, that she was ok. He Is a serious type mount ain climber , and Is a member Family Man of the Mazamas. Bob Is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jepsen of lone. He Is a graduate of lone High c.hvnl mH attended Pacific Uni versity and EOC in business ad ministration., ue met nis wtie, the former Suzanne Lleuallen on the ski slopes at Spout Springs. They have two children, Sue a senior and Bill a freshman at lieppner High School. The family has hosted a County Agent from Jordan and IFYE students In their home. When asked how he felt about the family type ranching now enjoyed in Morrow County, he said that 10 stay in ousiness, the ranches will have to be big ger and run more economically. When questioned about the 19 year old vote, he hedged be cause his 18 year old daughter onH hop friend were on hand to hear his reply so he said, "Some are ready to vote ana some are tint" For the last seven years, he has taught in the bin graae uui door School at Bull Prairie. He endeavors to teach them "out door manners, pii.-k up the lit ter, don't pollute the air or wa ter or Iana Community Activities He has many farm-oriented activities. Presently Bob Is national chairman of the special proj ects committee or me national Ass'n. of Wheat Growers. Their nrlme nromotion Is the Day of Bread. The Germans started this special holiday until it Is cele brated equal to inanKsgivinR. Ho I nast president of the Oregon Wheat League and Mor row County Wheat League, ne has been a supervisor of the iimmner Soil and Water Conser vation District. He Is a member of the Morrow County Extension Advisory Council. The Jensens lease the ranch from Noel Dobyns of Florence and Ester Dobyns 01 tugene. He has an air strip on the ranch which was used frequently by Mr. Dobyns who flew in nearly every week. He says he has the best landlords in the state, un doubtedly they feel they have leased their farm to one of the hest also the 1970 Soil Con servation Man of the Year, Bob Jepsen! Conservation Practice Statistics- 1. Diversion Ditches 37,965 feet (3600 feet staked out); 2. Diversions seeded to grass 17.5 acres; 3. Grassed Waterway 14.8 ac 4. Cropland seeded to grass 390 acres; 5. StriDcroDDinc 98 acres; 6. Crop Residue Management 940 acres; 7. Minimum Tillage 910 acres; 8. Contour farming 620 acres; 9. Conservation Cropping Sys tem 1212 acres. The Soil Conservation Man of the Year is sponsored each year When It It's With low cost electric power, you can forget about sudden wash-day shower, wind blown dirt and never ending trips to your clothes line. ?j For your electric clothes dryer makes its own sunny weather. Moreover, Ifr close at hand, easy to operate and actually dries clothes softer and fluffier than any other drying method. 1 So don't wait for a rainy day. Visit your electric appliance store today and select the dryer that fits your particular needs. You'll find a wide selection or sizes, styles and colors (with matching washers). Do it better, for LESS . . . Electrically iolumbia Basin Electric Co-op "Serving Morrow, Wheeler and Gilliam Counties" Telephone 676-9146 HEPPNEIt -TIMES 1970 Sec. 2 by the Oregon Wheat League. Winners are picked by seven Eastern Oregon counties and one for the valley. The winners compete for state Conservation Man of the Year. A liieal committee of farmers makes the selection. They re viewed the soil conservation practices of 12 ranchers. The pro gram started In the late 1930's. IRRIGON NEWS inRinoN Mrs. John Matth ews attended a convention of thA Lutheran Women s Mission irv I mmo. May 5 to 7. In Sno homlsh, Wash. The theme of the convention was "Gods wont in you". Miss Mary Kenney of Seattle visited her parents, Rev. and Mrs. John Kenney, on Saturday and Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Bessler and Mrs. Nina McBride of Portland visited at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilson, neph ews of Mrs. McBride, on Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Lavern Christ iansen and family visited her brother Jerry Dunn in Pasco, on Sunday. They were joined by her mohter, Mrs. Bessie Dunn and Mr. and Mrs. Homer Raekes of Richland. Mrs. Ed Gonty recently enjoy ed a trip to Portland with her daughter, Mrs. Terry Blevins of Ukiah. Mr. and Mrs. Blevins are Hniiriincr n new lotr home ud in Ukiah, a handsome spacious one. Rains . . . Dry 'Love for God and Country', Theme of Naxarene Services Pi.inr Flvt Everhart extend a cordial invitation to a speci e Memorial Day Commemoratio Sorviee to be held at the Hep.' ner Church of tho Nazarene o i May 29 at 7:30 p.m. All military personnel, menv bers of the VFW, American Le ; Ion and other patriotic organiz tlons of the community wmr ; are Interested in the preserve Unn nt the nrecentS of "Llf '. Liberty and the Pursuit of Ha;. plness" are especially urgea i attend this inspirational an nntrintlA KPrviee. There Will li a variety of special music..1. numbers and a suae series help encourage "Love for Go '. and Country'", the theme chos en for the service. 4-H Camp Plans Made Four-H members ages !) through 12 were mailed appllca tlons to attend the annual cam. at Cutsforth Park. Dates of th camp this year are June 24-27 Camp is a much anticipate', even In the lives of the young er 4-H members. Deadline, f returning the application to the county office Is June 12, but an earlier return will be appreciat ed to enable plans to be com pleted. '. - , Camping serves many pui es in the life of the young mem ber. It is intended to offer op portunltles for mental, physical. social ana spiruuui growm. soncn nt rosnnnslbllitv. under- standing and leadership are do veloped by the camping excel lence. 1
