Gene and Lori Zempel stand in their CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) field of native grasses and Forbes near Morgan. The Zempels were named the 2023 Outstanding Conservationists in Brown County by the Brown Soil and Water Conservation District. --Submitted photo

Living a few miles northeast of Morgan in what they call the “Garden of Eden,” the Zempel family has been involved in conservation and agriculture since Brown County began a century and a half ago.

The Brown Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) recently recognized Gene and Lori Zempel as the 2023 Outstanding Conservationists in Brown County.

Gene and his siblings settled in Eden Township, learning from their parents the value of conservation through multiple enterprises.

“We live in the north Eden Township, in the far corner of the county, a quarter mile from Redwood and Renville Counties,” said Gene.

A district technician for Redwood SWCD early in his career, Gene held the record for more tree windbreak plantings in a single year than any other county in the United States.

“We had about 25 windbreak plantings in the mid 1980s,” Zempel said. “We tried to be very diverse with the tree program. We tried many varieties. I think most people thought it was the right thing. I think it turned out to be right. We planted 30,000 trees a year in Redwood County. I planted a few thousand trees for myself.”

His favorite trees are oaks and white pine. “Red oaks are pretty stunning in the fall. They’re a good wildlife food source. White pine are just beautiful. They always look good,” Zempel added.

He also promoted early adoption of variable-rate fertilizer and helped many landowners reduce their fertilizer use and environmental impact.

“I worked for National Agri-Service. They sold the first variable-rate fertilizer machines,” Zempel said.

In the mid-1990s, Zempel’s southern Minnesota territory boasted more variable-rate equipment than the rest of the nation combined, according to a Brown SWCD press release.

Zempel said his father Elmer got him started in conservation.

“I wish he was around to get the award and see the results of it. He built our first pond in the early 1950s and took me out to plant my first tree. He was always focused on taking care of nature,” said Zempel.

The Zempels said many family and community members and organizations have helped them achieve the goals they see on their landscape.

“Pheasants Forever and the Brown SWCD are great. They’ve been very helpful as have a lot of others including my wife,” Zempel said.

Lori Zempel grew up in Clements and got an early appreciation for the outdoors from riding horses to helping her dad out on the farm. She worked for 12 years at Harvest Land Cooperative and brings a wealth of knowledge the Zempels apply to their acreage.

Lori Zempel has used “Master Gardener” techniques to grow, harvest, process, preserve and freeze their garden crops for 30 years.

The Zempels have distributed food at their local church, recycling and repurposed wood from their acreage.

Now retired, Zempel’s rented acres are carefully managed by longtime local residents who practice good conservation.

The Zempels will be recognized at the Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts annual convention Dec. 11-13 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington.