MADISON, WISCONSIN—Marilyn Houck of Richland Center, Wisconsin received the 2023 Working Lands Preservation Award from Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts on September 28, 2023 at a small celebration on her farm.
“We’re so glad to have this chance to recognize Marilyn and her late husband Kent for their decades spent devoted to their land, and for taking the steps to ensure that nearly 1,000 acres will remain free from development forever,” said Mike Carlson, executive director of Gathering Waters. “With all of the different habitat types covering the farm, Marilyn is providing many different species of plants and animals protection in perpetuity, giving nature space to thrive for generations to come.”
Marilyn Houck and her late husband Kent have spent the past several decades managing and protecting their 993-acre farm in Richland Center. Together, they raised llamas on the lush pastures and sustainably farmed many acres of crops and hay. Through consultations with environmental organizations and careful consideration, they made smart choices like planting filter and contour strips and rotating crops annually to preserve soil health and prevent run-off into nearby waterways.
They worked extensively with experts at the Mississippi Valley Conservancy, the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, the Richland County Conservation Department, Pheasants Forever, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and also enrolled some of their land in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program. In addition to the land that is farmed, their property also includes forestlands and wetlands, both of which have been actively managed to ensure the optimal functioning of the land.
Most of these efforts have been focused on land management, but Marilyn was looking for something more permanent. She reached out to her local land trust, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, to discuss how best to permanently protect the land under her care. The conservancy suggested a conservation easement to ensure legal protection of the property beyond Marilyn’s lifetime. Marilyn was thrilled to discover this was a possibility. The conservation easement was completed in 2022, covering the entire 993-acre mosaic of working farmland, forestland, and wetland.
“Marilyn has carried on the farming traditions of Kent and his family while continually following the best conservation practices to ensure the land will continue to be a viable place for all the plants and animals that live there,” said Carol Abrahamzon, executive director at Mississippi Valley Conservancy. “We are honored to serve in protecting her beautiful land, along with a growing number of nearby properties, here in Richland County.”
About the Land Conservation Leadership Awards: The Land Conservation Leadership Awards recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and organizations that devote their time and talents to protecting Wisconsin's land, water, and wildlife. The awards are presented annually by Gathering Waters to conservation leaders.
