Decade Award honours soil innovators
Ausable Bayfield Conservation recognizes innovators for soil with Decade Award
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority honours conservation tillage and soil health innovators, with Decade Award, during ABCA’s 80th anniversary year
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has recognized innovators for soil health with the presentation of a Decade Award. During 2026, ABCA’s 80th anniversary year, the local watershed management organization is presenting an award, each month, for each decade of its history.
ABCA presented the Decade Award, for work in the 1990s and onward, to innovators in soil health and conservation tillage. This most recent award was presented on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at Ironwood Golf Course east of Exeter.
On behalf of the ABCA Board of Directors, the representative from Municipality of North Middlesex, Adrian Cornelissen, presented the award.
“We are honoured to take this opportunity to recognize the leadership, dedication and innovation of the entire agricultural sector,” he said. “We would also like to make special mention of the work of conservation tillage and soil health innovators and champions. Many of those innovators for soil are here with us today.”
Speaking about soil health innovation, at the ceremony, were Rick Kootstra; Don Lobb; and Tom Prout.
Rick Kootstra, of Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association (HSCIA), is Farm Manager at Huronview Demonstration Farm near Clinton, Ontario. The demonstration farm is a partnership of HSCIA, the County of Huron, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, and other partners in agriculture and drainage industries. At the demo farm, agricultural producers from HSCIA use best management practices including cover crops. Working together, the farm partners evaluate BMPs at the site and sample for water quality.
Don Lobb is an inductee into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame. He farmed in Clinton in Huron County for more than 35 years where he was a leader in the establishment and improvement of soil conservation practices to the benefit of water quality.
Tom Prout, P.Ag., is a recipient of the Distinguished Agrologist Award from the Ontario Institute of Agrologists. He worked for forty years in the conservation field and he spent 32 of those years as General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority.
Honorees at the Decade Award ceremony included: Jeff Allan; Ryan Carlow; Sharon Devine; Wim Feddes; Jim Ginn; Chelsea Gowton; Tom and Adam Hayter; Steve Howard and Lawrence Hogan; Rick Kootstra; Marg Kroes and Jack Kroes; Don Lobb; Jack McGregor; Walter McIlwain; Kevin McKague; Lillie Ann Morris; Peter Nonkes; Tom Prout; Don and Dave Pullen; Jane Sadler Richards and Doug Richards; Jo-Anne Rzadki; Martin Straathof; Keith, Geoff and Mike Strang; John Vander Burgt (posthumously); Chris Van Esbroeck; Doug Walker; and Alan Willits.
This was the sixth Decade Award presented. ABCA previously honoured the following recipients:
1. 1940s – Member municipalities, for vision in forming Ontario’s first conservation authority and for continued partnership.
2. 1950s – Ontario Parks – For establishing and stewarding Pinery Provincial Park.
3. 1960s – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (formerly Department of Lands and Forests) for a lasting legacy of reforestation.
4. 1970s – Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation – For work in the community since ABCF was formed in 1974.
5. 1980s – Local community service groups, recognizing decades of strong partnerships in our watershed communities.
ABCA will continue to honour groups, for each decade of its history, throughout the anniversary year.
CAPTION FOR PHOTO AT TOP OF PAGE:
AUSABLE BAYFIELD CONSERVATION HONOURS AGRICULTURAL STEWARDS AND SOIL INNOVATORS WITH DECADE AWARD – During the 80th anniversary year of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), the ABCA recognized agricultural soil and water innovators working toward healthier soils, with a Decade Award. Shown at the award evening, at Ironwood Golf Course on Thursday, August 13, 2026 are (from left to right in photo): Marg Kroes; Lillie Ann Morris; Jack Kroes; Don Lobb; Harriet Vander Burgt; Josh Vander Burgt; Jo-Anne Rzadki; Kevin McKague; Mari Veliz, ABCA Healthy Watersheds Manager; Jeff Allan; Doug Richards; Jane Sadler Richards; Ryan Carlow; Chelsea Gowton; Chris Van Esbroeck; Adrian Cornelissen, ABCA Board of Directors; Rick Kootstra; Tom Prout; Jim Ginn; Hope Brock, ABCA Healthy Watersheds Specialist; and Doug Walker. Also honoured at the evening were: Sharon Devine; Wim Feddes; Tom and Adam Hayter; Steve Howard; Lawrence Hogan; Jack McGregor; Walter McIlwain; Peter Nonkes; Don Pullen; Dave Pullen; Martin Straathof; Keith, Geoff and Mike Strang; and Alan Willits
ABCA PRESENTS 80TH ANNIVERSARY DECADE AWARD TO RECOGNIZE INNOVATORS FOR SOIL – At Ironwood Golf Course near Exeter, on Thursday, August 13, 2026, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) announced the sixth Decade Award during the ABCA 80th anniversary year (2026). This award recognizes work in the 1990s decade and forward and honours innovators in agriculture and soil and water conservation. Shown in photo, from left to right, are Mari Veliz, ABCA Healthy Watersheds Manager; Adrian Cornelissen, Municipality of North Middlesex representative on the ABCA Board of Directors; and presenters, at the Decade Award ceremony, Rick Kootstra; Don Lobb; and Tom Prout.
FORMER ABCA GENERAL MANAGER RECEIVES RECOGNITION FROM INFLUENTIAL SOIL INNOVATOR DON LOBB – Tom Prout, who served for more than three decades as General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), received special recognition, from influential soil and water conservation innovator Don Lobb, during a soil health event at Ironwood Golf Course on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Don was one of the presenters at the ABCA 80th Anniversary Decade Award ceremony honouring more than 30 soil innovators. The certificate, from Don to Tom, honoured “ … your commitment and leadership in the advancement of soil and water protection and care throughout Ontario.”