Submitted

The late Gary and Marilyn Edelman could have just as easily been honored with a Soil Conservation award for their work over the years as a wildlife award. Fortunately, the same conservation mindset they had in preserving their farm ground carried over to their grassland wildlife habitat as well.

Much of the ground Gary and Marilyn purchased after their marriage in 1968 needed work at some point. Like many farms, they built waterways and then transitioned to tile outlet systems later on. It was a great example of soil conservation, so when it came time to develop some wildlife habitat, they approached it with the same progressive mindset.

Their acreage included a quarter section of CRP. They wanted to leave it in the CRP program, but since it was originally planted to brome, it was no longer eligible for enrollment without conversion to native grass – so that’s exactly what they did.

Following termination of the bromegrass, son-in-law Wayne Grimm seeded the farm back to a native species utilizing a combination of four different CRP contract practices. The planting consisted of five different native grass species — Big and Little Bluestem, Indiangrass, Sideoats Grama, and Switchgrass — plus another dozen native forbs and broadleaves. It was a perfect seeding year and it established quickly, with the stand in great shape within the year.

Daughter Carrie and husband Wayne Grimm and their family manage the property now with a focus on healthy forages to keep soil in place. Utilizing regular prescribed burns and mowing as needed, they are able to better stay ahead of invasive trees while stimulating grass production. They also integrated managed hunting on the property that has helped increase upland gamebird numbers. It’s a great continuation of land improvement Gary and Marilyn started some time ago.

Both the Edelman and Grimm families have been very active in their communities. Gary and Marilyn served in roles with the Kansas Farm Bureau, and Kansas Young Farmers and Ranchers. Wayne, Carrie and family were recent recipients of the Kansas Master Farm Family Award and are active in Farm Safety Demonstrations and Farm Tours for local schools.

Fortunately, they still make time for conservation work as well, with their collaboration to enhance a tract of grassland earning them a 2025 Kansas Banker’s Association Wildlife Habitat Award.