MIAMI COUNTY, Ind. – Two area farms were honored during the Indiana State Fair with the River-Friendly Farmer award. Meister-Crowder Farm in Howard County and Alspaugh Farms, Inc. in Miami County joined farms from 44 other counties in a ceremony Aug. 16 for recognition. They join over 900 farmers recognized since 1999 by the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts for their commitment to protect Indiana’s natural resources – in particular Indiana’s waterways, according to a press release from IASWCD. Alspaugh Farms, Inc., comprised of Rodney and Sandy Alspaugh, Roderic, Teresa and Cole Alspaugh and Jarrod and Ellie Alspaugh, implements various conservation cropping systems and practices including conservation crop rotation, conservation tillage, nutrient and pest management, no-till residue management, grassed waterways and classified forest. The River Friendly Farmers were nominated for this award by their local Soil and Water Conservation District based upon their management practices, which help keep rivers, lakes and streams clean in Indiana and beyond. A full list of this year’s winners including short bios and individual photos can be viewed on the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts website, http://iaswcd.org/