The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts provides recognition to outstanding conservation farm families who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to conservation, employing strategies towards total resource management. Farm Families are nominated by their local county SWCDs. This year’s award goes to the Mueller Family of Taylor Ridge, nominated by Rock Island County SWCD and Rich Stewart.
Four generations of the Mueller Family have farmed the original farmstead starting with Henry, Stewart, Jim, and now Jason. Jason’s son, Colby, could be the 5th generation to farm this land. The Mueller’s are active in their community and have been involved with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM), 4-H, FFA, Farm Bureau, and Edgington Township. Additionally, Jim Mueller served on the Rock Island SWCD board for 30 years until 2017. The Mueller Family have applied numerous conservation practices over the years including grassed waterways and grade stabilization structures. They maintain terraces and contour farm with residue management. They also use grid sampling with nutrient management to address water quality issues and have closed wells to safeguard groundwater from contamination. The Mueller’s have utilized no-till and strip-till farming for a very long time. Finally, they recently started using cover crops on parts of their cropland.