Reviving the Land

Rachel Cain, KCA Membership and Communications Coordinator

In 1999, Mike Wilson of Lawrenceburg was eager to return to his agricultural roots. He put down an admittedly low offer on a farm in Anderson County, and to his surprise, it was accepted.

“I could not afford a Bluegrass farm, so I purchased what I could afford,” Wilson said.

The 75-acre farm was long neglected and overgrown with hedge apples, cedars, and thorn trees, but Wilson had a vision. He showed his wife, Tammy, where their house would sit and described the rock walls that lined the property, and then he got to work.

As a result of his 25 years of hard work and dedication to improving his farm, the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association has nominated Wilson for the 2024 Environmental Stewardship Awards Program through the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Established in 1991, this program recognizes U.S. cattle producers for their conservation achievements and stewardship efforts. Each nominee competes for one of seven regional awards, at which point the winners of each region will compete for a national award.

Acre by acre, Mike brought this piece of land back to life. The clean-up process took seven months. During this time, Mike began to build his family a home, which they were able to move into by the end of the year. Mike built every fence on the farm himself, and then moved onto building two of the three barns that sit on his property now. The barns were built entirely using lumber from the clean-up processes except for the trusses. Over time, Mike purchased adjoining tracks of land that now make up the 197 acres that are Whispering Hills Farm, and he leases an additional 65 acres for hay.

Les Anderson, University of Kentucky beef specialist, compared the transformation of Mike’s operation to the restoration of an antique car in a letter of support he wrote for Wilson’s nomination.

“Think about the person that finds a classic ‘57 Chevy, completely rusted out and inoperable in a field in the middle of nowhere. After time, money, sweat and dedication the rusted-out Chevy is transformed into a showcase car that captures everyone's eyes and is the envy of all antique car collectors,” Anderson wrote. “The best way to describe Mike’s accomplishments as an environmental steward is to think about that mechanic who restored that vintage automobile.”

Wilson is no stranger to challenges when it comes to his operation. His farm contains HEL, or “highly erodible land.” If not properly managed, this type of land can erode at excessive rates due to soil properties, which can result in water pollution, decreased productivity and many other issues. To minimize soil erosion and run-off caused by livestock production, Wilson has implemented a variety of different methods. Adequate vegetative cover has always been a priority in his planning process. He utilizes a rotational grazing system to minimize overgrazing, which allows for plants to establish deeper roots. In conjunction with his rotational grazing system, he has installed two “Bo Renfro” feeding structures on his property, which help minimize the negative effects of winter feeding. He is currently part of a threeyear trial to evaluate the effectiveness of bale grazing. His system encourages plant regrowth and a healthy habitat for threatened wildlife.

Wilson has made steps towards stewardship and conservation, while also increasing the overall profitability and efficiency of his operation. Over the last 25 years, his herd has undergone a massive transformation. By using AI, bull selection and selection of replacement heifers, Mike has brought down his mature weights and increased weaning weights. As a result, the herd operates more efficiently and requires less resources. This cuts down costs while lessening the environmental impact. Similar correlations can be seen through many improvements he has made over the years, including his fence-line waterers, hay storage facilities, grazing plans, and water management. A sustainable operation is also a profitable one, and Wilson has proven that conservation and cost effectiveness go hand-in-hand.

One of his keys to success and most valuable contributions is his willingness to try new things. He describes himself as a “lifelong learner,” and takes advantage of every opportunity to absorb new information or learn new techniques. As a longtime collaborator with UK, Wilson has hosted many on-farm trials and demonstrations. He is active within the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), where he works with the National Resources Conservation Service to implement best management practices including pipeline, heavy use area protection, water troughs, fencing, and forage and biomass plantings. Additionally, he has developed a Forest Stewardship Program to improve the woodland on his property and entered into a Kentucky Pollinator Protection Program with the Kentucky Department for Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Wilson keeps himself busy off the farm, too. He has been a member of the Anderson County Cattlemen’s Association, where he served as vice president, and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association for 21 years. He has also served as a board supervisor of the Anderson County Conservation District for the past nine years, and as board chairman for the last three years. In addition to several other boards and committees, he works as a farm technician at Kentucky State University, where he further exercises his commitment to land stewardship and conservation.

Nat Colten, KSU community sustainability coordinator, describes Wilson as “the kind of bellwether farmer that every extension professional hopes to find in a community.”

“His actions are evidence of his commitment to growing food in cooperation with the natural world around him while simultaneously cultivating the next generation of land stewards,” Colten wrote in his letter of support. “This is sustainability in its truest sense.”

Wilson has been recognized numerous times for his outstanding efforts. In 2016, he was awarded Anderson County Master Conservationist, and he has been a state finalist for the Leopold Conservation Award for the past two years.

When asked his “Why?” when it comes to stewardship and conservation efforts, his philosophy is simply, “Why wouldn’t you?” Wilson believes that as a farmer, it is his job to take care of the land, and as a result of that, the land will take care of him. While people might expect a more complicated answer from someone who has invested so much time, energy, and money into land stewardship and conservation, maybe it is that simple. As farmers face the challenges of limited resources and feeding a growing population, it is only going to become more important for the industry to adapt and innovate. Wilson has carefully crafted his operation around the limitations of the land and resources, and adapted when necessary to make it a thriving, profitable operation that can be passed down to the next generation of stewards. Even more valuable is his impact on his community and fellow producers. It only takes one person to inspire countless others, and Wilson continues to serve in this role.

The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association is committed to recognizing our producers who go above and beyond to be excellent stewards of the land. KCA is proud to nominate Mike Wilson to represent Kentucky for the 2024 Environmental Stewardship Award and would like to thank Beverly McElwain with Anderson County Soil Conservation District and retired Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Tommy Yankey, for their assistance in preparing Mike's nomination.