Clean Farm Families
Jim Melichar
Soil Health Award
Honoring a Legacy of Conservation Leadership
A Visionary Leader
Jim Melichar served as the first president of Clean Farm Families and helped establish the group's vision of farmer-led conservation.
A Lasting Impact
Jim championed soil health and water quality by putting conservation practices to work on his own farm and encouraging others to do the same.
A Legacy Honored
Today, the Jim Melichar Soil Health Award recognizes farmers who continue his legacy of stewardship, leadership, and innovation.
"Jim believed that healthy soil is the foundation of productive farms, clean water, and a strong agricultural community."
- Andy Holschbach
2026 Jim Melichar Soil Health Award Recipient
Farmdale Farm, LLC
Dean & Michael Schoessow
Farmdale Farm, LLC is a 7th generation Dairy Farm by Dean and Michael Schoessow. They grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and also corn silage and alfalfa for dairy production. Dean started no-tilling 20 years ago and entered cover crops into the rotation 4-5 years ago. They farm a variety of soil types near Mequon and look forward to continuing to try different cover crop species!
Past Recipients
Celebrating the farmers whose dedication to conservation continues to make a lasting impact.
2025
Steve & Kay Castner
The Castner's have a 90 acre farm and have been rotationally grazing for 30 years! They use a suite of other sustainable agricultural practices like overseeding of pasture, grassed waterways, nutrient management, and no commercial fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides.
2024
Brian Huiras Sr.
Brian crops 700 acres, has 62 beef cows + young stock, and has been no-tilling all of his fields for the past 16 years! Brian also uses multi-species cover crops after wheat harvest and has a manure storage facility and barnyard runoff practices.
2023
Joel Kasten
Joel grows corn grain, soybeans, and wheat in the Town of Cedarburg. He began his no-till journey about 30 years ago and now runs all his cropland as no-till. He strives to plant a multi species cover crop following wheat and also will use some oats as a cover crop on occassion.