Double El Conservation District has chosen Ted & Nancy Reeves of Simla, Colorado as Outstanding Ranching Conservationist of the Year for 2014.

They were chosen for their dedication and work towards improving the land resources on their operation, which is in the Upper Arkansas Watershed and consists of 1,930 acres of range-land and 113.7 acres Conservation Reserve Program.

Ted’s Grandfather, WW, purchased the land in 1920.

Conservation practices installed:

• 20,176 feet cross fencing
• 4 livestock tanks
• 5,152 feet pipeline
• 3 solar pumping systems
• 3 livestock wells and 1,563 acres prescribed grazing
• 105,487 feet basin terraces, 8,938 cubic yards diversions
• 6 stock ponds/erosion control dams
• Enrolled 650 acres of highly erodible cropland acres into the Conservation Reserve Program (113.7 acres is still in CRP, the expired CRP has been kept in grassland production)
• Numerous windbreaks and a living snow fence.

In 1988, they began a nursery operation (Cashel Farms Nursery) specializing in trees and plants suited to the area, altitude, climate, etc.

1998-2006 they were a supplier to the Double El CD for large container trees (1 gallon to 5 gallon) for the district’s tree program.

Over the years, they have planted approximately 7,000 trees.