Gary and Karalyn Harrington of Battle Lake have been honored by the West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) as the 2024 Outstanding Conservationists.
The Harringtons manage over 400 acres comprising cropland, forests, prairies, wetlands, and lakeshore.
Their conservation initiatives include planting over 49,000 trees, establishing pollinator plots, implementing a forest stewardship plan, and enrolling land in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) to enhance wildlife habitats.
Collaborating with their renters, they’ve incorporated cover crops to reduce wind erosion on their fields.
Beyond their environmental efforts, the Harringtons actively engage in community service.
As former 4-H members, they’ve collaborated with local clubs on tree-planting projects and contributed to Network Battle Lake, raising funds for area projects.
They’ve partnered with local schools on beautification initiatives and served on the Friends of Friends Fighting Hunger Committee in Otter Tail County for over a decade, supporting backpack programs and food shelves.
In 2018, the United Way of Otter Tail and Wadena Counties named them Volunteers of the Year.
Additionally, they assist the Friends of Phelps Mill in maintaining the mill’s structures and facilities and volunteer at their local church and its conservation and recreational land, God’s Acres.
The West Otter Tail SWCD annually recognizes individuals or organizations for exceptional efforts in improving and protecting the county’s natural resources.
The Harringtons’ dedication to conservation and community service exemplifies the spirit of this award.
Congratulations to Gary and Karalyn Harrington on this well-deserved honor.