Big Sandy farmer wins major conservation award

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service has honored a Big Sandy farmer for his efforts in conservation.

Bob Boettcher, who operates a certified organic farm west of Big Sandy with his wife, Ann, and son, Earl, shared the 2003 Excellence in Conservation Award with Bernard Sweeney, president and senior research scientist at the Stroud Water Research Center in Pennsylvania and adjunct professor of biology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The awards were presented Friday at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Boettcher could not be reached for comme...