Contact: Mary Juhl; mary.juhl@state.mn.us, 612-358-5733
December 3, 2024
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Assistant Director for Regional Operations Justin Hanson presented Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Administrator Kay Gross with the 2024 Outstanding SWCD Administrator award today during the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ (MASWCD) annual convention in Bloomington.
“It’s an honor to recognize the accomplishments of professionals like Kay Gross, who work tirelessly to improve water quality and advance conservation priorities in their districts,” said BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke. “The passion and commitment demonstrated by local government staff is what drives successful conservation efforts throughout Minnesota.”
Gross has led the Cottonwood SWCD’s work as its administrator for 36 years. She has served as the administrative coordinator for the Greater Blue Earth River Basin Alliance (GBERBA) since 2006 and has led the Southwest Prairie Technical Service Area (TSA 5) as its administrator since 2015. In her role with GBERBA, Gross secured and oversaw more than 40 grants totaling more than $9.7 million. She also played an integral role in hiring a training coordinator for staff in the TSA 5 area, who has trained more than 70 technicians since 2017.
This year, Gross and her team tapped a Soil Health Staffing Grant from BWSR to launch a soil health mentoring program for producers in TSA 5. The mentors — a mix of farmers with soil health experience and agricultural consultants such as crop specialists and agronomists — work with farmers to offer advice and tailor projects to fit the specific needs of their operations. She helped coordinate soil health-related outreach efforts for GBERBA watersheds, which involves producing short videos for producers and posting signs with active QR codes near fields that demonstrate common soil health practices. That work is still in progress and nearing completion.
“Kay Gross has demonstrated excellence in her ability to recognize deficiencies and needs within various organizations, come up with unique and creative solutions, and make those solutions a reality,” said Becky Buchholz, Cottonwood SWCD Farm Bill assistant and program technician. “She is a tremendous asset to her local Cottonwood district, and to the greater Minnesota conservation organizations she serves.”
Each year, BWSR celebrates the excellent work accomplished by local government staff to advance conservation efforts across the state. An award for Outstanding Watershed Organization Employee will be presented later this week at the Minnesota Watersheds Annual conference in Nisswa.
