Ryan and Melissa Shaw of Marlette, Mich., had their fair share of anxiety when going all in on strip-till in the fall of 2014. It was a major investment, and there was a sizable learning curve after a lifetime of conventional farming. Plus, there weren’t many strip-tillers in their area that they could turn to for advice. They soon found the answers to their most pressing questions in one place.  

“We started going to the National Strip-Tillage Conference and couldn’t believe all the answers we could get at one event,” Melissa says. 

“We picked up a lot of information at the conference from like-minded people who think that just because something’s different doesn’t mean it’s wrong,” Ryan says. “We keep coming back to try to get a little better every year.” 

The Shaws will make their ninth trip to the conference in August 2023. This one will be extra special as they’ll be presented with the 2023 Strip-Till Innovator Award for their significant contribution to the advancement of strip-till and commitment to soil health practices.

Conservation Legacy 

The Shaws own and operate SKS Farm, along with their longtime neighbor Bruce Brock. Located in the “thumb” of Michigan, they grow corn, soybeans, sugar beets and cereal rye across 1,400 acres. 

The farm was established by Ryan’s parents, Scott and Henrietta Shaw, in 2004. Scott instilled an innovative approach to farming in Ryan before handing him the keys…