Our 2022 recipient of the McLean County Conservationist of the year award goes to a farm family in LeRoy. Their operation focuses on premium-based markets including non-GMO, seed production, farm to table finished beef cattle, and a trucking for hire business. Eric and Jenny Mennenga are the primary owner/operators of Dolly Farms. Their three children, Emily, Ella, and William can be found mowing, building fence, working in the pasture and maintaining trees throughout the farm.  

Aldo Leopold once said, “There are two things that interest me: the relation of people to each other and the relation of people to land.” I can personally attest that the farmers of this McLean County community have a true relation to this land. Dolly Farms is one great example of just that. They have adopted a no-till and reduced tillage system, accompanied by variable rate fertilizer application and split applied nitrogen application. Their fields are protected by grassed waterways and designed native filter strips have been planted along their creeks and streams. They have protected highly sensitive areas through the Conservation Reserve Program to diversify and promote pollinator and wildlife habitat alike. Emily, Ella and William aren’t just great athletes at LeRoy schools, but also great stewards working with their mom and dad to plant more than 300 trees within their rotated cattle pastures. A relation to people, a relation to the land, congratulations to Eric & Jenny Mennenga, of Dolly Farms on being awarded for this year’s McLean County Conservationist of the year!