Ron Houck鈥檚 farm near Hamiota is part of local history.
Owned by his family for nearly 125 years, the farm鈥檚 outlasted other local historical landmarks, like the old Canadian Pacific Railway line and the grain elevator that once stood nearby.
And, of course, Houck has many personal memories of the place where he鈥檚 lived his whole life and raised a family.
But for him, nature is also part of his farm鈥檚 history, and is worth saving.
鈥淚 like to see nature the way it鈥檚 supposed to be,鈥� says Houck, who signed a conservation agreement with Ducks Unlimited Canada, which runs several programs that pay incentives to landowners who protect wetlands and surrounding grasslands. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so many people taking out every last tree and draining every little slough. I just didn鈥檛 want to see that happen.鈥�
Houck鈥檚 agreement conserves more than 42 acres (17 hectares) of wetlands and surrounding grass, shrubs and trees. It鈥檚 habitat that benefits more than 50 species of birds and other animals. Its prairie pothole wetlands are ideal for many waterfowl, especially canvasback ducks.
The property was ideal for Houck鈥檚 family too. His grandfather bought the land in 1896 for $5 per acre and Houck, now 82 years old, is the third generation to farm it.
A couple of its features point to its long history. On one corner, now owned by the municipality, was a sidetrack of the Canadian Pacific Railway and a grain elevator. The elevator, built in 1924, was removed after it closed in 1974 and is now the site of one of the few known hibernacula for the western plains garter snake in southwestern Manitoba.
Things change, though. Having retired from farming about 15 years ago, and with no children pursuing that tradition, Houck plans to sell his land to a member of his extended family who currently rents and farms it.
What won鈥檛 change are the natural areas on the property. None of the wetlands have been drained and they and other natural areas will be protected by the conservation agreement.
It means that an important part of his property鈥攚hich has meant so much to Houck鈥攚ill remain even after it鈥檚 passed to someone else.
鈥淚 was quite happy to know that it was going to be looked after, hopefully kept the way it is, with this agreement,鈥� Houck says.
鈥淚t just seemed like a good thing to do.鈥�
Ducks Unlimited Canada runs several programs that pay incentives to landowners who protect wetlands and surrounding grasslands. This conservation project was supported by the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP).
