Nestled along a curve of Minnesota's Otter Tail River, Blue Line Farm stretches across 700 acres of pastureland that has supported nearly six generations of cattle ranchers. Owned and operated by the Trieglaff family in Frazee, the farm is this year's Outstanding Conservationist, awarded by the Becker Soil and Water Conservation District.

The family's stewardship is visible in every corner of the operation-from rotational grazing paddocks to energy-free water tanks and no-till test plots. Their conservation efforts aim to balance productivity with sustainability, a pressing challenge as farmland becomes scarcer and climate extremes intensify.

"The land is what gives us income, and there's only so much of it," said Tyler Trieglaff, who represents the farm's fifth generation. "We need to grow more on less land-and do it without disturbing the soil."

Blue Line Farm has divided its acreage into 15 rotational pastures, using thousands of feet of fencing to control cattle movement. Cattle graze in each paddock for one to two weeks before being moved, giving grasses time to recover and enhancing soil organic matter and drought resilience.

"Say you have 150 grazing days in one pasture," Trieglaff explained. "Split that in two and each gets grazed just 75 days. That rest helps regrow the grass-two, three, even four weeks between rotations."

To protect water quality, the Trieglaffs have restricted livestock access to the river. Instead, cattle use off-stream water systems, powered by buried pipes and energy-free tanks that rely on insulation and radiant floor heating to stay thawed during winter. These systems, combined with well-placed windbreaks, also enable winter grazing, allowing cattle to remain outdoors and naturally distribute manure across the land.

The farm is officially certified under the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, which supports voluntary conservation practices that reduce runoff and improve ecosystem health.

In addition to livestock management, the farm has experimented with no-till planting and cover cropping-both seen as essential to improving soil structure and nutrient cycling. However, Trieglaff notes that persistent drought over the past three years has made success in cover cropping elusive.

"The idea is more roots in that cornfield, improving the soil," he said. "But dry conditions made it tough to get the results we wanted."

Despite the challenges, their conservation plan continues to evolve. Support has come in part from USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides both technical and financial assistance to farmers implementing practices that benefit air, water, and soil resources.

Just as important, Blue Line Farm serves as an educational hub. Trieglaff hosts farm tours and NRCS trainings, including events with the Grazing Lands Coalition and local soil health groups, aiming to spread what they've learned.

"Change is hard. Just upgrading equipment or finding a better way can be difficult," he admitted. "But now I couldn't see doing it any other way."