Oxford Stewardship Award nominees - Jim and Minnie Koteles
Jim and Minnie Koteles — Protecting farmland and soil through practical stewardship
Jim and Minnie Koteles take great pride in being good stewards of their Oxford County farm, guided by a long-term view of soil health, water management, and conservation. The couple acquired the 87-acre farm in 1990 and built their home on the property in 2004. Today, the farm has 58 acres of crop land and 30 acres of bushland that adjoin the Wildwood Conservation Authority/Trout Creek in Zorra Township.
The couple follows a three-year crop rotation of corn, soybeans, and wheat. Heavy rains and intense downpours had been causing them problems for years. Jim says things have really intensified over the past four or five years.
“We were getting a lot of erosion down that hillside. By the time the water reached the bottom, it was a foot or two deep. I had to repair the driveway eight different times in one summer.”
Neighbours suggested reaching out to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) for support. Jim says that Brad Glassman worked with them to survey the property, create a topographical map, and design a solution to divert water safely and stop the erosion.
“He gave us alternatives. We could retire the land and plant trees or build a grass waterway. We decided a berm was the best way to conserve the soil without losing additional cropland. He gave us options for how steep it could be, whether we could mow it or even plant crops over it.”
Construction of the berm began in August 2024 and was completed in just two days. Minnie says the level of support surprised them.
“The engineering diagrams were very good, and they really helped us through the whole process. They even came out during construction.”
Jim says the results were immediate.
“The week after the berm was built, we had a rain that engaged the spillway. The water came so fast that it went right around it. It was amazing to see the difference.”
This project builds on a long history of stewardship with the UTRCA. In 2009, the couple participated in tree-planting initiatives that included local Grade 5 students, rehabilitating an old farmstead into a shelterbelt for wildlife and birds. They also installed windbreaks around their home and barn, supported by financial incentives.
Beyond erosion control and tree planting, Jim and Minnie have participated in Environmental Farm Plan programs, clean water initiatives, cover cropping, and no-till practices aimed at preserving soil health. Jim says they are actively trying to improve the quality of the soil for generations to come.
“With industrial farming the way it is now, you worry about the quality of soil 100 years from now. Anything we can do to protect and enhance the soil should be considered.”
Minnie agrees, noting the pride that comes with farming responsibly.
“I like being a farmer and potentially feeding a very small part of the population. We have to preserve our land.”
Over the years, they have enhanced the property’s tree cover, including a community tree-planting initiative in the late 2000s, where local school children helped plant trees on a sloped section of the land.
Their stewardship also extends into their shared forest. Part of an old gravel pit used during the construction of the Wildwood Dam lies on their property. Jim says when the UTRCA approached them about rehabilitating the area with prairie grasses, they didn’t hesitate.
“They asked our permission, and we said absolutely. It didn’t cost us anything, and now it’s beautiful.”
For Jim and Minnie, stewardship is about working with the land and with partners who share that vision.