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Charles Fenster receives Panhandle Outstanding Service to Ag AwardNebraska Charles Fenster, a pioneering researcher who retired nearly 30 years ago but remains active in Nebraska agricultural circles, has been named the 2008 winner of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Outstanding Service to Panhandle Agriculture Award. Fenster was recognized Aug. 12 during the High Plains Ag Lab Summer Crops Field Day at Sidney. According to the nomination received by the University, Fenster "is an icon of agriculture in the Nebraska Panhandle." During a long and successful career with the University of Nebraska, he became nationally and internationally known for his work in conservation tillage systems. His work on conservation tillage and ecofallow is fundamental to the environmentally sound cultural practices used in dryland farming today. Fenster and his wife, Eunice, live in Gering. He holds the title of professor emeritus at the Panhandle Center. Charlie Fenster retired from university employment in 1980, but did not retire from an active life. After retirement, he volunteered to help the University of Nebraska Foundation and the University of Nebraska Alumni Association. When the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association could not find qualified inspectors for western Nebraska, Charlie was there to satisfy the need," according to his nomination. He worked for NCIA for 12 years inspecting wheat, millet, grasses, dry beans and other crops. He also represented NCIA at grower meetings in the Panhandle. He has successfully nominated a number of Panhandle residents for membership in the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. He still attends and actively participates in UNL programming. "Charlie and his wife, Eunice, have generously funded a number of programs for the Panhandle District," said District Director Linda Boeckner. "They established the first endowed professorship for an off-campus site. They have also been major contributors to the Panhandle Dryland Crops Fund, the Panhandle Alumni Scholarship Fund, the Fenster Fund for Family and Consumer Sciences, and the Panhandle Research and Extension Center Director's Discretionary Fund. It is hard to think of anyone who has done more for Panhandle agriculture over their lifetime than Charlie Fenster." Fenster regularly tells the story of agriculture in the Panhandle to widespread and diverse audiences. He speaks to Nebraska LEAD groups about the history of agriculture in the Panhandle. He has been involved in FARM, the Farm and Ranch Museum, in Gering since its inception, and developed a major display on the development of conservation tillage in the High Plains. An active community member, he belongs to the Kiwanis Club and has been chair of the Gering Parks, Cemetery and Tree Board for many years. 9/8/08 Date: 9/2/08
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