It was a packed crowd at the Geneva Center on Monday during the Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation Districts 84th annual meeting and banquet. 

Following dinner, retired Purdue Entomologist Tom Turpin presented a program on insects, their benefits, including their nutritional value.

Serving up mealworms in a frying pan, Turpin passed his plate around to each table, encouraging guests to try a bite. 

Awards were also given during the meeting, honoring those like local farmers George and Nancy Krom. They received the Joseph A. Kroft Conservation Award. The recognition honored the Krom's continued efforts to help protect Fulton County's soil and water resources.

Presenter Mike Norman said the Kroms, who had been farming in Fulton County all of their lives, had been one of the county's early adopters of no-till crop production and participated with the SWCD on many practices, including their cover crop program.

With most of the Krom's farmland being in the Tippecanoe River watershed, Norman said their collaboration with FC-SWCD has resulted in measurable positive results, including the improvement of water quality in both the Tippecanoe River and Lake Manitou watersheds.

George Krom thanked FC-SWCD. 

Shirley Needham also had an eventful night at the banquet. Needham accepted the River Friendly Farmer of Indiana Award for familiy's farm, Kern Woodlands LLC. The farm is operated by Needham and her siblings, Dr. Patricia Holmgren and Bill Kern. 

Needham was also sworn in by Fulton County Commissioner Dave Sommers as the newly appointed supervisor with FC-SWCD. Needham replaces Matt Harsh, who had been a supervisor for FC-SWCD for the past 18 years.