Over the past several years, the Madison County Fair has become an annual tradition and opportunity for the Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) to recognize stewards of our natural resources and to reach out to members of the community, especially those who may not be familiar with the SWCD.
On Wednesday evening, the Madison SWCD commissioners presented the 2025 Conservation Award to Weeks Family Farm in a ceremony at the North Show Ring. They also drew the winner of the pair of tickets to the Hinterland Music Festival that the SWCD was raffling off for a fundraiser.
Thanks to the Madison County Farm Bureau, which has offered to share space in their building, the SWCD has been able to set up a booth for educational activities and demonstrations, informational materials, and freebies.
This year, the activities and giveaways focused on native plants and habitats, and the wildlife that rely on those resources. The root depth box was on display; visitors could guess how deep different native plants’ roots grow and then pull out the ropes for each species to see how long the roots were. Visitors could also pick up a free “Trees for Bees” poster and get a conservation-themed temporary tattoo.
This year the SWCD partnered with the Madison County Conservation Board and their Cultivating Connections project to give away free native prairie plants on Friday and Saturday. Over the course of both days, about 80 individuals and families took home plants to improve wildlife habitat on their property!
Plant species included butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), silky aster (Aster sericeus), western sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), and old field goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis). To learn more about any of these species, view the Plant Care Sheets below.
Madison SWCD would like to thank the Madison County Fair, Madison County Farm Bureau, Madison County Conservation Board and Cultivating Connections, and Hinterland Music Festival for opportunities to recognize stewards, raise money for the district, and connect with the community!
Cultivating Connections Plant Care Sheets
To learn more about Cultivating Connections, visit:
https://www.madisoncountyparks.org/cultivating-connections/
