The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is offering a 480 hour Conservation Technician Intern position based at the Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD).
The internship is open to students enrolled in college (including high school students graduating this spring) who are pursuing studies related to agriculture, conservation, engineering, environmental science, GIS, natural resources, and similar fields. Unfortunately, this internship is not open to college students graduating this spring, but we encourage those individuals to visit our Employment webpage for other opportunities: https://www.madison-swcd.org/employment/
The intern will assist the SWCD with various activities including:
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) status reviews (field checks, plant identification);
- Layout and checkout of conservation practices (such as ponds, terraces, waterways);
- Conservation planning, mapping, and landowner contacts;
- Information, education and outreach activities.
The internship requires attending orientation and training meetings sponsored by IDALS and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), completing a special project, and providing a “wrap up” presentation.
This internship provides an opportunity to gain experience and get exposure to federal, state, and local agencies that assist landowners and producers with natural resources conservation on private land. The special project allows the intern to focus part of their time on a topic they are interested in.
See the position announcement for additional details.
To apply, students should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references to the Madison SWCD by Monday, February 23, 2026.
Madison County SWCD is an equal opportunity provider and employer. The State Of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
