The Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) has a long tradition of honoring land stewards who have done outstanding work conserving natural resources. This year, the Madison County SWCD commissioners presented the 2026 Conservation Award to Michael and Cindy Koch.
Mike farms with his brother Kendall and son, Jake, the 4 th generation in the Koch family’s farming operation. The Kochs grow corn, soybeans, and hay, and raise beef cattle on their farms in rural Van Meter.
Mike’s grandfather and his father, Dwaine, started building ponds during the Great Depression of the 1930s as a means to save soil, and since then have continued implementing conservation practices such as terraces and reshaping waterways for water quality.
They have close to 20 miles of terraces (including diversions, constant slope, and “push up”), have installed 1,200 feet of grassed waterway, and also have dry retention basins. The Kochs will be building even more terraces on their farm this fall, and are planning additional water and sediment control basins in the future.
The Kochs are 100% no-till on both corn and soybeans. They do grid soil testing and utilize precision/variable rate fertilizer application on their crop fields.
In their cattle pastures, they have built a grade stabilization structure to control erosion and provide a livestock watering source, and all of their ponds have been fenced for access control to exclude livestock.
In addition to stewardship efforts on the farm, Mike served three terms as a Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner from 2010 to 2022, including Chair and Treasurer roles. Mike was a member of the Advisory Committee for the Badger Creek Lake Watershed Project and continues to serve as a Trustee for the Badger Creek Watershed Subdistrict.
Mike has also served in various leadership roles with the Booneville Co-op, Heartland Co-op, Van Meter Bond Issue Steering Committee, Homeowner Associations, and American Legion Post 403. Currently, Mike and Cindy are actively involved at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Van Meter.
Photo courtesy of Vicki Minor, Winterset Madisonian
The 2026 Conservation Award presentation was held on Wednesday, July 15 at the Madison County Fair. The SWCD commissioners and staff presented a metal award sign to Michael and Cindy Koch, who were joined by their son, Jake.
Madison County SWCD would like to thank the Madison County Farm Bureau for sponsoring the metal award sign, and the Madison County Fair Board for providing an opportunity to recognize stewards of our natural resources at the fair.