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The Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) recognized Klara Oswald as the winner of the Conservation Poster Contest at the Madison County Fair on Wednesday, July 15.

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has held a conservation poster contest since 1955, and students around the country can participate by submitting posters to their local soil and water conservation district. The theme for the poster contest aligns with the theme of Stewardship Week (celebrated as “Soil and Water Conservation Week” in Iowa); this year’s theme was “Soil. Where it all begins.”

Klara Oswald submitted a hand-drawn poster in the 2nd – 3rd Grade Division. Her winning entry was forwarded to the regional director for Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI). Regional winners will be judged at the state level, and the state winners will compete in the national contest.

The Conservation Poster Contest is open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and both Hand-Drawn and Digital posters are accepted. CDI and NACD both award cash prizes to winners; this year, Madison SWCD offered gift card prizes.

K-12 students who enjoy drawing and graphic design are encouraged to enter the Conservation Poster Contest next year! The rules for the 2027 contest will be announced this winter; the deadline to submit entries is usually in late April or early May. More information about the poster contest and other opportunities for students can be found at www.madison-swcd.org/for-students/.

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.

The Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) will once again have a booth at the Madison County Fair. The booth is located in the Farm Bureau building next to the fair office, and will be open from Wednesday, July 15 through Saturday, July 18.

Madison SWCD will continue celebrating this year’s theme for Stewardship Week: “Soil. Where it all begins.” There will be demonstrations and displays, and visitors can test their soils knowledge for a chance to win a prize.

There will also be free conservation-themed temporary tattoos, posters, and coloring books while supplies last. Madison SWCD is partnering with the Madison County Conservation Board and Cultivating Connections project again this year to give out free native prairie plants on Friday and Saturday.

Fairgoers are also invited to attend Madison SWCD’s Conservation Awards presentation on Wednesday, July 15 at 5:45 p.m. at the North Show Ring (before the Queen and King Contest). The 2026 Conservation Award will be presented to Mike and Cindy Koch, and Klara Oswald will be recognized for her winning poster contest entry!

To learn more about Madison SWCD activities and events, visit www.Madison-SWCD.org

Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District is an equal opportunity provider and employer.