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The Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) encourages students from kindergarten through 12 th grade to participate in the Conservation Poster Contest. Entries are due to the SWCD in which the student’s school is located by Friday, May 1. Posters must reflect and include the title of the contest theme: “Soil. Where It All Begins,” which celebrates the incredible power of soil to support life in all its forms!

Posters are judged based on conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality, and universal appeal. The SWCD commissioners will judge entries and forward the winners to Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI). State winners will be forwarded to the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) to compete at the national level, where winners will be announced during NACD’s Annual Meeting in 2027.

The Hand-Drawn Poster Contest is open to K-12 students and divided into five grade divisions (K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12). Posters must be made on regular poster paper; the size can range from 8.5 x 11 inches to 22 x 28 inches, but NACD recommends the size of 11 x 17 inches on 60 lb. paper. Mediums can include paint, crayons, colored pencils, charcoal, stickers, magic markers, paper, or whatever inspires students (with the exception of three-dimensional effects).

The Digital Poster contest is open to 7 th -12 th grade students with two divisions (grades 7-9 and 10-12). Posters can be horizontal or vertical, measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. Students should refer to the contest rules for additional requirements and details.

This year, Madison SWCD is offering local prizes for the winners and runners-up in each of the seven divisions: winners will receive a Casey’s gift card for $10, and runners-up will receive a Casey’s gift card for $5. CDI awards cash prizes for regional ($35) and state ($50) winners. NACD awards cash prizes for first ($200), second ($150), and third ($100) place at the national level.

More information about the Conservation Poster Contest is available on CDI’s website at: https://cdiowa.org/get-involved/poster-contest/. Madison SWCD’s website has additional information about all opportunities for students at: https://www.madison-swcd.org/for-students/.

The Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce the publication of our 2025 Annual Report with our local Madison County community and partner organizations. The report covers activities in calendar year 2025, state cost share and financial information for fiscal year 2025 (July 1-June 30), and also includes a crossword puzzle and a look ahead to upcoming deadlines and events.

To read the report online, click the button below, or contact Anna Golightly at 515-462-4884 extension 3 or Anna.Golightly@ia.nacdnet.net if you would like to request a paper copy of the report.

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.