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The Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) invites fairgoers to attend the Conservation Awards Presentation and stop by the Farm Bureau building to learn about soil and water during the Madison County Fair. 

Madison County SWCD will be presenting Conservation Awards on Wednesday evening. This year, the SWCD is recognizing Downs Family Farm (Steve Downs and Howard Downs) with the 2023 Conservation Award. The SWCD would also like to publicly recognize Seth Breeding as the 2023 recipient of Madison County SWCD’s Scholarship Award, as well as the third place recipient of Conservation Districts of Iowa’s statewide scholarships. The public is welcome to attend the presentation at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19 at the North Show Ring (before the Queen and King Contest). 

Madison County SWCD appreciates the opportunity to recognize conservation award winners at County Fair and thanks Madison County Farm Bureau for sponsoring the award.

Madison County SWCD and its partners (the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship) will have displays set up in the Farm Bureau building during the fair. There will be several soil health demonstrations on display, and visitors can test their knowledge about soils for a chance to win prizes. There will be free posters and conservation-themed temporary tattoos available. To learn more, visit www.madison-swcd.org. Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

To learn more about the Madison County Fair, visit http://madisoncountyfair.net/

Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) invites the public to attend the All About Wetlands Field Day on Thursday, June 29^th at the Martens CREP Wetland. The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the McBroom-Hargis Barn located at 1218 U.S. Highway 169 north of Winterset.

This field day will celebrate wetlands, the multi-tool of conservation practices for water quality! They act like sponges as they soak up rainwater and surface runoff, they act as filters to remove pollutants, and they provide excellent wildlife habitat for a wide variety of species. This field day will highlight the many benefits that wetlands provide and discuss the variety of programs available to landowners.

Speakers will include representatives from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Madison County SWCD, Iowa State University and Iowa Learning Farms, Heartland Co-op, and the local landowner. Iowa Learning Farms will be bringing their new Marsh Madness conservation station, the newest of Iowa Learning Farms’ four traveling conservation education trailers, which features 3-D models of three wetland types found in Iowa! Madison County SWCD will also have a model of Badger Creek Lake Watershed on display. There will be an opportunity to  tour the Martens CREP Wetland.

Afterward, participants can stop by a food truck for a complimentary lunch sponsored by Heartland Co-op. A few chairs will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring a lawn chair.

This event is free and open to the public. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. Attendees needing accommodations should explain when they RSVP. Attendees can RSVP by calling the Madison County SWCD at 515-462-4884 extension 3, or by sending an email to Anna.Golightly@ia.nacdnet.net. 

For more information, see the links to the News Release and Event Flyer. 

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

Hi, my name is Rebekah Veldboom, and I am the intern for Madison County’s SWCD this summer! I am originally from Williamsburg, IA and later Grinnell, IA, where my family and I moved so that my parents could begin co-farming with my grandparents. This fall I will be entering my senior year at ISU as an Environmental Science major, with a certificate in Soil Science and minor in Sustainability.

Although particularly uninterested in a career in or related to agriculture as a freshman, repeated course crossover and opportunities in the agronomy department quickly grew my appreciation and eventual fondness for agriculture and its relation to the environment. I was also introduced to the exciting world of research within my first semester – shout out to Dr. Hornbuckle! – and to the specific area of soils research in my sophomore year – shout out to the McDaniel Lab! Since then, I have been enjoying classes covering everything soils and picking up my own research projects!

Outside of classes, I have enjoyed various activities on campus. Over the past three years I’ve had the incredible privilege to be involved with the iconic Bells of Iowa State, by learning to play the carillon (aka the bell instrument), occasionally playing noon concerts in the Campanile (including The Fight Song!!), and leading the carillon student group. I’ve also enjoyed volunteering at ISU’s on-campus food pantry (The SHOP) and becoming involved with various ministries at my church as well as its recent installation of honeybees!

As I anticipate my graduation (in less than a year!), I look forward to completing my capstone research project – an exciting project studying the effects of bio digestate applications on enzyme activity in the soil – and taking more soils and conservation courses.

I’m excited to be with the Madison SWCD field office this summer and see land management and conservation practices in person!