Over the years, the Madison County Soil & Water Conservationist District (SWCD) has recognized hundreds of individuals and families that have done outstanding work to conserve our natural resources and embody what it means to be a steward of the land.

This year, the Madison County SWCD commissioners presented the 2025 Conservation Award to Weeks Family Farm in recognition of the stewardship efforts of Steve and Patty Weeks. Steve and Patty Weeks’ families have deep roots in farming. As Steve says, “I was born a farmer.” Steve and Patty purchased their original 275-acre farm in Monroe Township in 1974. They made their home on the property and actively farmed until the farm crisis of the 1980s.

Today, their 45-acre property includes prairie that was established in 1990 with assistance from the USDA, as well as 8 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program. The prairie is a mixture of grasses and forbs, and they keep a constant vigil for noxious weeds and cedar tree starts. Prairie burns every few years help keep tree starts in check and the prairie healthy.

Other conservation features on their property include 10 acres of timber, a waterway, and a 3-acre pond. Their farm has become a wildlife sanctuary; in addition to the habitat provided by the prairie, woodland, and pond, they have also constructed owl boxes, wood duck boxes, and goose nests. Steve and Patty’s parents instilled in them a love of the land and a desire to save it for future generations. Steven and Patty recently sold a 5-acre parcel with the farmstead to their daughter and son-in-law, Jessie and Justin Lowry, so Jessie has returned to her roots and is enjoying the prairie with
her husband and daughter.

Steve said that they have always tried to take care of the farmland, but beyond their stewardship efforts on their farm, other notable conservation activities include:

Patty Weeks has been a member of the Winterset Tree Commission for several years. She also served on the Winterset Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees, where she helped re-energize conservation efforts in Cedar Lake Watershed. Patty was also a longtime member of MCFEE, the Madison County Foundation for Environmental Education, where she has served as Board Chair. Patty and Steve both help out with activities for the Madison County Conservation Board.

The 2025 Conservation Award presentation was held on Wednesday, July 16 at the Madison County Fair. The SWCD commissioners and staff presented a metal award sign to Patty Weeks, who was joined by her daughter Jessie Lowry and granddaughter Elena (Steve was out of town).

Madison County SWCD would like to thank the Madison County Fair Board for providing an opportunity to recognize stewards of our natural resources at the fair, and Madison County Farm Bureau for sponsoring the metal award sign.

The Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) invites fairgoers to stop by their booth in the Farm Bureau building during the 2025 Madison County Fair.

Since 2015, the Madison County Farm Bureau has shared their space with Madison SWCD, which will be staffing a booth Wednesday through Saturday.

This year, visitors can learn about native plants and habitats, and the wildlife that rely on those resources. There will be free posters available, and kids (of all ages) can get a conservation-themed temporary tattoo. Cultivating Connections, a project of the Madison County Conservation Board, will also have free native plants to give away on July 18 and 19.   

Madison SWCD also encourages the public to attend the Conservation Awards presentation on Wednesday, July 16 at 5:45 p.m. at the North Show Ring (before the Queen and King Contest). 

In addition to presenting the 2025 Conservation Award, Madison SWCD will also be drawing the winner of the raffle for a pair of 3-Day General Admission Tickets to the Hinterland Music Festival in St. Charles on August 1-3. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $20 up until the drawing at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16. 

Madison SWCD’s booth at County Fair is a great place to learn more about the Conservation District and its programs and activities in Madison County; or visit www.madison-swcd.org for more information. Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For National Soil Health Day on June 23, 2025, the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) organized a Soil Health Field Day at McLaughlin Farms in rural Cumming, Iowa.

Dennis McLaughlin, a 5 th generation farmer on his family’s farm that was established in 1854, hosted the field day. The farm operation includes corn and soybeans, alfalfa, pasture, and 40 head of beef cattle (cow/calf herd). McLaughlin Farms provides many examples of management practices that incorporate the principles of soil health:
minimizing disturbance, maximizing soil cover, maximizing the presence of living roots, maximizing biodiversity, and incorporating livestock.

The field day began with approximately 50 attendees gathering in the shade on the farmstead for introductions. Everyone was encouraged to ask questions and share comments, which contributed to a rich discussion throughout the field day.

Presentations began with the Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Station. Alena Whitaker, a Water and Natural Resource Specialist with Iowa Learning Farms and Water Rocks!, gave a demonstration of the rainfall simulator. The rainfall simulator had trays representing Intense Tillage, Conservation Tillage, No-Till, Cover Crops, and
Permeable Pavers (an urban/stormwater best management practice). After running the sprinkler system for a few minutes, attendees could see the difference in the amount of water runoff and infiltration from each land management example.

Next, Ruth Blomquist, the Area Soil Health Specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in southwest Iowa, gave an overview of soil health. She discussed soil aggregates and the two things that create aggregation: biotic glues from soil organisms and exudates from plant roots. She also demonstrated the slake test to show the difference in aggregate stability for the same soil type under two different management systems.

Dennis shared information about the farm operation and how the McLaughlin family is protecting their farming legacy through an Agricultural Land Easement. Erin Van Waus, Conservation Easement Director with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), explained more about the process of working with McLaughlin Farms on the easement.

After the presentations at the farmstead, attendees loaded onto hayracks to tour one of the pastures protected by the Agricultural Land Easement. Dennis McLaughlin spoke about the grazing operation, including the cattle waters and electric fence used for rotational grazing. Ruth Blomquist and Hillary Olson, NRCS State Soil Health Specialist
for Iowa, discussed the qualities of the soil in the pasture, and Jeff Matthias, NRCS State Grassland Specialist, helped answer questions.

After the tour of the pasture, the hayracks returned to the farmstead where the Madison County Cattlemen provided burgers and all-beef hot dogs for lunch, and conversations continued over the meal.

While many soil health field days and workshops focus on cropland, this field day provided an opportunity to explore the topic of soil health in the context of pastures and grazing management.

Madison County SWCD would like to thank the Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and Madison County Cattlemen for their support in making this field day possible.