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 field visits (especially assisting with CRP status reviews), layout and checkout of conservation practices, education and outreach, and other general office duties, as well as completing a special project for the SWCD (such as a research project, developing educational materials, planning an outreach event, etc.). 

This internship is a great way to get exposure to SWCDs, IDALS, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The special project provides an opportunity for 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 24, 2025.  Madison County SWCD is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Madison County SWCD and the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship are equal opportunity providers and employers.

High school seniors graduating this spring who plan to pursue studies in conservation or agriculture are encouraged to apply for the Conservation Scholarships offered by Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) in partnership with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). 

Scholarship rules and application forms are available on CDI’s website: https://cdiowa.org/get-involved/scholarships/

Applications must be submitted to the local SWCD office in the county where the student resides.  The deadline to apply is February 7, 2025.

SWCD commissioners will select an application to forward to the CDI Region, and then the CDI Regional Director will choose an application to forward to the state level for consideration.

In addition to the state and regional scholarships awarded by CDI, Madison County SWCD is offering its own local scholarship in the amount of $250 to the top applicant. 

The top three applicants in the state will be awarded scholarships in the amounts of $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000.  Winners from the remaining six regions will receive $500.  The scholarship will be paid directly to the applicant’s school of choice, to be used for the student’s first year of college education.

Students residing in Madison County should submit their application materials to the Madison County SWCD located at 815 E. Hwy 92, Winterset, Iowa 50273 by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 7. 

Since 1942, the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and conservation partners have been working together with farmers and landowners to conserve, protect, and enhance our resources for current and future generations.

As you look around Madison County, many of the conservation practices you see – grassed waterways, terraces, water and sediment control basins, grade stabilization structure and ponds, prairie plantings, tree plantings, forest stand improvement, windbreaks, wetlands, cover crops, and more! – were established with assistance from the SWCD and its conservation partners with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. 

However, in addition to implementing conservation practices to conserve our valuable soil, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat, we are also involved in education and outreach activities such as Ag4Kids Day for Madison County 5^th Graders, a booth at the Madison County Fair, field days, workshops, and informational meetings.

We receive a limited amount of funding from the state each year which only covers our basic expenses. We are asking for your support to help us continue doing good things above and beyond the “basics” in Madison County, such as funding for…

• Student opportunities (summer internship, scholarship for graduating seniors)
• Information and education activities and materials
• Other endeavors that further soil and water conservation in Madison County

Please consider supporting our conservation efforts in Madison County! 

Contributions can be mailed to Madison SWCD at 815 E. Hwy 92, Winterset, IA 50273 or dropped off at the USDA Service Center during our regular business hours (Mon.-Fri. 8:00-4:30).  Contributions are tax-exempt, and you will receive a confirmation letter for your records. 

Whether you make a donation on Giving Tuesday, or as part of your Year-End Giving, all contributions, large or small, will make a difference and be greatly appreciated! To learn more about supporting Madison SWCD and see 2023 contributors, visit:  https://www.madison-swcd.org/supporters/