In 2016, the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Madison County Covered Bridge Chapter of Pheasants Forever (PF) began the tradition of recognizing stewards for their habitat conservation efforts at the PF Chapter’s Annual Banquet.

This year, the SWCD presented the Habitat Conservation Award to Jim Liechty, the former director of the Madison County Conservation Board and a steward of our public lands in Madison County! 

The Madison County Conservation Board was established a little over 50 years ago in 1972.  Jim Liechty was hired as the second conservation board director in 1979, and over his 42-year tenure, he led the county’s efforts to establish county parks and wildlife areas; public lands that provide opportunities for outdoor recreation including hiking, camping, paddling, fishing, and hunting.   When Jim retired in 2021, the Madison County Conservation Board managed 17 public areas totaling 2,051 acres. 

Jim was also instrumental in the planning and design of the new Conservation Center, which is currently in the final phases of construction, and once open, will be a destination for residents to learn about Madison County’s natural resources, as well as a place for the community to gather for meetings and events.

Jim Liechty was recognized at the PF Chapter’s Annual Banquet on March 3, 2023 and presented an award sign.  Please join Madison SWCD in congratulating Jim Liechty for his contributions to habitat conservation in Madison County!

The Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is offering a summer internship in 2023.  The internship is open to current college students (including spring 2023 graduates) majoring in a field of study related to agriculture, conservation, and other relevant studies as listed in the announcement.

The intern will assist the SWCD with various activities including field visits, 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, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, 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. 

To apply, students should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references to the Madison SWCD by Friday, February 17, 2023. 

Information about the summer internship and other opportunities for students is available on the For Students page of our website.

Madison County SWCD is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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). 

Application forms and scholarship rules 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 10, 2023.

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.

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 in Winterset by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10.