INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts will be hosting the 2019 Annual Indiana Soil & Water Conservation Districts Conference on January 14-15 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. This year’s theme is “Creating a Legacy: Your Land, Your District, Our Indiana.” This conference will bring together over 450 members and leaders in the field of conservation to expand on their knowledge of the many ways to further partner and conserve Indiana’s natural resources.
“Each year this conference welcomes many people from several different agencies; landowners, farmers, conservationists and district staff and supervisors who desire to connect, collaborate and learn what each Indiana district is doing to further conservation in their counties. It gives the staff and supervisors of all 92 districts an opportunity to receive more training and knowledge to take back to their districts and to then use technically in the fields or to outreach and educate more in their communities,” states Jamie Scott, President of the IASWCD board.
Joe Schmees, Executive Director, IASWCD, joined the organization this past year but it’s not his first conference. He has attended the past seven years and has been a part of the planning committee as well. He states, “I’m looking forward to bringing our District members a conference that renews their passion for assisting their communities in our mission of soil health and water quality. Keynote Speaker, Chad Pregracke, will open the conference with his inspirational story of restoration along the Mississippi Riverbanks. Then, this year’s breakout and round table sessions cover a variety of topics including the new farm bill, stormwater runoff, climate change impacts on agriculture, invasive species and more. We also look forward to the Legislative Breakfast we host for our legislators on Tuesday morning, featuring Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch.”
Kevin Gregory, Chief Meteorlogist RTV6, will emcee the closing of the conference at the Conservation Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, January 15. Mike and Susan Brocksmith of Knox County are the 2018 Indiana Conservation Farmer of the Year Award, sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc., will be attending. Other awards received that day will include Earth Team Volunteer, Friend of Conservation and the four Indiana Districts of the District Showcase Award sponsored by Indiana Conservation Partnership, Brownfield Ag News and Indiana Prairie Farmer Magazine.
For more information on the conference, including the conference brochure, and award winners, see the annual conference web page at: www.iaswcd.org/events.
— The Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
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