Honoring Conservation Champions: Madison SWCD’s Election and Appreciation Day Highlights

Steve Davis and Samual Yoder were elected as Supervisors at the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Their three-year term will begin on January 1, 2027. The election period ran from August 12 to September 10, 2026, with voting available during the Madison SWCD Customer Appreciation Day on September 10th.

Steve Davis and Samual Yoder were elected as Supervisors at the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Their three-year term will begin on January 1, 2027. The election period ran from August 12 to September 10, 2026, with voting available during the Madison SWCD Customer Appreciation Day on September 10th. The Madison SWCD Customer Appreciation Day celebrated local land stewardship achievements. The event took place at the USDA Service Center/Madison County Engineer Building in London, Ohio. Staff from the Madison County Engineers, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, and Central Township Fire Station, helped with demonstrations. The rain held off, allowing attendees to enjoy fishing, a dry hydrant demonstration, touch-a-truck activities, food and fellowship. Approximately 80 people attended, and two conservation awards were presented. The first award recognized the Top Rank Envirothon Team. The Envirothon is an outdoor, academic competition in Southwest Ohio for high school students that tests their knowledge in five areas: Forestry, Aquatics, Current Environmental Issues, Soils, and Wildlife. The Soil and Water Conservation honored the Madison-Plains High School Team - Avery Alkire, Kastin Little, Elizabeth Hammond, Brooklyn Brown, and Jaliyah Robinson - for achieving the highest rank among Madison County teams. Their advisor, Serenity Kirts Pickell, accepted the award on their behalf. The second award was presented to Ramona Porter and Dale Sheridan for being Outstanding Cooperators of the Year. Ramona Porter restored a twenty-acre wetland on her farm in 2026, attracting waterfowl and other wildlife. She collaborated with her tenant farmers to utilize cover crops, has repaired the gullies, planted native grass buffer strips to prevent pesticide drift and capture any sediment from runoff into the creek. Dale Sheridan, a corn and soybean farmer, utilized the H2Ohio Program to install practices that reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. By following a nutrient management plan based on the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations, he prevents excess nutrients from entering into the creeks and groundwater. He also plants cover crops to protect soil during winter, which helps sustain microorganisms and build organic matter. Lastly, he permanently protected one of his farms with an agricultural easement through the Clean Ohio Program. These outstanding individuals received a sign as a token of the district’s gratitude for their stewardship and commitment to conservation. The evening concluded with a free raffle for fishing poles. For more information about conserving natural resources in Madison County, please contact Madison SWCD at 740-852-4003 or visit madisonsoilandwater.com.