The Parke County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a legal subdivision of state government organized in 1952 under the Indiana Soil and Water Conservation District Law. The major function of a soil and water district is to analyze needs and develop a long range program aimed at solving problems of soil and water conservation within the county.
As members of the SWCD board, we accept the responsibility to be conscientious overseers of our natural resources. Our goals and objectives as stewards of soil and water, is to help educate landowners on conservation practices available to manage and utilize the natural resources of Parke County wisely in order for them to be enjoyed by current and future generations to come. Our Mission Statement is: provide leadership, education, and assistance to agricultural and urban interests in the proper use and management of soil, water, and related natural resources in Parke County.
The District has a no-till warm season grass drill for available for rent. This Truax drill plants eight-foot wide with three grain boxes: one for grains such as Alfalfa, Clover, Timothy and legumes; one for warm season grasses; and another for grasses such as oats and milo. It can be used to plant beans also. The drill has been used to re-plant pasture spots, wildlife food plots, warm season grasses, quail habitats, waterways and field borders.
The SWCD sponsors a conservation poster contest for fourth-grade students to better serve their curriculum standards. The theme varies each year and we try to compliment the Soil Stewardship theme. Prizes and ribbons are awarded to students and a traveling plaque is presented to the school of the "Grand Champion" winning student. The school keeps the plaque until a student from another school wins the honor. Posters may be exhibited as a 4-H Soil and Water Conservation Level 5 project entry at the Parke County Fair, if the entrant is properly enrolled in a local 4-H club and meets other 4-H requirements.
We also participate with fourth graders on Ag Day by presenting the poster contest results and awarding winning plaques. A 4-H member also presents a soil and water demonstration as their 4-H demonstration project.
The Parke SWCD observes Soil Stewardship Week by providing approximately 4,000 pieces of materials to local schools and churches and inserting news articles in local newspapers.
The Parke County SWCD used some of their Clean Water Indiana grant to have six signs made to promote the SWCD and the theme We All Live Downstream. The signs are being placed throughout the county along main highways. We also created a Web site.
A 2011 CWI Grant with Vermillion, Fountain, and the Parke County SWCDs will be used to contract with a "mentor" to work with farmers one-on-one with no-till, cover crops, setting up a planter, and hosting field days, among other conservation projects.