The Supervisors and Staff of Spencer County SWCD are proud of many accomplishments throughout the years since the SWCD was established.  Through education, assistance and partnerships, Spencer County now has generations of producers who are following conservation plans to improve their soil health, keep their water clean, and provide for generations to come. 

One such example is Adam Hurm, recognized as the Conservation Farmer of the Year in 2016.  Adam began farming full-time after graduating from Purdue University in 2006 with a degree in agricultural economics; Adam is married to Lauren and is the father of Isabelle and Allison.  Since 2006, he has been farming alongside several family members including his father Roger, Uncle Cleon, and brother Matthew.  It is somewhat of a tradition in the Hurm family to be recognized for conservation efforts; his grandfather, Bernard Hurm, Sr., accepted the Conservation Farmer of the Year award in 1990, and his father, Roger Hurm, in 2003.   Adam credits his family and contractors Kirby Youngblood and Wayne Kessens as being very influential in implementing conservation practices on his land.  He also appreciates the help from the staff at the SWCD.

Already, Hurm has been involved with many conservation practices including planting more than 2000 acres of cover crop in the past four years, utilizing grassed waterways, and is an advocate of no-till agriculture.  Recently, Hurm’s property was spotlighted during the Spencer County SWCD District Showcase Presentation for the Indiana Conservation Partnership as an example of excellent conservation practices with in our District in which the SWCD and NRCS has helped to guide the producer in conservation decision making. The property, formerly pasture, was converted to row crops and cover crops.  As a pasture, the land was in need of improvement due to soil erosion and overgrazing.  Now this farm is very productive for corn and soybeans.