Warrick County SWCD hit the ground running in 2016, and what an exciting year it was for us. We had the services of two technicians (Whitney McGrew {grant- funded position} and Emily Kelly {grant- funded position also}), which were shared between other counties. These positions served the district well in several different capacities, from field visits, design trainings, PSS work, IDEM inspections (Boonville By-Pass project), and board meeting attendance, to the partnerships created with other agencies and districts as a result of their work.
The district had 2 supervisors and staff in attendance for the IASWCD Annual Conference in January. We had 78 in attendance for our annual meeting, and our Conservation Farmer of the Year award went to Greg Black. Chuck Scales received the River Friendly Farmer award. These two gentlemen are local producers with a passion for conservation practices.
In February, staff attended a Performance Review Workshop in Gibson County to further educate on procedures and expectations of their positions.
March 2016 afforded the district a chance to partner with our local Purdue Extension for a Soil & Water Quality Workshop. Nathan Lind, the district conservationist, discussed federal conservation programs available to producers. Staff attended the regional Envirothon competition at Hornady Park, Petersburg, Indiana, and assisted with Farm Bureau sponsored AGDays. Staff and supervisors attended the SW Regional Staff and Supervisor training, where procedures and best practices were discussed. Whitney was asked to fill the position of coordinator for CRP re-enrolls, and hit the ground running with this responsibility.
In April, the district initiated their support for the RCPP Reclaimed Mine initiative, and staff including Gibson, Pike, Posey and Vanderburgh SWCD’s helped plan the Eastern Native Grass Symposium held at Tropicana Hotel in the fall of the year. Spencer County SWCD received a LARE grant, and the Little Pigeon & Buckhorn Creek watersheds has landowners in Warrick County. Warrick helped promote meetings (local newspaper article), and staff attended the “kick-off” meeting for watershed landowners. Whitney helped landowners with InField Advantage applications. The staff planted a pollinator plot at the Warrick County 4-H Center with seedlings started at a local nursery who encouraged and supported our endeavors. Staff attended an Invasive Species Workshop, hosted by Vanderburgh County SWCD. The district applied for, and received, a Toyota grant, and chose to host “Adventures in Agriculture” for all 5th graders across the county. As a result of the grant, Whitney was asked to present a pollinator-themed, hands-on presentation at Camp Carson as part of Toyota’s “Earth Week” activities for 5th graders.
The board nominated Dean Henke for River Friendly Farmer of the Year awards in May. He received recognition at the district’ annual meeting. Whitney attended the State Storm Water banquet in Indianapolis with Warrick County Storm Water department. Additionally in May, the district hosted a “Internal Controls Training” session for surrounding counties. Susan King, office manager, received RiverWatch certification, and all district and NRCS employees attended the “Power of Us” Employees Appreciation Day in Hendricks County. The district made the addition of a drop seeder to the existing harrow to assist producers in implementing cover crops, and for a more well-rounded equipment rental offering. The district partnered with a local farm implement company, Rudolph Brothers Farm Implements, for the storage of district owned rental equipment.
A team-building event was held and attended by the SouthWestern counties in June. These districts chose “Painting with a Twist” and painted a pollinator-themed portrait. Several SW districts attended.
The annual Warrick County 4-H fair is held in July, and the district partnered with Warrick County StormWater for a rainbarrel and rain garden display. Staff handed out literature (education and outreach) about the benefits of capturing rainwater.
The month of August saw the district partnering with “Joshua Academy”, an agricultural-themed charter school in Vanderburgh County, with the idea of helping to create a model for Warrick County School Corporation to follow in establishing a similar agenda for students grades 1-6 who may be interested in pursuing this avenue in future studies. Whitney devoted 1 day a week to assist the school in this endeavor, and has helped the school establish a chicken coup, raised-bed vegetable gardens, and a tilapia-growing operation. Staff attended “Supervisors Summit/Staff training in Hendricks County, a SOILS EXPO hosted by Pike County SWCD, and the Eastern Native Grass Symposium. Staff assisted with “Pathway to Water Quality” at the Indiana State Fair.
In September, the district and NRCS hosted “Locally Lead”, to address conservation concerns in Warrick County. Whitney lead discussion with the board about a new contribution agreement between IASWCD and NRCS, in regards to the PSS workload each county maintains. Spencer County hosted a 2-Stage Ditch Field Day, of which Warrick County staff was in attendance.
October was a very busy month for the district. Susan King attended the IDEA Conference in northern Indiana, applied for a CWI grant, and administered a previously received ALCOA grant in conjunction with a CWI, five-county, cover crop grant. The staff felt strongly about additional forestry training for the public and their Indiana Conservation Partners, and hosted a “forestry workshop”, and NRCS made the decision to make it their October area meeting. Attendees included the public, IDNR, Eco-Team foresters from the Hoosier National Forest, and NRCS. Sally Weeks, author of Native Trees of the Midwest, gave a presentation about native trees/shrubs and their identification. After a lunch of a baked potato/barbecue bar, the participants went to Scales Lake for a hands-on session.
District and staff attended the Leadership Institute, including 3 supervisors and 2 staff members, in French Lick in December. Susan attended the “Internal Controls” training hosted by SBOA, at the Farm Bureau Building in Indianapolis, for further training.
2016 was a very busy and exciting year for the district, and it is our hope to apply the knowledge we have acquired at these various activities to our local conservation efforts in the future.
Susan King, Office Manager, Warrick County SWCD