From the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)

Nancy Denes-Sparks won the election for supervisor at the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Her three-year term will begin on Jan. 1, 2026. The election period was from Aug. 13 – Sept. 11, with voting available during the Madison SWCD 78th Annual Conservation Banquet.

The Madison SWCD Conservation Banquet celebrated the accomplishments in local land stewardship. The meeting was held at the Procter Center Camp and Conference Center in London. Forty people attended the annual meeting, and two conservation awards were presented.

Every year, there 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 recognized the team members from Madison-Plains High School, Abby Damron, Ashley Bailey, Paisley Rice, Andrew Wood, and Gavin Cloutier, for ranking higher than any other team from Madison County, and placing 20th out of 62 teams overall. Their advisor was Serenity Kirts Pickell.

The second award was presented to Mike Young for being Outstanding Cooperator of the Year. Mike Young is a 7th generation farmer who utilized the Conservation Reserve Program and H2Ohio to install practices that reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.

He prevented erosion by planting numerous acres of trees and native grasses in areas that frequently flooded adjacent to Deer Creek. He prevented excess nutrients from escaping into the creeks and groundwater by implementing a nutrient management plan based on the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations.

Young served as a dedicated Madison Soil and Water Supervisor for 6 years and as a member of the Madison Conservation Foundation for over 15 years, volunteering his time and skills to help promote preservation and the enhancement of Madison County. He was presented with a sign as a token of the district’s gratitude for Mike’s stewardship and commitment to conservation.

The meeting concluded with an informative presentation about Southern Flying Squirrels by Dr. Donald P. Althoff, Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Rio Grande.

For more information about conserving natural resources in Madison County, please contact Madison SWCD at (740) 852-4003 or visit madisonsoilandwater.com.