August 2026 | Volume 31 | Issue 2

The public is warmly invited and encouraged to attend the H2Ohio and Customer Appreciation Day on Thursday, September 10th at the USDA Service Center and Madison County Engineer’s Office, 831 US HWY 42 NE, London, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Two board members will be elected to a three-year term of office. The candidates in this year’s election are JD Bethel, Steve Davis and Samuel Yoder.

Join us for a fun afternoon with activities like fishing, a dry hydrant demonstration, touch-a-truck, and a free dinner prepared by our staff and supervisors. The fishing area is just a short hike away, but since the path goes through uneven grass and gravel, we’ll have a gator available to help transport anyone who needs it. For extra comfort, please bring a lawn chair!  (Just a heads-up - public fishing is only allowed during this event.) 

Supervisor Steve Davis will serve roasted barbeque pork, and we’ll have plenty of tasty sides and cookies to enjoy.  After dinner, we will proudly present two conservation awards: Top Rank Envirothon Team and Outstanding Cooperator of the Year.

To help us plan for dinner, please email Gail.Wilson@oh.nacdnet.net with the expected number of guests in your party by September 1. Your response will help us ensure a wonderful experience for everyone.

We hope you can join us for a day of learning, celebration, and good food.

Two board supervisors will be elected at the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District’s H2Ohio and Customer Appreciation Day on September 10th at the USDA Service Center/Madison County Engineer Office, 831 US HWY 42 NE, London, Ohio. 

The Board of Supervisors is made up of dedicated community leaders, elected by county residents, who guide soil and water conservation programs to address local natural resource concerns. These supervisors volunteer their time for a three-year term, helping shape the district’s direction and impact.

To cast a vote, you may:

Request an absentee ballot by calling or visiting the Madison SWCD office at 831 U.S. Highway 42 NE, London (740-852-4003).

Vote in person at the Madison SWCD office during regular business hours from August 12th through September 10th.

Cast your ballot at the Customer Appreciation Day until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 10th, at the Madison SWCD office.

JD Bethel, 9577 Roberts Rd., West Jefferson, is seeking a second term. He is Regional Sales Manager at Hoegemeyer.  Prior to that, he was an agronomist at Integrated Ag Services for 8 years and with The Ohio State University researching soybeans for 4 years.  He received his master’s degree in Weed Sciences at Ohio State.  He helps his parents farm in Mechanicsburg.  He and his wife, Wendy, enjoy bicycling, traveling and gardening.

The most important resource concern Bethel sees on a day-to-day basis working with farmers is soil erosion.  He has done a lot of tiling and waterways on his parents’ farm and has seen the value. He is running for reelection because he supports the work of the Soil and Water Conservation District.  Anything the Madison SWCD can do to promote keeping erosion under control is a good thing. 

Steve Davis, 1420 Linson Rd., is the current chairman of the SWCD board, which he has served for 6 years.  He raises registered Angus cattle and had a purebred hog business for 30 years.  He attends the Newport United Methodist Church.

Davis considers improving soil health as the biggest natural resource opportunity.  He has seen reduced soil tilth from when he was a teenager as a result of conventional farming practices today.  No till and cover crops could be a very big factor in saving our soil structure and health. 

Davis would like to continue serving on the board to support positive change and contribute his lifelong experiences in farming and raising livestock

Samuel Yoder, 145 Roberts Mill Rd, London, lives in the same farmhouse as where he grew up.  He attended college in Indiana, where he married his wife, Elise Garber, worked for an equipment dealership and gained experience managing a small farm of his own. 

In 2020, he moved back to Ohio, working for Koenig Equipment as a precision ag specialist. After five years, he left to take up full-time work at the family farm, Yoder Agriculture Company, where he is particularly interested in precision and regenerative agriculture.

His favorite job is being Dad. He has four kids, three of them out of the house. He enjoys taking his few old tractors to events and parades. He is often volunteered to assist his wife’s projects, such as her accessible community garden at the Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities. He is a member of the London Rotary Club. His farm is a member of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce as well as Premium Agricultural Commodities, a co-op of forward-thinking farmers. 

He believes that the greatest challenge and opportunity facing Madison County is the growth and development occurring alongside agriculture. Financial considerations are always important, but true success comes from managing our natural resources in such a way that it creates an environment that we want to live and work in. He believes the SWCD needs to increase its outreach so that our community is fully aware of the many valuable programs available.  Everyone can play an active part in conservation.

If elected, he would provide a unique perspective and an open mind. He has practical experience in NRCS programs like CRP, CREP, and CSP.  He puts his beliefs into action through enthusiasm, respect for business, knowledge of agriculture, and love of nature.

The Plain City Farms Market is every Thursday, from July 9th - Oct. 1st, 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at 101 S. Chillicothe Street, Plain City.  The Plain City Farmers Market offers a selection of fresh produce, baked goods, food trucks, and craft items from local businesses. Madison SWCD will be at Plain City Farmers Market on August 6th and September 17th. Visit with Emma Ryan, Urban Conservationist, and Gail Wilson, Operations Coordinator, to pick up conservation information or have fun with a family-friendly activity. 

The Community Mural Park (CMP) is in full bloom, to the delight of pollinators! Join us at the park on Saturday, August 8th, from 10 AM to 12 PM for a Pollinator Palooza led by the Madison County Master Gardener Volunteers. If you haven’t visited before, the CMP is located at 204 Maple Street in London (behind MATCO Services, along the Roberts Pass Trail).

This free, family-focused event will feature activities such as a sensory table, crafts, a scavenger hunt, bioblitz, and insect education for all ages. Kids who visit each station and complete their passbook will receive a prize! Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy the beauty of a blooming Community Mural Park while discovering the many pollinators that visit.

If you have benefitted from conservation practices on your land, or enjoy going to the Farm Science Review, consider volunteering your time at the Gwynne Conservation Area from September 22nd - 24th.  We need help counting visitors, monitoring amphitheaters, and distributing information. Having volunteers helps organizations such as Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Ohio State Extension reach more landowners interested in conservation.  Please contact Emma Ryan if you have any questions about which positions and time slots remain by calling 740-852-4003 or emailing emma.ryan@oh.nacdnet.net by August 11th.  We hope to see you there!

Madison SWCD, in collaboration with NRCS, will host the annual Local Work Group Meeting on August 19th at 11 a.m. at the Madison County Engineer’s Conference Rm, 825 US HWY 42 NE, London, OH.

Come learn about our shared work, discuss challenges and opportunities related to agriculture and natural resources in the county, and provide input that will help guide our work in the county. Email Gail Wilson at gail.wilson@oh.nacdnet.net if you are interested in attending.

Join Broc Sehen, Wildlife Specialist, on a tour of a restored prairie with discussion about conservation techniques and native wildlife at the Little Darby Scenic Preserve at 5995 Lafayette Plain City Rd., London, on Saturday, September 19th, from 1 - 2 p.m.  For more information, or to rsvp, please contact Broc at broc.sehen@oh.nacdnet.net or call (740) 852-4003.

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the annual Farm Science Review, Ohio's premier agricultural event, to see the latest technology, attend educational sessions and talk directly with experts and exhibitors from September 22nd - 24th. 

During the show, be sure to visit the Gwynne Conservation Area for a variety of programs, displays, and activities focused on agriculture, conservation, and natural resources.  You can reach the Gwynne Conservation Area by taking a shuttle from the main grounds.

There are four “amphitheaters”—tents equipped with chairs—where daily talks will be held. Each talk lasts between 30 minutes and one hour.  You can also find Ohio State Extension staff and other natural resource professionals in the Natural Resources Information Center.

Please visit our website for a schedule. We look forward to welcoming you!

Looking to improve wildlife habitat on your property? The Annual Wildlife Cover Program helps landowners establish seasonal cover that provides food, nesting habitat, and winter protection for pheasants, quail, wild turkeys, pollinators, and other wildlife. In return, eligible participants may receive incentive payments of up to $739 per acre.

The program is available for eligible row-crop fields located within designated Grassland Game Bird Priority Areas. Participants can choose from several planting options using diverse seed mixes that benefit wildlife while also improving soil health and reducing erosion.

If you’re interested in learning whether your property qualifies, contact the Madison Soil & Water Conservation District or your local Ohio Division of Wildlife Management Consultant. Be sure to check the accompanying map to see if your land falls within an eligible priority area. Follow the link for more details.

While Madison SWCD does not endorse any contactors or service providers, our office curates a list of area contractors that may be able to provide assistance with land management projects. If you would like to be added to this list, please contact our office at (740) 852-4003 or email gail.wilson@oh.nacdnet.net.

SWCD Staff

Julia Cumming, Program Administrator

Emma Ryan, Urban Conservationist

Broc Sehen, Wildlife Specialist 

Gail Wilson, Operations Coordinator

NRCS Staff

James Tillman, District Conservationist

Preston Leonard, Soil Conservationist

Je'lon Thomas, Soil Conservationist

Board of Supervisors

Steve Davis, Chairman

Jonathan Francis, Vice Chairman

Bob Hunter, Treasurer

JD Bethel

Nancy Denes-Sparks

8/8 - Pollinator Palooza

8/12 - SWCD Board Meeting

8/19 - Local Workgroup Meeting

9/7 - Labor Day (Office Closed)

9/9 - SWCD Board Meeting

9/10 - Customer Appreciation Day & Supervisor Election

9/19 - Little Darby Preserve Wildlife Hike

9/22 - 9/24 - Farm Science Review

Madison Soil & Water Conservation District

831 U.S. Highway 42 NE

London, Ohio 43140

Phone: (740) 852-4003 opt. 3

www.madisonsoilandwater.com www.facebook.com/madisonswcdohio

Instagram: @madisonsoilandwater

All NRCS/MSWCD programs and services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap. Please contact Gail Wilson at gail.wilson@oh.nacdnet.net if you wish to be put on or removed from our email list.