Directors from local Soil & Water Conservation Districts joined the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts plus supporters from the Illinois Soybean Association, University of Illinois Extension, American Farmland Trust, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, the Illinois Environmental Council, and others for Loyal to the Soil Outreach and Education Day Tuesday May 8, 2024, at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.
As a follow up, district directors and other supporters are asked to email your Illinois state senator and house members asking they support fully reinstating and even elevating SWCD funding to $10.5 million in the FY 25 budget. See the one-pager given to legislators. Get contact information at
Senate: https://www.ilga.gov/senate/
House: https://www.ilga.gov/house/
Draft Email:
Dear (Elected Official’s name):
As a constituent of your district and (Director of County Soil and Water Conservation District or your affiliation), I write to ask that you support reinstating full funding and even elevating the state’s annual appropriations to the Partners for Conservation Program’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts grants to the sum of $10.5 million in the FY25 budget.
This important measure will ensure that our front-line Soil and Water Conservation District boots-on-the-ground staff are able to provide the continued legacy of service that our state’s agricultural producers and communities have come to depend on. Bottom line, we cannot neglect the need for readily available, effective, and professional conservation technical assistance if we expect farmers and communities to be full partners in the successful defense of our states most vital natural resources: Soil and Water.
I strongly support this increased fiscal investment and ask that you showcase your influence to advance the funding needed for your local Soil and Water Conservation District.
Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to your response.
Cordially requested,
Shelly Seman of the Sangamon SWCD models her Loyal to the Soil Advocacy in Action Day t-shirt outside the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. Thanks to the Illinois Soybean Association for their support.
State Sen. Tom Bennett with Megan Henderson of Massac SWCD, Marilyn Thompson of Perry SWCD, Cindy Zipfel of Monroe SWCD, Cheryl Houghlan of Randolph SWCD, Bethany Ingram of Jackson SWCD, and Tom Beyers of Marion SWCD (and AISWCD board president).
Loyal to the Soil pins made by Illinois Soybean Association.
Dick Lyons and Melissa Cable of Montgomery SWCD talk to Legislative Assistants Sarah Herring (Sen. Mary Edly-Allen’s office) and Ben Anderson (Sen. Paul Faraci’s office) during Loyal to the Soil Advocacy in Action Day.
(From left) Andrew Larson and Randy Moltioris of DeWitt SWCD, Bruce Davis of Menard SWCD, Shelly Seman of Sangamon SWCD, and Sue Davis of Christian SWCD in the halls of the Stratton Building after visiting legislators.
Illinois State Sen. Laura Ellman meets with Michael Woods, executive director of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, during Loyal to the Soil Advocacy in Action Day.
State Rep. Jason Bunting with his father Lee Bunting of the Livingston SWCD, Tara Hopkins of Edgar SWCD, and Sue Davis of Christian SWCD, at Boone’s Saloon to cap off Loyal to the Soil Advocacy in Action Day.
Illinois State Sen. Patrick Joyce with Dale Shumaker of Pulaski-Alexander SWCD (left) and Cliff Schuette of Clinton SWCD (right) in the Stratton Building.
Bruce Yingling of Brown SWCD, and Tim Murphy, Michelle Berry, and Rex Johnson of Hancock SWCD in the Stratton Building after meeting legislators during Loyal to the Soil Advocacy in Action Day.
Maggie Soliz of Kane-DuPage SWCD, Dean Farr of McHenry-Lake SWCD, and Rick McAndless North Cook SWCD in the Stratton Building.
Megan Henderson of the Massac SWCD talks to Michael Woods, executive director Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, in the capitol building.
State Sen. Donald DeWitte meets with (clockwise from left) Beth Koester of Effingham SWCD, Brenda Salyers of Cumberland SWCD, Tara Hopkins of Edgar SWCD, Becky Taylor and Lee Bunting of Livingston SWCD, and Ashley Curran of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts during Loyal to the Soil Advocacy in Action Day.
Michael Woods executive director Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Kris Reynolds of the American Farmland Trust, and Corey Lacey of the Illinois Soybean Association prepare SWCD advocates for Loyal to the Soil Advocacy in Action Day.
Tom Beyers, president of the board of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts and with the Marion SWCD, gets interviewed by Stu Ellis of S2LS Ag Communications at the Illinois State Museum.
