Tim and Sandy Shoemaker of Millstone Creek Farm took home top honors at this years’ Annual Meeting by being named the 2015 Cooperator of the year by the Highland SWCD supervisors and staff. Shoemaker’s were selected due to their devotion to agricultural and the determination to improve soil and water quality throughout their operation. They have installed and utilized various conservation practices over the years. They are a well-respected couple in the agricultural industry and provide an outstanding example of how to incorporate conservation practices that will protect the natural resources of Highland County.
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Sign-Up Now for The Annual
Farm Tour! The Highland County Farm Bureau and the Highland Soil and Water Conservation District invites you to join them for the 3rd Annual Highland County Farm Tour. This year’s event will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 17 with four tour stops planned. Stop 1 – Carr Farms - registration and introductions. After introductions, you will learn how seed is being treated to protect crops and enhance development. We will then load up on the trailers and head to the next stop. There will also be a program on the Ohio Century Farms later in the day. Stop 2 – Nathon and Brooke Montgomery - Tour their solar panels being used to harness the limitless resources that represent a viable and sustainable future. Stop 3 - Nave Farms, – Tour the 22 acre burley tobacco farm and learn about the basic management practices for the float plant system, which offers several advantages over traditional ground beds. Stop 4 – Carraher Ag Farms, Tour the 400,000 bushel grain bin constructed in 2014 and learn technical rope rescue procedures from the Grain Bin Rescue Team. Please note: For safety purposes, children required to ride in car restraints must ride in personal vehicles with car seats and all individuals will be required to sign a waiver to join the tour. Lunch will be provided during the tour. There is no cost for the tour, however, pre-registration is required. Please call the Highland SWCD office at 937-393-1922 ext 3 by the deadline of September 12! Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit www.ofbf.org/counties/highland or www.highlandswcd.com for more details 
SAVE THE DATE!
PLAN TO ATTEND THE HIGHLAND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT’S 74th ANNUAL MEETING & SOCIAL GATHERING ON OCT. 13! 
Ohio Agriculture Director Visits Highland County Farm to Celebrate Ohio Ag Week
(March 16, 2016)- Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels, Highland County Board of Supervisors, Commissioners and other dignitary’s visited Millstone Creek Farm, in Hillsboro as part of Celebrate Ohio Agriculture Week. “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Act which created the state and local soil and water conservation districts,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels. “Highland County boasts the 1st Soil and Water Conservation District in Ohio, which made Millstone Creek Farm a fitting place for our Ohio Ag Week event.” Millstone Creek Farm is owned and operated by Tim and Sandy Shoemaker and Howard Grabill. The farming consists of 190 rolling acres. In 2002, the Ohio Department of Agriculture accepted the donation of the conservation easement from the Millstone Creek Farm to assure the land will remain in agricultural use forever through the Farmland Preservation Program. Millstone Creek Farm utilizes several conservation practices with help from partners at Highland Soil and Water Conservation District, United State Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Services and Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Soil and Water Conservation. Officials from all of these agencies were present during the visit to discuss the importance of the incorporated practices for the benefit of soil health and water quality. A detailed presentation on the conservation practices installed on the Millstone Creek Farm was presented by Highland SWCD Board member Jim Carr, along with an overview of the grazing operations by ODA Program Specialist Rob Hamilton, and the importance of water quality by Jason Bernard, City of Hillsboro Water Treatment Facility. Ohio Agriculture Week is celebrated each March to help educate Ohioans about the importance of the state’s $105 billion food and agriculture industry. This stop was one of many stops Daniels made during Ohio Agriculture Week, March 14-18, to honor local farmers and agribusinesses and the tremendous economic impact they have on the state. |
District Resource Specialist Hired
My name is Megan Scott and I was recently hired as the District Resource Specialist for the Highland Soil and Water Conservation District. I was raised in Highland county, and have been actively involved in my father’s trucking and lime spreading business my whole life. I have been married to my husband Colt for 4 years and we have a daughter, Rylee. We currently live southeast of Hillsboro. I have an associate’s degree in agriculture production, and have previously worked alongside the SWCD when I was a summer intern at the USDA, NRCS. The importance of agriculture has been instilled in me from day one, and I look forward to continuing my passion while working for Highland SWCD. 
2016 Tri- County R.O.W.
Ladies enjoyed a great evening of outdoor tree ID at the 2016 Tri-County Real Outdoor Women (R.O.W.) event held July 21, 2016 at Pike State Forest. Participants learned various ways to ID trees from Service Forester Brad Wireman of the Ohio Division of Forestry. Everyone received a tree ID guide and then proceeded to the forest for a hands on experience outdoors! This event is the third in our 2016 series. The final topic for this year is introduction to fishing which is scheduled to be held on Sept 15. The Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Brown, Adams and Highland counties are excited to present the second year of “Tri-County R.O.W.” Each program will introduce participants to a new outdoor pursuit. “We encourage women to try a new skill, spend an evening with ladies who have similar interests and learn from experts in the field. This is a great opportunity for ladies of all ages who have an interest in outdoor pursuits but may not know where to start.” Pre-registration is required and a fee of $15.00 for each evening provides participants with a light meal and materials used during the event. For more information or to receive a brochure, call the Brown County SWCD office at 937-378-4424, ext. 125. Many partners are working together to make the R.O.W. program a reality. Thanks to the ODNR – Division of Wildlife and Pheasants/Quail Forever for their support. We also appreciate ODNR – Division of Parks, ODNR – Division of Forestry and Chatfield College for assisting with the facility requirements. |
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 937-393-1922 Ext: 3 Located at: 514 Harry Sauner Road Ste. 2 Hillsboro, OH 45133 Due to limited Staff please call ahead to make an appointment |
MISSION STATEMENT
The Highland Soil and Water Conservation District will protect our natural resources while meeting the needs of the citizens of Highland County and will promote the wise use of natural resources through the use of technical and educational assistance with available funds. |
All Highland Soil and Water Conservation District programs and services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.
