Our Mission: To protect the land and water of Defiance County by being an innovative leader, assisting and educating the public to make the best choices for conserving and preserving our natural resources.
2024 Board of Supervisors election
Each year the Defiance Soil and Water Conservation District holds a public election for open positions on the Board of Supervisors. Board member positions are voluntary and elected members serve a three year term commencing January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027. Individuals who own or occupy land within Defiance County and are 18 years of age or older may vote for their choice of Supervisor.
There are 3 ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:
Kyle Weber
Kyle Weber is a farmer and has been a Loan Officer with Farm Credit Mid America for over 10 years. He has been involved with agriculture for over 25 years and farms approximately 200 acres. Kyle and his wife, Danielle, reside in Noble Township and are the parents of four sons. Conservation practices on his farm comprise of buffer strips, cover crops, variable rate fertilizer application and no-till. Kyle is a Noble Township Trustee, Treasurer of Defiance Optimist Club, board member of Defiance County Economic Development, and a member of Defiance County Farm Bureau. He is currently Fiscal Agent of the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District and is in his second, three-year term.
Roger Zeedyk IV
Roger Zeedyk IV is a full-time farmer along with owning and operating a custom manure application business. He has always been involved with agriculture and farms approximately 1,700 acres. Roger and his wife, Tracy, reside in Mark Township and are the parents of two sons. Conservation practices on his farm comprise of filter strips, drainage water management structures, variable rate fertilizer application and no-till. He is a member of St. John Lutheran Church, and Defiance County Farm Bureau. Roger has also served as a past board member with Hicksville Grain and Central Local Schools. He is currently Chairperson of the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District and is in his third, three-year term.
There are 3 ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:
- At the SWCD office, 06879 Evansport Road, from 8/13/2024 until 9/11/2024 during normal business hours; or
- At the Crop & Conservation Field Day, which will take place at 06879 Evansport Road on 9/11/2024 from 4:00pm - 8:00pm; voting time is 5:00pm - 6:30pm, or
- Voting absentee from 8/13/2024 until 9/11/2024, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the SWCD office at the following address 06879 Evansport Road, Defiance, OH, by calling 419-782-1794, or email [email protected]. Absentee ballots must be received by the SWCD office by 9/11/2024 at 12:00pm.
Kyle Weber
Kyle Weber is a farmer and has been a Loan Officer with Farm Credit Mid America for over 10 years. He has been involved with agriculture for over 25 years and farms approximately 200 acres. Kyle and his wife, Danielle, reside in Noble Township and are the parents of four sons. Conservation practices on his farm comprise of buffer strips, cover crops, variable rate fertilizer application and no-till. Kyle is a Noble Township Trustee, Treasurer of Defiance Optimist Club, board member of Defiance County Economic Development, and a member of Defiance County Farm Bureau. He is currently Fiscal Agent of the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District and is in his second, three-year term.
Roger Zeedyk IV
Roger Zeedyk IV is a full-time farmer along with owning and operating a custom manure application business. He has always been involved with agriculture and farms approximately 1,700 acres. Roger and his wife, Tracy, reside in Mark Township and are the parents of two sons. Conservation practices on his farm comprise of filter strips, drainage water management structures, variable rate fertilizer application and no-till. He is a member of St. John Lutheran Church, and Defiance County Farm Bureau. Roger has also served as a past board member with Hicksville Grain and Central Local Schools. He is currently Chairperson of the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District and is in his third, three-year term.
now accepting online orders
We are happy to present online ordering/pay with credit/debit card or e-check. There is a service fee associated with using online pay.
The link below can be used to order trees, fish, hockey tickets and 75th anniversary clothing. Sales tax is automatically charged with this link. The office will need to process your order if you are tax exempt. Check this out and call our office with any issues.
Pay Your Defiance County Soil & Water Conservation District, OH Bill Online - Defiance County Soil & Water Conservation District, OH Online Payments (municipay.com)
The link below can be used to order trees, fish, hockey tickets and 75th anniversary clothing. Sales tax is automatically charged with this link. The office will need to process your order if you are tax exempt. Check this out and call our office with any issues.
Pay Your Defiance County Soil & Water Conservation District, OH Bill Online - Defiance County Soil & Water Conservation District, OH Online Payments (municipay.com)
We have some exciting news to share...
the defiance swcd is turning 75!
The Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District will be celebrating 75 years of existence in 2024. We would like to share some of our history and what we do at our office as a service to our community.
Soil Conservation began as a response to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The Dust Bowl was named as a result of years of drought and farmers exposing bare, over-plowed farmland in the West. Without deep-rooted prairie grass to hold the soil in place, it began to blow away. Eroding soil led to massive dust storms and economic devastation. This series of events prompted Congress to create the Soil Conservation Service. The first recognized Soil Conservation District was created by Hugh Hammond Bennett, father of soil conservation.
On November 22, 1948 a petition was filed to create the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District. On December 21, 1948 a public hearing was held where a delegation of 8 approved to hold a referendum in the county to create the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District in all townships including all cities, towns or villages incorporated as shown by county maps and plat books in Defiance County. The Defiance SWCD was established on March 10, 1949 after a final vote with 207 in-favor and 44 against. A supervisor election took place on June 8, 1949 that elected Elmer Koerner-President, Ray Benner-Vice President, Ira Beerbower-Secretary and Treasurer, Christ Elser and Pierre Case.
1971 - District started to provide soil evaluations for on-site sewage disposal systems at the request of the Department of Health.
1980 - Grant from USEPA was accepted in order to place the county in the forefront of conservation tillage and water quality issues.
1983 - Low cost windbreak plantings with District personnel doing the planting was offered to the county residents at 8 cents per foot.
1983 - No-till wheat was planted using the District’s no-till drill. A rainulator research project was completed studying the effects of residue on erosion on heavy clay soils.
1986 - The tree packet program began and offered 18 different packets with 16 different varieties with over 20,000 trees sold.
1989 - The Defiance County Commissioners and the Defiance County Engineer entered into an agreement with the Board of Supervisors to manage and operate the Defiance County Ditch Maintenance Program as required by Ohio Revised Code.
1999 - The SWCD office relocated to its current location
1999 - Defiance-Williams Joint Ditch project received $1 million from the ODNR for the joint flood control watershed project.
2001 - 78 acres was donated from Nancy Jo Penney for educational purposes
2005 - All 11 zoned townships requested assistance from the SWCD for site reviews and comprehensive plans. Each township paid $1,000 annually to the SWCD for this service.
2008 - The SWCD Board and Staff members, Ditch Maintenance staff members and NRCS staff members were awarded the OFSWCD President’s Award at the Winter Supervisor’s meeting in Columbus proclaiming them an outstanding conservation team.
2009 - The Penney Nature Center was opened to the public in mid June. Walking trails, picnic tables, shelter house and portable toilets are available for anyone wanting to spend some time outdoors enjoying nature.
2016 - Hosted first annual Penney Nature Center Kids Summer Camp.
2020 - A new water quality initiative began called H2Ohio for the Western Lake Erie Basin with 49,613 acres signed up in Defiance County.
2022 - Defiance County Commissioners receive an ODNR Grant for enhancement to the Penney Nature Center.
2024 - The District celebrates 75 years!
Soil Conservation began as a response to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The Dust Bowl was named as a result of years of drought and farmers exposing bare, over-plowed farmland in the West. Without deep-rooted prairie grass to hold the soil in place, it began to blow away. Eroding soil led to massive dust storms and economic devastation. This series of events prompted Congress to create the Soil Conservation Service. The first recognized Soil Conservation District was created by Hugh Hammond Bennett, father of soil conservation.
On November 22, 1948 a petition was filed to create the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District. On December 21, 1948 a public hearing was held where a delegation of 8 approved to hold a referendum in the county to create the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District in all townships including all cities, towns or villages incorporated as shown by county maps and plat books in Defiance County. The Defiance SWCD was established on March 10, 1949 after a final vote with 207 in-favor and 44 against. A supervisor election took place on June 8, 1949 that elected Elmer Koerner-President, Ray Benner-Vice President, Ira Beerbower-Secretary and Treasurer, Christ Elser and Pierre Case.
1971 - District started to provide soil evaluations for on-site sewage disposal systems at the request of the Department of Health.
1980 - Grant from USEPA was accepted in order to place the county in the forefront of conservation tillage and water quality issues.
1983 - Low cost windbreak plantings with District personnel doing the planting was offered to the county residents at 8 cents per foot.
1983 - No-till wheat was planted using the District’s no-till drill. A rainulator research project was completed studying the effects of residue on erosion on heavy clay soils.
1986 - The tree packet program began and offered 18 different packets with 16 different varieties with over 20,000 trees sold.
1989 - The Defiance County Commissioners and the Defiance County Engineer entered into an agreement with the Board of Supervisors to manage and operate the Defiance County Ditch Maintenance Program as required by Ohio Revised Code.
1999 - The SWCD office relocated to its current location
1999 - Defiance-Williams Joint Ditch project received $1 million from the ODNR for the joint flood control watershed project.
2001 - 78 acres was donated from Nancy Jo Penney for educational purposes
2005 - All 11 zoned townships requested assistance from the SWCD for site reviews and comprehensive plans. Each township paid $1,000 annually to the SWCD for this service.
2008 - The SWCD Board and Staff members, Ditch Maintenance staff members and NRCS staff members were awarded the OFSWCD President’s Award at the Winter Supervisor’s meeting in Columbus proclaiming them an outstanding conservation team.
2009 - The Penney Nature Center was opened to the public in mid June. Walking trails, picnic tables, shelter house and portable toilets are available for anyone wanting to spend some time outdoors enjoying nature.
2016 - Hosted first annual Penney Nature Center Kids Summer Camp.
2020 - A new water quality initiative began called H2Ohio for the Western Lake Erie Basin with 49,613 acres signed up in Defiance County.
2022 - Defiance County Commissioners receive an ODNR Grant for enhancement to the Penney Nature Center.
2024 - The District celebrates 75 years!
