The Miami County Conservation District is a political subdivision of state government, established in 1946 and charged with the conservation of the natural resources of Miami County. Our primary operating funds are provided exclusively through county ad-valorem tax funds, as appropriated through the Miami County Commissioners; and Kansas Water Plan funds, as outlined in K.S.A. 2-1907C. The partnership we have with the Miami County Board of Commissioners is invaluable and allows us to provide our many services and programs to residents of Miami County.
The Conservation District has a governing body of five board of supervisors, who are elected by local landowners and serve three year terms. They share their experience and knowledge of community needs to guide the district in setting goals and priorities for carrying out resource conservation programs. The Miami County Conservation District Board meets on the second Tuesday of each month, where they establish local priorities, set policy, and administer non-regulatory conservation programs. The Supervisors are not paid, rather they are simply volunteers who dedicate their time to the many special events that the District sponsors and to the protection of our natural resources.
An annual meeting is held each year in February, and is open to the public in order to provide full disclosure of district activities, accomplishments and financial affairs, as well as hold a public election of supervisors whose terms have expired. The annual meeting is also an opportunity to promote conservation ethics, make community contacts, obtain feedback and suggestions from the community, present awards, and publicize the district’s programs and services to our friends of conservation throughout Miami County.
Conservation is so much more than the Farm Bill. We have come to realize how interconnected our resources are:
2024 Board of Supervisors include: Conservation District Staff:
Chairman, Lyle Wobker District Manager, Melanie Brungardt
Vice Chairman, Mike Guetterman Hillsdale WRAPS Coordinator, Kaitlin Knauss
Treasurer, Carl Schroeder Urban Ag Specialist, Sharon Autry
Member, Nina Danner Education Coordinator, Suzie Atkins
Member, Audrey Morris Soil Conservation Technician, Hailey Johnston
The Conservation District has a governing body of five board of supervisors, who are elected by local landowners and serve three year terms. They share their experience and knowledge of community needs to guide the district in setting goals and priorities for carrying out resource conservation programs. The Miami County Conservation District Board meets on the second Tuesday of each month, where they establish local priorities, set policy, and administer non-regulatory conservation programs. The Supervisors are not paid, rather they are simply volunteers who dedicate their time to the many special events that the District sponsors and to the protection of our natural resources.
An annual meeting is held each year in February, and is open to the public in order to provide full disclosure of district activities, accomplishments and financial affairs, as well as hold a public election of supervisors whose terms have expired. The annual meeting is also an opportunity to promote conservation ethics, make community contacts, obtain feedback and suggestions from the community, present awards, and publicize the district’s programs and services to our friends of conservation throughout Miami County.
Conservation is so much more than the Farm Bill. We have come to realize how interconnected our resources are:
- Soil health impacts crop inputs, which impacts pollinator food sources, which impact fruit and vegetable crops that we all need to eat.
- Tillage practices impact soil loss, which contributes to nutrient loading and loss of storage capacity in the lake that we need as a drinking water source.
- Streamside (riparian) forest cover slows runoff and intercepts rainfall, reducing velocity of storm water that enters our stream systems, slowing bed degradation and bank erosion.
- Type of vegetation in field buffers impacts the species of insects that live there, which impacts the existence of wildlife such as quail and other birds.
- We are here to help you address any and all resource concerns on your land to help create a better tomorrow for all Miami County.
2024 Board of Supervisors include: Conservation District Staff:
Chairman, Lyle Wobker District Manager, Melanie Brungardt
Vice Chairman, Mike Guetterman Hillsdale WRAPS Coordinator, Kaitlin Knauss
Treasurer, Carl Schroeder Urban Ag Specialist, Sharon Autry
Member, Nina Danner Education Coordinator, Suzie Atkins
Member, Audrey Morris Soil Conservation Technician, Hailey Johnston