News

Farmers awarded for conservation work at 2025 Indiana State Fair

Fifty-three farmers were recognized for their contributions to conservation during this year’s Indiana State Fair.

Fountain County farmer Dan Hesler was recently named a River Friendly Farmer Award winner.

“We border the north part of Shade State Park,” he says. “Sugar Creek is right in my backyard, which ultimately feeds into the Wabash River. We’ve really tried to be very conscientious about how we take care of and steward the land, especially in regard to the watersheds there. There’s woodlands, there’s CRP, pollinators that we’re doing now, and some filter strips.”

Marc Roberts, IASWCD president, says farmers continue to implement new conservation practices to better water quality. 

“There’s a lot of rivers and waterways in Indiana, with a lot of lakes in the northern part of the state,” he says. “I think most of our goals as conservationists is to leave things better than how we found it.”

Since 1999, the organization has recognized farmers using conservation practices to keep Indiana’s rivers, lakes, and streams clean. 

AUDIO: Dan Hesler

AUDIO: Marc Roberts, IASWCD