By Kevin Allison, Soil Health Specialist
The Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District is the proud recipient of the Purdue Extension – Marion County 2025 Friend of Extension Award. Presented at the PEMC Annual Meeting in September, this award recognizes a partner who unwaveringly helps extension progress their mission of providing practical solutions to local issues.
On my first day with the Marion County SWCD in 2015, I walked into the Purdue Extension office to introduce myself and begin to explore how we could best work together. Extension and SWCDs have similar goals to serve the community with science-based education. Within the first month, Purdue Extension invited me to speak at the Master Gardener Spring Garden Clinic as well as a community garden forum. Since then, I’ve given over 50 presentations in coordination with Purdue Extension, from guest lectures at urban ag courses to farm tours, pollinator workshops, and even nutrition programs that link healthy gardening to healthy people. I can’t begin to count how many additional educational opportunities came as a result of engaging with Purdue’s community network.
I’ve developed conservation tools and calculators with council from Purdue University professors, hosted Purdue interns at garden, engaged with the Indiana Small Farms Conference, taught Junior Master Gardeners, and have met regularly with extension’s statewide urban ag coordinator to develop the vision for our agencies’ impacts on urban ag. I’ve enjoyed teaching and learning from numerous Purdue Extension master gardeners throughout the years, and I appreciate being on the PEMC urban agriculture advisory committee. I could go on, and that is just our soil health program. Our SWCD has also engaged with Purdue Extension on raingardens, native plants, and so much more.
I grew up in 4-H, meeting regularly with my club, and digging into projects such as forestry, fine arts, woodworking, showing cattle, and yes, soil and water conservation. The 4-H extension program was an important part of my life, so now being able to partner with Purdue professionally feels like both giving back and pushing forward.
I’m excited to continue our partnership into the future. The next stop is the 2026 Purdue Extension – Marion County Spring Garden Clinic, where I’ll be teaching master gardeners and attendees about nutrient management. I hope to see you there!
Thank you to Purdue Extension – Marion County for awarding the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District the 2025 Friend of Extension Award. We are greatly appreciative!
