Soil and Water Conservation Districts Share Annual Update

Posted January 22, 2026
Posted by Board of Supervisors and Public Relations

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors received an annual review this week of education and outreach efforts conducted through the county’s long-standing partnership with the East and West Pottawattamie County Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). 

The presentation was led by Laura Monson, County Education Coordinator for both districts, alongside Pete Hobson, Commissioner for East Pottawattamie County Soil and Water Conservation, and Laura Ferguson, District Conservationist for West Pottawattamie County. Representatives from both district boards were also in attendance. 

A version of the county’s conservation education program has existed for more than 30 years. Over the past four years, thanks to the 28E partnership with Pottawattamie County and both SWCD boards, the full-time Education Coordinator position has allowed for expanded programming and consistent delivery across the county. 

Monson shared that her role focuses on youth education and public outreach centered on conservation and agriculture, with the goal of sparking curiosity and long-term stewardship among Pottawattamie County residents, starting at a young age. 

During the past year, conservation education programs reached 1,496 students through in-class lessons alone, with an additional 250 students participating through field days, camps, and community-based programs. District leaders also noted that 481 students were new participants this year, and nearly 100 more lessons were delivered compared to the previous year, demonstrating continued growth and demand. 

Programs were delivered in schools across both districts, including AHSTW, Riverside, Tri-Center, Treynor, Underwood, Titan Hill, Longfellow Elementary, and additional Council Bluffs-area schools. Lessons are tailored to align with classroom curriculum and emphasize real-world connections to soil health, agriculture, conservation, native wildlife, and pollinators. 

In addition to classroom instruction, students participated in hands-on learning experiences through STEM festivals, after-school programming, and outdoor field days. Highlights included: 

• STEM Fest soil science stations, where students learned about soil formation and soil horizons 

• The Conservation Superheroes Club, an after-school program for third through fifth graders 

• Participation in the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) Poster Contest, where two Pottawattamie County students earned first-place finishes at the regional level in 2025 

• Multiple field days at Botna Bend Park, including fifth-grade conservation field days and the “Trees for Threes” program, which provides students with native Iowa trees to plant at home 

Students also engaged in programs such as School of the Wild, soil judging practice events for high school students across Southwest Iowa, and Kids Day at Karstens Farms. 

Education and outreach continue throughout the summer months through partnerships with Pottawattamie County Conservation, including multi-day camps at Botna Bend Park. Additional outreach efforts included booths at both the East and West Pottawattamie County fairs, conservation programming through the Riverside Child Development Program, and adult education initiatives. 

Community-focused efforts included a Women Landowners meeting at Hitchcock Nature Center, monthly winter meetings with the South West Iowa Soil Health (SWISH) group, and participation in the Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference, which highlighted soil health, land stewardship, and agricultural sustainability. 

Supervisors and district representatives praised the program’s impact and continued expansion, particularly noting the growth of education efforts in West Pottawattamie County schools, where many programs were built from the ground up in recent years. 

With summer programs underway and additional lessons already being scheduled for the upcoming school year, soil and water conservation education efforts in Pottawattamie County remain active year-round. 

Photos courtesy of the East and West Pottawattamie County Soil and Water Conesrvation Districts.