District Manager’s View

By Rick Woodley

September 2006

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”

I wish I could take credit for the above statement. Before you scan to the end of this article, try to figure out who said this and for extra credit, when it was written.

It seems that all too often, agencies and organizations focus on the “process” and lose sight of the landowner. As I sat at my computer writing this article for the KSWCD newsletter, I began to ask myself several questions. Why am I here? Is it more important for me to stare at my computer or visit with landowners? Is it more important that I fill out endless paperwork or sit on the tailgate of a farm pick-up, or on a porch or on a broken down shop bench and simply visit with our landowners? Will I find out more about their property and conservation needs by listening to them or by relying on information I might find on the “net” or in some outdated book? Should I try to figure out a way to make the program fit the property or make the property fit some program “ideals”? Can it be that wildlife and agriculture can actually benefit each other? Should older but proven methods of conservation be abandoned in favor of new but untried theories? To me these are rhetorical questions, but seemingly they do supply both the public and private sector with countless hours of ineffective time spent trying to “fix what ain’t broke”.

As a former farmer who loves the land and what it can produce, no other vocation could ever replace that feeling of satisfaction gained from working the land. I was given the opportunity late in life to actually work in a profession where wise use of the land is still a priority. Providing technical assistance and common sense to landowners about soil and water conservation is a joy. To have the privilege of representing the KSWCD Board of Directors, who share the common goal of productive agricultural land and abundant fish and wildlife habitat, has filled a portion of the void created by the absence of farming.

The voluntary conservation projects undertaken at considerable personal sacrifice and expense by landowners is remarkable. If working with landowners is not our privilege, then at least it should be our duty to find ways to make local, state and federal programs work for the landowners who ultimately pay our wages.

The KSWCD is dedicated to provide whatever assistance we can offer from our large portfolio of programs, partnerships and plain old common sense and make conservation projects work for landowners. We encourage you to call, e-mail, write or just do the old fashioned thing and visit us, so we can spend time together developing a conservation plan that fits your needs.

Oh, by the way, it was Thomas Jefferson in 1802.