The Conservation Spotlight is a radio segment shining light on partnerships and programs for natural resources that airs on the third Wednesday of every month at 8 AM as part of the weekly Willamette Wake Up radio program on KMUZ 100.7 and 88.5 FM. Marion SWCD shares the Spotlight with Polk SWCD.
On this episode of Conservation Spotlight, we talk with Kevin Porter, District Manager of Polk SWCD, and Mike Wilson, Chair of the Board, about the role of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and what makes Polk County unique. Kevin shares highlights from the District’s new Strategic Plan and community input process, while Mike discusses Board leadership, and how listeners can get involved.
04/20/2026 – Polk SWCD Strategic Plan and Board Leadership
- 03/18/2026 – City of Salem EAB Management
- 02/18/2026 – Institute for Applied Ecology: Partnerships and Funding
- 01/21/2026 – Wild Farm Alliance: Farmland Flyways
- 12/17/2025 – Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s Native Plant Nursery (Polk SWCD)
- 11/19/2025 – Oregon Maple Project (Marion SWCD)
- 10/15/2025 – Elderberry Wisdom Farm (Polk SWCD)
- 09/17/2025 – Silverton’s Oak Tree Preservation (Marion SWCD)
- 08/20/2025 – Mid-Willamette BIPOC Farmers Co-op and Cultural Harvest Collective (Polk SWCD)
- 07/16/2025 – Meet the Farmer! Andrea Sonnen, Sonnen Farms (Marion SWCD)
- 06/18/2025 – Invasive Species of the Willamette Valley (Polk SWCD)
- 05/21/2025 – Meet the Farmers! Steenson Hazelnut Orchard (Marion SWCD)
- 04/16/2025 – Talk with the staff of the Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC). (Polk SWCD)
- 03/19/2025 – Meet the Farmer! Amanda Stevens with Nottinghamshire Farms (Marion SWCD)
- 02/19/2025 – Kait Crowley, Farmer Training Program Manager, Rogue Farm Corps (Polk SWCD)
- 01/15/2025 – Oregon Department of Ag Programs (Marion SWCD)
- 12/18/2024 Lorelle Sherman on Woodland Owner Support and EAB (Polk SWCD)
- 11/20/2024 North Santiam Watershed Council (Marion SWCD)
- 10/16/2024 Oregon Agricultural Trust (Polk SWCD)
- 09/18/2024 Travis Williams, Willamette River Preservation Trust (Marion SWCD)
- 08/21/2024 Glenn Gibson Watershed Council (Polk SWCD)
- 07/17/2024 Rachel Kato, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (Marion SWCD)
- 06/20/2024 Kassondra Keller, Oregon State Fire Marshal (Polk SWCD)
- 05/15/2024 Salem Harvest, Elise Bauman (Marion SWCD)
- 04/17/2024 City Nature Challenge in Salem (Polk SWCD)
- 03/20/2024 Project Beaver’s Jakob Shockey (Marion SWCD)
- 02/21/2024 OSU Extension Small Farms’ Todd Anderson (OSU Ext. Small Farms)
- 01/17/2024 Friends of Trees: Winnie Kong & Kaitie Benedek (Polk SWCD)
- 12/20/2023 Rikki Heath: Environmental Education with OFRI (Marion SWCD)
- 11/15/2023 Growing Olives in Oregon, Heather Stoven (OSU Ext. Small Farms)
- 10/18/2023 Celebrating Birds, Harry Fuller (Polk SWCD)
- 09/20/2023 The Marion SWCD Planner Team (Marion SWCD)
- 08/16/2023 Livestock Smoke Exposure, Dr. Jenifer Cruickshank (OSU Ext. Small Farms)
- 07/19/2023 Benefits of Fire Management, Joe Scott (Polk SWCD)
- 06/21/2023 Growing Oaks at Willamette University (Marion SWCD)
- 05/17/2023 Jeff Wyant: Open Table Farms in Salem (OSU Ext. Small Farms)
- 04/19/2023 Sam Bartling: Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Polk SWCD)
- 03/15/2023 Heath Keirstead: Conservation is for Everyone with Marion SWCD (Marion SWCD)
- 02/15/2023 Morgan Neil: What Outreach Looks Like at Polk SWCD (Polk SWCD)
- 01/18/2023 Hayley White: OSU Extension Service Small Farms Program (OSU Ext. Small Farms)
- 12/21/2022 Growing Christmas Trees in the Mid-Valley, Casey Grogan (Marion SWCD)
- 11/16/2022 Friends of Family Farmers, Alice Morrison (OSU Ext. Small Farms)
- 10/19/2022 Emerald Ash Borer, Wyatt Williams (Polk SWCD)
- 09/21/2022 Labor Day 2020 Fire & Forest Regeneration, Shawn Rivera (Marion SWCD)
- 08/17/2022 Agritourism Helps Farmers in the Mid-Valley, Audrey Comerford (OSU Ext. Small Farms)
- 07/20/2022 Grand Ronde Tribal Land Management, Lindsay McClary (Polk SWCD)
- 06/15/2022 Sustainable Landscaping, Owen Dell (Marion SWCD)
- 05/18/2022 Marion Polk Food Share Youth Farm (OSU Ext. Small Farms)
- 04/20/2022 How Polk Soil & Water Conservation District Works (Polk SWCD)
- 03/16/2022 Oregon Bees, Andony Melathopoulos, OSU Extension Service (Marion SWCD)
- 02/16/2022 Elderberry Wisdom Farm and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Rose High Bear (OSU Small Farms)
- 01/19/2022 Importance of Soil, Sue Reams, Natural Resources Conservation Service (Polk SWCD)
- 12/15/2021 Journey to Organic Farming at Nottinghamshire Farm, Amanda Stevens and Farewell Reflections from Jenny Ammon, Marion SWCD
- 11/17/2021 Co-creating a Regenerative Post-Capitalism Community with Dr. Chong Kee Tan
- 10/20/2021 A Passion for Conservation, Amy Boyd, Marion SWCD
- 09/15/2021 Dry Farming, Amy Garrett OSU Extension
- 08/18/2021 Meet Conservation Power House Kassi Roosth
- 07/21/2021 Mark Akimoff and his new role as Conservation Planner, Marion SWCD
- 06/16/2021 Anna Rankin w/ Pudding River Watershed Council
- 05/19/2021 Focus on Invasive Weeds w/ with Joel Price, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture
- 04/21/2021 Partnership with City of Keizer
- 03/17/2021 Tree & Debris Removal after Ice Storm
- 02/17/2021 A look at the Marion Soil & Water Conservation District
The Marion SWCD is an equal opportunity employer, providing services to the public without regard to race, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, mental or physical disability, marital status, age or other protected status or activity in accordance with applicable law. Call 48 hours in advance to request assistance.