DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today welcomed Jean Eells, PhD of Webster City, James “Kelly” Tobin of New Market and Sherman Lundy of Cedar Falls to the State Soil Conservation Committee. Eells, Tobin and Lundy were appointed by Governor Culver to six-year terms commencing May 1, 2009 and ending April 30, 2015.
“These members will help the State Soil Conservation Committee in their efforts to continue to provide leadership and guidance to Iowa’s soil conservation and water quality improvement efforts,” Northey said. “As a former Dickinson County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner, I understand the import role the state soil conservation committee plays in promoting conservation.”
The state soil conservation committee is made of eleven members, which includes nine members appointed to staggered terms by the Governor, and two ex-officio non-voting members.
Of the nine members, six are farmers from different geographical regions of the state, one represents cities and towns, one serves on behalf of the mining industry, and one member is a tree farmer.
Ex Officio members are the Director of the Iowa DNR and the Dean of Extension at Iowa State University. Representatives of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Districts of Iowa, and the Iowa Association of County Engineers serve as advisors to the Committee as well.
Eells, was reappointed and will continue in her position as the north-central Iowa farmer representative. Eells is also a district commissioner, has farming interests and currently serves as an educational consultant.
Tobin was also reappointed and will continue to serve as the south-west Iowa farmer representative. Tobin is a district commissioner, farmer and farm realtor.
Lundy has been appointed to represent the Mines and Minerals industry. Lundy works for BMC Aggregates.
The State Soil Conservation Committee was created in 1939 as part of the Iowa Conservation Districts Law, establishing Iowa’s 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The board serves as a policy making board to the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Division of Soil Conservation, and makes budget recommendations annually.
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