Seneca Conservation District

09/01/2026

The Ohio Soybean Council is helping Ohio fire departments transition to safer, more sustainable firefighting products through its Soy-Based Firefighting Foam Reimbursement Program. Eligible departments can receive 50% reimbursement, up to $1,000, toward the purchase of SoyFoam™ TF-1122, a PFAS-fre...

08/31/2026

Our team is bidding a fond farewell to Bret Margraf, who is retiring today after 26 years at Seneca Conservation District.

Over the years, Bret has worked as a ditch maintenance technician, Honey Creek grant coordinator, cover crop and no-till conservation coordinator, business manager and nutrient management technician.

His favorite parts of working at Seneca Conservation District have been cover crop meetings with farmers and seeing farmers engage in conservation practices.

Bret plans to continue farming and will start looking for another job after harvest. He and his family farm 1,300 acres in Seneca, Hancock and Wyandot counties and have about 50 cattle. He uses most all conservation practices on his farm.

Bret says he will get to see a little more of his wife, Beth. Beth and Bret have four children and one granddaughter.

We are grateful for Bret’s dedicated service to conservation efforts in Seneca County and beyond and will miss his passion and expertise around the office.

08/28/2026

Pollinator Partnership, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is conducting a survey to learn about Midwest growers’ preferences for on-farm conservation programs.

The community can help improve the value of conservation programs for Midwestern farmers by taking the Midwest farm conservation survey. Partners want to hear from those who are familiar with or have participated in the CRP program or other Farm Bill programs.

To qualify for the survey, participants must currently own and/or manage farmland in one of the following states: Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan or Ohio. They are asked to complete the survey in one sitting and take the survey only once. It takes about 15 minutes to complete.

Participation is voluntary and will make a difference for the Midwest’s leadership in agriculture. Responses will not identify people individually as results will be aggregated and anonymized.

Take the survey here:

https://form.jotform.com/261315779919067

08/28/2026

Thank you so much, Tiffin Kiwanis Club. We are grateful for your partnership.

The featured speakers the August 27, 2026, meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Tiffin. were Morgan Metzger and Jill Gosche from the Seneca Conservation District.

Metzger said that each of the 88 counties in Ohio have a soil conservation district and Seneca County's is one of the largest. The district is governed by a board of supervisors consisting of five members. Its mission is to conserve our resources, to educate and inspire our community, and to create our future of science-based, intentional choices on the farms, in the homes, and in the schools of Seneca County. Its vision is "Seneca County, where good choices make a great place to live, farm and grow a family."

The office for the Seneca Conservation District is located at 3140 South State Route 100, Tiffin. The district owns Proving Ground Farm, which contains 120 acres at 5670 E. Township Road 138 in Adams Township. It is a functioning farm with livestock, ponds, wetlands and 59 acres of cropland. The farm is open to the public during daylight hours for hiking, fishing, walking your dog, and more and hosts events to help local farmers, school children, and homeowners learn more about the natural resources surrounding us. The farm also hosts a farm preschool story time at 10:00am on the first Wednesday of each month. The farm is closed four times a year for hunting. Each year it hosts "Fun on the Farm" two times. The next one is scheduled for October 10 from 9:00am to 12:00 noon and is structured as an open house.

Event space is available for such things as parties and reunions. The Activities Building accommodates 20 to 25 in a heated meeting room and a larger unheated room accommodates as many as 60 people with 10 eight-foot tables and chairs. There is also a picnic shelter with six picnic tables that can hold about 40 people. There is a small rental fee for use of each of the facilities, however, community clubs, civic organizations and non-profits can use the facilities at no cost.

08/27/2026

Thank you so much to Riehm Produce Farm, LLC. for including our informational flyers in your upcoming tour materials. We are grateful for your partnership and the opportunity to share information about our mission.

Information about the tour may be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/2098899514392350/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

08/27/2026

Our next Down on the Farm story time is 10 a.m. Wednesday at Proving Ground Farm. We have all sorts of fun planned around the book "How to Catch a Class Pet" and can't wait to see everyone.

08/27/2026

Our deepest appreciation to Tiffin Kiwanis Club for hosting District Administrator Morgan Metzger and Outreach Coordinator Jill Gosche today. Our team is grateful for the Kiwanis Club's impact on our community and for the opportunity to share our mission, programs and services.

08/27/2026

As you prepare for a new school year, consider giving your students an opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom. 🌎🌿

Envirothon connects high school students with real-world conservation challenges through hands-on learning and friendly competition. It’s a chance to spark curiosity, build confidence, and introduce students to careers in natural resources while helping them develop skills they’ll carry with them long after graduation.

Interested in starting your own Envirothon team? Your first step is to contact your state/provinces representative. They can provide the information you need to start a team in your area!

https://bit.ly/4bvcr1w

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

Facing drought in Ohio? Discover how planting cover crops and using no-till after your wheat harvest can build soil resilience and emergency feed.