INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s recent list of appointments to the State Soil Conservation Board (SSCB) included a familiar name – Jane Hardisty, who retired in 2018 after 17 years as Indiana State Conservationist.

The governor also reappointed two members to the board – Amy Burris, a farmer at Burris Family Farms, and Martin Chattin, president of Chattin Brothers, Inc. The appointments were announced June 8. The three will serve until Dec. 31, 2026.

The seven-member board provides policy and funding direction to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s Division of Soil Conservation (DSC) on the administration of the Clean Water Indiana (CWI) program.

At the time of her retirement as head of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Hardisty told Farm World she had no specific plans other than she eventually hoped to do some traveling.

“But the good Lord had other plans for me,” she explained recently. “I have retired back on our family farm. So as my parents aged, care giving needs increased. I lost my dad two years ago and my 93-year-old mother is still living on the farm, which is close to my home.

“Most of my time is taking care of my mom and taking care of our 200-acre farm. I enjoy making conservation improvements on the farm. I help our tenant as needed. I am an excellent go-fer. I truly enjoy landscaping around both houses, and gardening. Travel plans will happen, but right now I am so blessed to spend time with my mom and listen to her memories and take care of her the best that I can.”

Hardisty said she hopes to use some of her experience as state conservationist in her new role. She said she understands the value of partnerships and the results of working together. She noted she knows the conservation needs of the state and ways to address those needs.

“I understand the legislative process and its support to Clean Water Indiana. I know the value of DSC employees and other partnership employees who work directly with farmers to apply conservation practices on the land.

“Growing up on the farm and learning about farming from my dad and working directly with farmers my entire career, I understand how farmers relate to conservation. However, things have changed in the last five years and farming is changing. I am anxious to get updated on these changes.”

One of those changes is increased support for CWI, she stated. “Another is how Indiana continues to be a leader in soil health and all the positive results for our farms. I am so pleased with the additional federal and state support toward conservation in Indiana.”

Hardisty said she sees a tremendous need for local soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) to continue to be the conservation leader in their county and for all SWCDs to become stronger.

“So I think it is a good time to offer what I can to be a part of Indiana conservation. Indiana has a leader in every county that the public needs to know more about and utilize. That is the local SWCD, which is made up of five local individuals leading the conservation efforts in that county to serve rural and urban landowners. With 92 SWCDs in the state made up of dedicated local leaders and the SSCB made up of key state leaders, and the abundance of conservation opportunities, I want to offer what I can and get back involved in this successful movement of Indiana conservation.”

The main continuing challenge for conservation in Indiana is getting information and communication directly to landowners, Hardisty pointed out. “Information like the value of their land versus cost of conservation practices. Farmers have to push the pencil and know that the money they invest in conservation is going to be a positive return.”

Farmers need to remember taking care of the land at any cost is morally the right thing to do, she added.