MENARD COUNTY
Soil and Water Conservation District #215
106 Bevans Street P O Box 665 Menard, TX 76859
325-396-4708 ext 5 menardcounty@swcd.texas.gov
Menard County SWCD #215
Annual Activities and Workshops
Leadership Development Workshop -February
Poster and Essay Contests - February
Poster and Essay Award Presentations – March/April
Area II Awards Banquet - May
Soil and Water Stewardship Week - April/May
Hill Country Association Spring Meeting - May
TSSRM Youth Range Workshop Meal - June
SWCD Educator Workshop Meal - June
Teacher Appreciation Breakfast - August
4th & 5th Grade Conservation Field Day - September
CEU Training – October
Annual TSSWCB State Meeting - October
4th Grade Arbor Day Tree Planting - November
High School Conservation Program - November
Menard County SWCD recognizes the importance of training our teachers and students regarding conservation, preservation and restoration of our natural resources. We are pleased to sponsor youth and teacher workshops and provide tuition for educators and students to attend.
For further information on youth and teacher workshops listed below, registration forms or tuition, please call
the Menard County SWCD office at 325-396-4708
MCSWCD SPONSORS RANCH BRIGADE CADET
Colton Flage grills at the 2020 Ranch Brigade camp where cadets learned about sustainable beef production and other ag-related topics.
Menard County SWCD #215 provided a scholarship to the 2020 Ranch Brigade for Colton Flage. Colton attended the summer Ranch Brigade, where he experienced ranching activities.
The Brigade is a 5-day camp in which land stewardship and livestock production are presented by wildlife and ranching professionals. The cadets learn about sustainable beef production from conception to the consumer. Leadership development, education and empowerment tools are also presented.
This is an excellent program for making contacts with other cadets interested in pursuing a career in ranching and/or agriculture. The Ranch Brigade is held on the Warren Ranch near Santa Anna, Texas.
Colton is the son of Bruce and Lynsey Flage of San Angelo, Texas. He is the nephew of Heather and Gary Treadwell of Menard, Texas. He is a junior at San Angelo Central High School and plans to attend Texas A&M University in College Station. Colton will be the 6th generation ranching in Menard County.
Menard County SWCD is very pleased to have the honor of sponsoring a cadet to the Ranch Brigade.
See more information about Ranch Brigades at:
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The 2020 Ranch Brigade provided an opportunity for hands-on learning activities.
Colton participated in important aspects of livestock production.
TSSRM YOUTH RANGE WORKSHOP
The Texas Section Society for Range Management (TSSRM) sponsors an annual Youth Range Workshop for eligible high school students in June at the Texas Tech University Center in Junction, Texas. Students attend five full days of sessions on leadership, small group working skills, grasses, range management, soils, water resource management and other ecological practices.
Each year, Menard County SWCD joins with other partners to cook the Monday evening meal for YRW participants and staff.
Menard County SWCD will help find financing for any student that wishes to attend YRW.
TSSRM YOUTH RANGE WORKSHOP
June 8 - 13, 2025
TTU Center/Junction, TX
TSSRM Youth Range Workshop will be held in Junction June 8-13, 2025. Menard County SWCD hopes to sponsor up to two youth to attend this workshop. For information, contact Susie at 325-396-4708 at the MCSWCD office. Applications can be picked up at the office or in the school office. Students must be 14-18 years old and have completed 8th grade to attend.
2022 YOUTH RANGE WORKSHOP
June 19-24, 2022
Each year, MCSWCD sponsors the evening meal after the first full day of the annual Texas Section Society for Range Management's (TSSRM) Youth Range Workshop. MCSWCD Directors prepared a sizzling fajitas meal for the student participants and instructors.
Houston Hayes, left, of Menard, and
Colton Flage, right, of San Angelo
MENARD COUNTY SWCD PROVIDES TWO SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUTH RANGE WORKSHOP
MCSWCD provided scholarships to Houston Hayes of Menard and Colton Flage of San Angelo, to attend the annual TSSRM Youth Range Workshop held June 20 - 25, 2021 at Texas Tech University Center in Junction.
MCSWCD also helped provide a meal for YRW participants and staff.
MCSWCD Directors prepare a fajitas meal at the 2022 Youth Range Workshop
Pictured left, Benny Kothmann (left) and JW Jennings prepare the vegetables, while Billy Kniffen (pictured on the right) cooks the chicken.
Below: Directors served the meal to hungry YRW participants and instructors. Left to right: Chairman Benny Kothmann, JW Jennings, Billy Kniffen and Jerry Kidd.
CEU SPRING RANCH TOUR
Call the Menard County SWCD office regarding CEU workshops:
325-396-4708
CEU OCTOBER RANGE WORKSHOP
Held Annually, First Wednesday in October
Call the Menard County SWCD office regarding CEU workshops:
325-396-4708
2023 Menard County SWCD and AgriLife Extension Range Workshop
Menard County SWCD in conjunction with AgriLife Extension Services annually holds a Range Management Workshop in October. Each year, experts in their fields come and share information with farm and ranch producers on conservation practices and methods of production.
The event held in October 2023 included Mark Moseley, NRCS Range Conservationist, retired; Dr. Reagan Nolan, AgriLife Extension Agronomist; Tanner Chancelor, Corteva Agriscience Range and Pasture Specialist; and Billy Campbell, Bayer Range and Pasture Specialist. Attendees earned 5 CEU pesticide credits. Topics included information on fire and grazing, herbicide management in winter annual forages, controlling unwanted pasture species in Central Texas, picolinic acid chemical training with a learning session for applying Invora herbicide, and research and development efforts for the control of feral hogs.
Menard Bank sponsored the noon meal catered by David Schniers of Rowena. A meal of brisket, sausage, potatoes, green beans, and peach cobbler was enjoyed. The Menard County Underground Water district provided breakfast tacos from Los Abuelos restaurant. Pastries, cookies and coffee were provided by the SWCD.
Fifty four participants received continuing education CEUs for their pesticide licenses.
Justin Foster speaks about progress in methods to control feral hogs
Billy Campbell with Invora provided picolinic acid training and spraying training of the chemical Invora
2022 CEU WORKSHOP
Pictured below (left), Billy Campbell and (far right), Shawn Reininger and Cory Pence
MCSWCD Director and Business Manager attend the
2019 Leadership Development Workshop in Temple
The annual Leadership Development Workshop for updating SWCD Directors and employees was held February 20 and 21, 2019 in Temple, Texas. MCSWCD Director Billy Kniffen and Business Manager Charlotte Albrecht attended the comprehensive two-day workshop.
The program included Organization and Functions of the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts (ATSWCD); function of Texas Conservation Association for Water and Soil (TCAWS); "Things to Beware of and Things to Be Aware of" at SWCD Board meetings by Area II TSSWCB Field Rep Kendria Ray; SWCD responsibilities in managing state and federal funds; Open Meetings Act training; Texas Public Information Act training; responsibilities of SWCD Directors; parliamentary procedure review and SWCDs' responsibilities in working with the legislative process.
Attendees from across the state enjoyed a meet and greet social with fajita supper. The workshop concluded with a tour of the TSSWCB building.
MCSWCD Director Billy Kniffen attended the 2019 Leadership Development Workshop in February in Temple, TX. MCSWCD Business Manager Charlotte Albrecht also attended the comprehensive two-day workshop designed to update District Directors and staff members on a wide variety of topics.
New!
Annual SWCD Educator Workshop
Held at the TTU/Junction campus on the South Llano River
Watch for Summer Dates
Local teachers Linda Palmer and Myghan Meadows attended the first Land Stewardship Institute in June 2018. MCSWCD was proud to provide tuition for both educators to attend.
Local educators interested in attending should contact
Menard County SWCD at 325-396-4708
