Meet your supervisor by clicking on the link below. If you are interested in becoming a supervisor and want to learn more please visit the Board of Water and Soil Resources site. There are 91 SWCD's throughout the state with each being governed by a board of 5 elected supervisors. They are elected by nomination districts on the general ballot (do not participate in primaries), and the terms are staggered. The next election will be in 2008. Interested individuals can file with the county auditor prior to July.
 Pope SWCD Districts:
D. Gary Reents
District 5, Chairman
(320) 554-3328
Keith Nygaard
District 1, Vice Chair
(320) 239-4279
Ralph J. Peterson
District 2, Secretary
(320) 634-1945
Randy Anderson
District 4, Treasurer
(320) 239-2579
Tom Talle
Public Relations
Chairman D. Gary Reents is from the Villard area where he farms and has livestock. He has been on the board for over 15 years representing District 5. Gary was re-elected in 2008 for another four year term.
Vice Chair Keith Nygaard is from Starbuck and represents District 1. He was a dairy producer for many years. Keith is actively engaged in crop farming and building construction. He has a wealth of knowledge of the agricultural industry to represent District 1. Keith was re-elected as the District 1 Supervisor in 2010.
Secretary Ralph Peterson represents District 2. Ralph resides in Glenwood, crop farms and serves of many committees including Chairman of WesMin RC & D and West Central Area II. Ralph was re-elected to represent District 2 until 2012.
Treasurer Randy Anderson and his family operate a multi-generational farm south of Starbuck. He is also the Senior Business & Ag Lender at North-American State Bank in their Willmar office. Randy was re-elected in 2010 to represent District 4.
Public Relations Tom Talle was elected to represent District 3 in November, 2010. District 3 includes Glenwood, Grove Lake, Chippewa Falls, Bangor, Gilcrest, and Lake Johanna Townships. Tom has a college business/legal background, with post-graduate education in real estate and customer service. He also serves as a director on three other corporate boards. Tom and his family are the fourth generation residing on a family farm spanning 134 years.
Kelly Erickson, District Technician
Kelly is a lifetime resident of Pope County. He is responsible for the Tree & Native grasses programs including, sales, planting, planning, and implementation. Kelly is also the contact for all equipment rentals. He is in charge of the DNR well monitoring program for Pope County, Rosholt Research Farm, Wetland Conservation Act, annual RIM easement monitoring, and assists with all District programs as needed. Kelly also provides assistance for Pope SWCD cost share programs.
Matt Fischer, Farm Bill Technician
Matt Fischer has been with Pope SWCD since October 2099 as the Farm Bill Technician. Matt works on conservation programs that include developing CRP, CCRP, and RIM plans. He also assists with Wetland Conservation Act activities, cost share program and the sales program. Matt enjoys fishing, hunting, and camping.
Luan Johnsrud, District Office Manager
District Manager, Luan is responsible for all accounting activities, grant development, reporting and management, and coordinates education programs for the SWCD. She also administers the rainfall monitoring program, Working Lands Initiative, Pope Swift Cooperative Weed Management Area, and Pope County Eight Lake TMDL Committee activities.
Craig Bower, District Conservationist
Craig Bower has been with Pope County NRCS office since 1988. He has a degree from Iowa State University in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. He is certified in Conservation Planning, and Wetland Delineation. Previously to his time with Pope County he worked in field offices in Redwood Falls, Minnesota and Audubon, Iowa. Craig works with the following programs: EQIP, WRP, CRP, CCRP, Farmbill Compliance, CSP, and provides technical assistance in soil erosion and water quality issues.
Melissa Behrens, Soil Conservation Technician
Melissa has worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service since June of 2001. Melissa grew up on a dairy farm in Evansville, MN. She graduated from North Dakota State University in 2002, with degrees in General Agriculture and Agricultural Economics. Prior to working in Glenwood, Melissa worked with NRCS in Clay County, MN and on the cooperative conservation Glacial Ridge Project near Crookston, MN. The Glacial Ridge Project is a 30,000 acre project funded with money from NRCS's Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). It is located on the old beach ridges of Glacial Lake Agassiz. Melissa is very knowledgeable about WRP if you have questions about this program please come in and talk to her. Melissa also works with EQIP, CRP, CCRP, and CSP programs. Melissa enjoys working on engineering designs and construction inspection for wetland restorations and taking pictures and identifying wild flowers!
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Fred Kollman, DU Contract Biologist
In August 2009, Fred Kollman joined our staff as the new DU
Contract biologist. Fred was the DU Contract Biologist in
Stevens County and is a retired NRCS employee. Fred just completed a 2200 mile bike trip
starting in Idaho and crossing several states, ending in Virginia. What an achievement!
Please help us in welcoming Fred to our office. Stop by and visit with him on the WRP
program.
Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts $1,850.00
National Association of Conservation Districts $775.00
Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts Area II $150.00
WesMin RC& D $400.00
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