Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District

Virtual Business Planning Workshop #2 - Business Plan
2025-03-19 18:00 - 19:00 UTC | Online (webinar)
Join us for session 2 of our webinar series on Business Planning. This workshop will focus on writing your business plan so you can more effectively market your farm to others.
Renee Wiatt will lead you through exercises in farm business plans and communicating that message clearly. (For more info on Renee, click here.)
Click on the “event website” link below to register and receive your admission to the event.

Virtual Business Planning Workshop #1 - Launch Your Business
2025-03-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Online (webinar)
Join us for this webinar series on Business Planning to make your farming business more successful!

Have you ever thought about starting an urban or small farm but don’t know where to begin?
Do you already have a farming business but need to know if the numbers add up to continue?
Do you need a business plan to get funding?

Wesley Shie (Business Advisor, Director at IN Small Business Development Center) will kick off the session with ideas for your business launch. (For more information on Wes, click here.)
Click on the “event website” link below to register and receive your admission to the event.

Allen County SWCD February Board Meeting
2025-02-26 08:00 - 09:30 | Allen County SWCD Office, 2720 Dupont Commerce Ct., Suite 101, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825, United States
DRAFT agenda:
1. Approval Minutes
2. Treasurer’s Report
3. Old Business
4. New Business
5. Director’s Report
6. Program Reports
7. Partner Reports
8. Upcoming Events

Annual Meeting and Supervisor Election
2025-02-13 17:30 - 19:30 | St. Joe United Methodist Church, 6004 Reed Road, Fort Wayne, IN, 46835, United States
Join Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District as we celebrate our 80th anniversary!
Our Annual Meeting will host Grazing Appetizers and Dessert Bar at 5:30pm, with District updates and Supervisor elections at 6:30pm. (All Allen County residents are invited to vote.)
Come early to enjoy identifying old colleagues in our photo collage of prior Supervisors, Field Staff, and partners of the District. We eagerly anticipate the future as we promote the wise use of soil, water, and related natural resources.
Annual Meeting_Invitation-final

Fort Wayne FARM SHOW 2025
2025-01-14 09:00 - 2025-01-16 16:00 | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave, Fort Wayne, IN, 46805
Join the tri-state area for the 36th annual event at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
Meet agricultural representatives at over 1,000 booths, including retailers, laboratories, conservation agencies, and seed companies. Daily seminars bring experts to address relevant topics including commodity outlooks, climate responses, farm emergency care, and managing water resources, as well as the popular PARP credit session. More information at this brochure:
https://www.tradexpos.com/assets/docs/uploads/2025-farm-show-tri-fold-revised-1204.pdf

Board of Supervisors Meeting - December
2024-12-18 08:00 - 10:00 | Sun Rise Cafe, 10230 Coldwater Rd., Fort Wayne, 46825, United States

Allen County SWCD November Board Meeting
2024-11-26 08:00 - 10:00 | Allen County SWCD Office, 2720 Dupont Commerce Ct., Suite 101, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825, United States

Compost Mixer
2024-10-29 17:00 - 20:00 | Wood Farms, 8005 Lower Huntington Rd., Fort Wayne, IN, United States

Soil Health Field Day
2024-09-04 08:00

On Farm Demo Field Day
2024-08-21 10:00

Day at the Lake
2024-08-07 06:30 - 18:30

Town & Country Tour
2024-06-08 09:00 - 13:30
Town & Country Tours provide an opportunity for urban and other non-ag residents, to gain a better understanding of today’s modern agriculture, both large and small scale, and to provide farmers and ag retailers insight into the “non-farmer” perspective of water quality.
Join the Maumee Watershed Alliance and Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District on a CHARTER BUS to tour large, small, and urban farms, a nature preserve, a local community focused market and restaurant, see the SWCD education trailer & rainfall simulator, and more! This event is free and open to everyone of all ages.
Town & Country Charter Bus Tour Stops Include
Rose Ave. Farm (small farm),
Save Maumee Grassroots Organization (non-profit/nature preserve)
Werling Farms, (conservation farming operation)
*SWCD Education Trailer, Rainfall Simulator, Snacks*
Smiley’s Garden Angels (urban farm/hunger relief program)
Utopian Community Grocery & Restaurant (lunch provided)

Eco Fest
2024-05-19 12:00 - 17:00
Eco Fest is inviting the Fort Wayne community to “go green” at its fourth annual event. Highlighting over 100 local businesses, non-profit organizations, and food vendors, this event is made for everyone – not just those with a current understanding or passion for green efforts.
Eco Fest will take place on Sunday, May 19 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Headwaters Park. This is
a free, family-friendly event. Attendees can expect to see:
• Kid-friendly nature & education activities
• Free Yoga
• Active Engagement Booths
• Wares including handmade soaps, candles, pottery and jewelry
• Vintage/secondhand clothing
• Eco-Friendly household products
• Landscaping/Gardening Information
• Local Art
• Local food and beverage vendors
• And much more!

Cover Crop Ternimation
2024-04-04 16:00 - 17:00 | Bloomingdale Gardens, 420 High Street, Fort Wayne, IN, 46808, United States

Annual Meeting
2024-02-24 07:30 - 11:00 | Tim & Deanne Rorick Farms, 4710 S. Webster Rd., New Haven, IN, 46774, United States

Fort Wayne Farm Show
2024-01-16 09:00 - 2024-01-18 17:00

Day at the Bay 2023
2023-08-23 06:30 - 18:30

April 2023, Allen County SWCD Board Meeting
2023-04-26 08:00 - 10:00 | Allen County SWCD Office, 2720 Dupont Commerce Ct., Suite 101, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825, United States
Join us for our monthly update on finances and projects.

Coffee and Soil Testing Webinar
2023-04-19 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
Join us for Coffee and Soil Testing on Wednesday, April 19 from 9am-10am. James Wolff with Purdue Extension will be sharing the benefits of soil testing how to interpret your soil test results from the lab.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctc-CqrjMqG9GRCyd9kqD-2C7tlWLrmRuv

Lunch and Learn with Martha Ferguson
2023-03-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Join us for a Lunch and Learn with Martha Ferguson, the owner of Riverview Native Nursery, on Wednesday, March 29th from 11am – 12pm. If you are interested in purchasing native plants from our Native Plant Sale, this is your opportunity to ask an expert about which plants would be best for your garden. Even if you are just interested in the benefits of native plants on wildlife, we would love for you to join us!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85398577277

Going Green for Ag Conference
2023-03-24 08:00 - 13:00 | The Orchid, 11508 Lincoln HWY E., New Haven, IN, 46774, United States
Keynote Speakers

Barry Fisher
A name synonymous with no-till and cover crops in Indiana is Barry Fisher. Fisher started the Conservation Tillage Initiative, which morphed into the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative. Recently retired from a multi-decade career with the NRCS, agronomist Barry Fisher has been a long-time booster of no-till. Based in his home state of Indiana, Fisher’s efforts helped the state’s no-till acres grow to the point where it is among the states with the highest percentage of no-till ground in the U.S.
Eileen Kladivko
Over a highly productive 40-year career at Purdue, Kladivko has conducted research to identify soil management systems that improve environmental quality and promote agricultural sustainability. Kladivko’s work, independently and in collaboration with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Indiana Conservation Partnership, has helped conservation grow in Indiana, as more farmers reevaluate their management practices for potential impacts on soil health, system resiliency, and water quality. Indiana has one of the largest land areas using cover crops in the country, with over a million acres.
Joe Nester
Joe Nester started Nester Ag in 1993 after managing a large retail fertilizer plant for 16 years. Joe saw a need for fertilizer recommendations and nutrient management planning independent of fertilizer sales. Today, Joe and his team of agronomists provide dedicated service and unique fertility recommendations for every client. Nester Ag’s business is to make the farmer more profitable. Ideally the best way to be profitable farming includes nutrient efficiency and recoverability, striving for the nutrients that are applied to be fully utilized. Recoverability of the nutrients is king in profitability, AND environmental stewardship.

Join us for presentations and discussions on new and innovative approaches to conservation farming, the latest on cover crop recommendations, and tools for addressing today’s ag nutrient crunch.
More information & registration is available at maumeewatershedalliance.org. RSVP requested, but not required. RSVP to mcook.swcd@gmail.com or 260.484.5848 ext.3
If you need an accommodation to participate in this activity or event, please contact Mikila Cook at 260.484.5848 ext. 3, or by e-mail at mcook.swcd@gmail.com by March 10, 2023. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
2023 Going Green for Ag Flyer

March 2023, Allen County SWCD Board Meeting
2023-03-22 08:00 - 10:00 | Allen County SWCD Office, 2720 Dupont Commerce Ct., Suite 101, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825, United States

Coffee and Urban Land Leases Webinar
2023-03-15 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
Join us for Coffee and Urban Land Leases on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, from 9am-10am. Carmen McKee of Oasis Botanic Gardens in Gary, IN, will be sharing her experience with negotiated an urban land lease. She will speak about the what, when, where, how, and why to purchase or lease land in city limits for urban farming. She will also share her market niche as well as considerations in finding a market specialty.
Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqc-upqD0tGdAmEij3dHfFQh1o1GlXYlzT

Native Plant Sale
2023-03-15 - 2023-04-01 | Allen County SWCD Office, 2720 Dupont Commerce Ct., Suite 101, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825, United States
Order native plant kits now through April 1, 2023! It’s only $50 for 12 plants. Native-Plant-Sale-Order-Form

Allen County SWCD Board Meeting
2023-02-22 08:00 - 10:00 | Allen County SWCD Office, 2720 Dupont Commerce Ct., Suite 101, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825, United States

Coffee and High Tunnels Webinar
2023-02-15 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual

Business Management Seminar, Marketing and Sales
2023-02-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Purdue Extenion, Allen County, 4001 Crescent Ave, Fort Wayne, IN, 46815, United States
Starting or wanting to improve your business?
Calling all farmers, gardeners, value added product producers, and aspiring business owners! Join us on the evenings of January 26 and February 2, 2023, for a business management seminar series! Learn from business coaches of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center as well as the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network about financial literacy, planning, and budgeting as well as marketing and sales outlets. There will also be time available for networking with fellow growers along with potential partners. Both seminars will be located at Allen County Purdue Extension.
RSVP by emailing the Allen County SWCD at allenswcd@gmail.com
Business Management Seminar Series Flyer

Local Food Networking
2023-01-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Ted’s Beerhall, 12628 Coldwater Rd, Fort Wayne, IN, 46845, United States
The Northeast Indiana Local Food Network presents Local Food Networking
It’s hard to find the time and space to network with people about local foods.
You want to network better. We hear you. So, we are creating the space for you to expand your networks.
Join us for Local Food Networking with the growers, producers, buyers, sellers, and supporters of local food in northeast Indiana. And we will have snacks!

Monday January 30, 1pm to 3pm at Teds Beerhall 12628 Coldwater Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46845
You must register to attend.

Business Management Seminar, Financial Literacy and Budgeting
2023-01-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Purdue Extenion, Allen County, 4001 Crescent Ave, Fort Wayne, IN, 46815, United States

Allen County SWCD Board Meeting
2023-01-25 08:00 - 10:00 | Allen County SWCD Office, 2720 Dupont Commerce Ct., Suite 101, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825, United States
Join us for our first board meeting of 2023! We will discuss finances and project updates.
