Hi there! My name is Jordan Beehler and I am a new Conservationist at the Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District. I was raised in Wakarusa, but in St. Joe County, where I have a small cow/calf herd of Angus cattle. Growing up in the area, I learned the importance of properly managing soil and water through my family’s construction and excavation businesses, as well as through our ties with production agriculture. I have never strayed too far from agriculture or conservation issues; I received my B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Soil Science from Oklahoma State University and my M.S. in Crop and Soil Science from Michigan State University. During my collegiate career I focused on soil water issues and the impacts cover crops have on the soil system. My passion is bringing production agriculture and environmental conservation together to work toward the same goal – keeping our land healthy and productive for future generations.
As your Elkhart County SWCD Conservationist, I will be working on generating educational materials and programs for schools and adults as well as assisting my colleagues with all the other services we have to offer. I can’t wait to get out and about in Elkhart County to start meeting you and spreading the word about the importance of soil conservation!