Please save the date for Pay Dirt 2026 on February 25 & 26

Pay Dirt 2026 is a FREE event. You will be able to pop in and out, depending on which sessions you’d like to participate in.

Please note: This schedule is subject to change.

Schedule

Wednesday, February 25

ALL DAY – Sign-in
8:00am – Vendor Booths Open
9:00am – Plenary Session: Phillip Anderson & Joe Moore
9:45am – Break
10:00am – Session 1: Joe Moore
10:00am – Session 1: Doug Weigand
10:50am – Break
11:00am – Stormwater Panel (Led by Joe Moore)
11:00am – Agriculture Panel (Led by Phillip Anderson)
12:00pm – Ag Hall: Lunch
1:30pm – Pay Dirt IN-field/IN-side
4:30-6:30pm – Pay Dirt Networking Session at Goshen Brewing Company

Thursday, February 26

ALL DAY – Sign-in
7:00am – ECCC: The CSGP and Me Training (Breakfast included)
7:00am – Ag Hall: Agricultural Producer Training: “SWAMP” (Breakfast included)
9:00am – Break
9:30am – “Brinkley RV – From Concept to Completion”
10:30am – Break
10:45am – Panel Discussion
12:00pm – Ag Hall: Lunch
1:15pm – Travel to Brinkley RV via Bus
1:30pm – On-Site at Brinkley RV
3:00pm – Return to ECCC. Pay Dirt 2026 concludes

Agenda

Wednesday, February 25: Day 1 – Know your Resources

Focus: Day 1 highlights the tools, technologies, and expertise available to support successful operations and projects from a soil health and water quality standpoint. From informative morning sessions to interactive afternoon vendor-led demonstrations, attendees will gain insight into new innovations, next-level concepts, and proven methods that enhance soil and water management.

8:00–9:00 am
• Vendor Booths Open
9:00–9:45 am
• Plenary Session: Phillip Anderson & Joe Moore
10:00–10:50 am
• Breakout Session 1A: Joe Moore (Topic TBD)
• Breakout Session 1B: Doug Weigand (Topic TBD)
11:00 am–12:00 pm
• Stormwater Panel – Led by Joe Moore
• Agriculture Panel – Led by Phillip Anderson
12:00–1:30 pm
• Lunch – Ag Hall

1:30–4:30 pm: Pay Dirt IN-field/IN-side Demonstrations

Attendees will rotate through multiple hands-on demonstration stations—right inside the Elkhart County Community Center. This 2.5-hour block is dedicated to exhibitors and vendors. Exhibitors are encouraged to showcase products within demonstration areas as well as at their booths for close-up viewing.

Demonstration Stations

  1. Drainage 101
    Discover how tile drainage works from the inside out. Watch real-time footage from cameras traveling through tile lines, and see videos showing seasonal changes. Learn from experts about outlet gates, water quality inlets, and tile location services available locally and statewide.
  2. Concrete Washout – What’s the Point?
    Observe an infiltration demo showing how contaminants remain in wash-water even after filtering through soils. Explore alternative washout options and learn how to calculate the proper washout size based on yardage and pours.
  3. Infiltration Station
    See how water interacts with different surfaces: turf grass, cover crops, aggregates, bare soil, and asphalt. Compare pros and cons and learn where each application performs best—above and below the surface.
  4. Stabilization Station
    A hands-on comparison of stabilization products side-by-side. Examine features, handling, and benefits, and better understand why following the manufacturer’s installation and maintenance guidance is essential.
  5. Inlet Protection
    Compare multiple inlet protection options and understand why no single BMP fits all situations. Learn how to evaluate each project to determine the appropriate solution.
  6. Seed Mixology
    Learn how prescribed cover crop mixes—“cocktails”—can dramatically influence soil health. Discover which mix is right for your goals and why diversity is key to long-term success.
  7. Mini Excavator Activity
    Test your skills on a mini excavator! Try to complete the challenge course and be entered to win a prize.
4:30-6:30 pm – Pay Dirt Networking Session at Goshen Brewing Company

Join us for appetizers and refreshments at a restored NIPSCO building turned award-winning brewery—known for exceptional sustainability practices and deep community connections.

Thursday, February 26: Day 2 – From Row Crops to Recreational Vehicles

Focus: Day 2 centers on local efforts to maximize Water Quality of Life in Elkhart County and throughout the St. Joseph River watershed. Morning trainings address large-scale agricultural BMPs and stormwater permit (CSGP) compliance, followed by a deep-dive project feature tracing the development of a 250-acre RV manufacturing campus—from concept to completion—through a stormwater lens.

7:00–9:00 am – Morning Trainings
  • ECCC: “The CSGP and Me” by Todd Clark
    Inspector • Contractor • Plan Preparer • Municipal Employee Training
  • Ag Hall: “SWAMP – Closing the Gap on Sustainability in Elkhart County” by Jim Hess
    Agricultural Producer Training

9:30–10:30 am

  • Project Feature: “Brinkley RV – From Concept to Completion”
    Brad Mosness and the Abonmarche team walk through the design, implementation, and completion phases of a comprehensive 250-acre public–private development.

10:45 am–12:00 pm

  • Panel Discussion
    Featuring key contributors from Brinkley RV, Abonmarche, the City of Goshen, Niblock Excavating, and others. Discussion includes challenges, solutions, and collaborations that brought the project to life.

12:00–1:15 pm
• Lunch – Ag Hall

1:15–1:30 pm
• Travel to Brinkley RV via Bus

1:30–3:00 pm – On-Site at Brinkley RV
  1. Post-Construction Inspection – Stormwater Structures
  2. BMP Highlights – Permanent Environmental Considerations
  3. Brinkley RV Unit Tours (pending availability)

3:00–3:30 pm
• Return to ECCC. Pay Dirt 2026 Concludes