OLIVER SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Oliver Soil Conservation District


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About OSCD

The Oliver Soil Conservation District (OSCD) is a political subdivision of state government and formed by a vote of the people in our county in 1946

We are governed by a Board of Supervisors (three elected, two appointed) who set policy which is carried out by our able District Manager JD Hanson.

The OSCD has a cooperative working agreement with USDA's Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS). We share office space and work together to assist the people in Oliver County in addressing their Natural Resource concerns. We also work closely with the NDSU Extension Service and local Extension Agent Rick Schmidt, who attends most of our meetings.

The Board of Supervisors meets monthly, generally on the first Friday of the month, to conduct business of the District.

Our Board and Staff

Board Chairman, Lonnie Henke operates a diversified grain and livestock farm west of Hannover ND.  Henke raises spring wheat, sunflowers, corn, oats, barley, flax, canola, peas, alfalfa and grass hay in a no-till rotational system. Henke's livestock operation includes a cow/calf and back grounding program. Henke as served on the SCD board since 2006.

Vise Chairman Kendal Price, is a Customer Service Assistant for Farm Credit Services of Mandan. Her and her husband Gary farm and ranch a couple miles from Price, ND. 

Mike Bauer and his wife Beverly reside in Mandan ND, their farming operation is located in south western Oliver County.  Bauer has served on the SCD board since 1993

David Porsborg and his wife Karen farm 7 miles south of Center.  They are currently operating 1800 acres which consists of a diverse rotation of wheat, corn, peas, flax, soybeans, and alfalfa. They started minimum tilling in 2000 and no-tilling in 2010. They have adopted many practices that help their soil health such as, low soil disturbance, diverse rotation, cover crops, no fungicides or insecticides, and keeping traffic to a minimum in fields.  Porsborg has served on the SCD board since 2017. 

Daryn Karges and his wife Sarah run a diversified cow/calf and small grain operation. We live 5 miles west and 5.5 miles north of Hannover, ND

District Manager, JD Hanson - is a graduate from NDSU with a Bachelor Degree in Natural Resources Management, and an associates degree from MSU- Bottineau in wildlife management. JD and his wife Lacey reside in Center ND with their three children Lennon, Maddux, and Emersyn. JD was hired by the District in 2006 as the District Technician.  In 2012 he took over the role of District Manager.  He has been very active with the ND Conservation District Employees Association Board, serving three terms as an area Director. He also currently assists with the technical reviews of applications for the ND Statewide Conservation Tree Planting Initiative, funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund.  In 2015 JD was recipient of the District Employee Award given out by the ND Association of Soil Conservation Districts. JD also prides himself on his community service, he has been a member of the Oliver County Rural fire department since 2006 and is currently assistant chief.  He also sat on the Center City council and park board for over 12 years.  In his free time JD likes to spend his time on the water fishing with his family, or laying in a goose blind waiting for the birds to approach. 

  

Pictured here are the OSCD Board of Supervisors with District Manager JD Hanson, who received the ND Association of Soil Conservation Districts award for Outstanding District Employee in 2015. 

Left to right are: Dale Berg, Alan Schwalbe, Mike Bauer, JD Hanson, LeAnn Harner and Lonnie Henke.

NRCS Staff

NRCS District Conservationist - Chet Zapxalka  grew up in Central Minnesota with a passion for the outdoors, which lead him to pursue a degree in Natural Resources Management a NDSU. Previously he was the watershed coordinator for Morton County SCD,   I look forward to working with producers and landowners in Oliver County to help them address various resource concerns they have on their farm or ranch

Corey Mathies - NRCS Soil Conservationist.   

Kristine Wilkens - Farm Bill Specialist serving McLean, Oliver and Sheridan counties; stationed at the Garrison Field since July of 2020

I grew up on a small grain farm near Boissevain, Manitoba. I received my bachelor’s degree with a major in Geography from Brandon University in 2011.  In 2014, I earned my diploma as a Land & Water Management Environmental Technician from Assiniboine Community College.

I met my husband, Brandon, at the State Fair in 2010, we married in 2015 and I have been a permanent North Dakota resident since 2018.  I have since increased my love for the outdoors, growing my own garden, fishing on Lake Sakakawea, bow hunting white tail deer, calling coyotes with my husband and raising our husky shepherd pup, Tikka.