Chairperson:
David Mitchem- David Mitchem, and his wife Emily,
reside in Milford Township. David operates a grain and livestock operation. The
farm operation consists of corn, soybean and wheat rotation, and also a farrow
to finish hog operation. David is a member of the Centerburg United Methodist Church where he has
served as a trustee and is currently on the SPR Committee, a former member of
the Centerburg School Board, a Farm Bureau member, and was a member of the state
Young Farm Couple Committee. David has installed water ways, buffer strips, and has installed
130,000 feet of tile.
David feels the conservation programs have to reflect the diversity of our
county. We have to help our urban neighbors, but we cannot forget our
agricultural roots. This county has always been at the forefront of any advances
in technology be it for home building or crop production.
Vice-Chairperson: Jim Braddock-of Wayne Township farms with his wife Susie on a cash grain (corn/soybeans) operation. Jim has worked with the SWCD on the installation of including tile and grassed waterways to improve the fields for productivity of his crops. He is a participant in the Wetlands Reserve Program and makes extensive use of no-till and cover crops in his farming operation. Jim is a member of Farm Bureau, Ohio Corn Growers Association, Ohio Soybeans Association and a life member of the FFA Alumni. Jim also serves as a Wayne Township Trustee. He feels that one of the strongest concerns of the county is the control of erosion and urban development. Jim is currently serving as a SWCD Associate Supervisor.
Fiscal Agent: Tyler Brown-Tyler and his wife Mickey reside in Pleasant Township where they have a cash grain farming operation that has been in operation for 31 years. In addition to his farming interests Tyler also operates a successful agricultural equipment/diesel repair business. The Brown's are also members of the Knox County Farm Bureau. His farming operation consists of 1,400 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat in which no-till is utilized. Tyler feels one of the most important resource management issues for the district should still involve assistance on improved agricultural drainage.
Secretary/Treasurer:
Tim Norris-Tim and his wife Heidi
reside in Harrison Township. Tim is a member of various agricultural
organizations which include; Farm Bureau; Farmers Union; American
Association of Small Businesses and the Knox County Ex-Urban committee.
Presently, he is the owner of Agronomic Information Technologies which
provides Precision Ag products and service to over 100 growers in Central Ohio.
Tim also co-owns C.O.R.N (Central Ohio RTK Network) which is a company that
supplies RTK signals to around 1 million acres of land between Delaware,
Upper Sandusky, Galion and Marengo. Tim was a past recipient of the
Knox SWCD Goodyear Conservation award in 1984. Tim has installed numerous
buffers on fields he farms adjacent to the Kokosing River . He and his
family farm over 300 acres of no-till corn and soybeans and custom combine an
additional 500 acres. They have implemented RTK Auto Steering Technology
in order for them to strip till accurately on their farm. They also
have their farm enrolled in the Ohio ODA Ag Easement Program. Presently
Tim is the chairman of the Harrison Township Zoning Commission, the Vice
President of the Knox County Extension Advisory Committee and the Secretary and
founding member of the Knox County Junior Miss.
Member-Tom Purdy of Brown Township owns and operates a 165 acre cow/calf farm. He has been involved with the Knox SWCD for about 12 years. He has worked with the USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program to install fencing and a water well as well as a spring improvement and pasture renovation. Tom is a member of the Fredericktown Seventh Day Adventist Church and Farm Bureau. His interests include fishing, hunting and horses. He and his wife Marjorie have 4 children and 8 grandchildren and his concern for the county is the preservation of family farms.
