Indiana Friend of Conservation Award

The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ (IASWCD) Friend of Conservation Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to soil and water conservation in Indiana.

This award recognizes those individuals or entities who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to conservation and sustainability.

Nominations can be completed by an individual, business, organization or agency through their local soil and water conservation district (SWCD). Applications must include a signature of approval from an SWCD supervisor and submitted online by the SWCD. Only one application per districts may be submitted each year. Please note that past recipients of this award are not eligible to receive the award again.

There is no money attached to this award. IASWCD publishes no cash prize, stipend, grant amount, or cost-share — it is purely recognition. What the program page lists as the benefit of winning:

• "Be recognized at the 2027 IASWCD Statewide Conference in Indianapolis"

• "Inspire others by sharing your conservation success story"

• "Receive statewide recognition for your commitment to natural resource stewardship"

Recipients are "honored during the Award Ceremony at the Statewide SWCD Conference in January 2027."

Volume and limits. "Up to three awards are given annually in each of three categories: Individual, Government/Non-Profit, Corporate." "Only one application per districts may be submitted each year" and "past recipients of this award are not eligible to receive the award again."

How you enter. You cannot nominate yourself directly to IASWCD — nominations run through your local Soil and Water Conservation District, which must submit the online application and include "a signature of approval from an SWCD supervisor." Support materials (photos, letters of support, documentation, news articles) go to amy-work@iaswcd.org by the deadline. Nomination period: October 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026, closing 5:00 pm Eastern on March 31, 2026.

Nominations are submitted online through your local Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) during the nomination period (October 1 – March 31). Only one application per district per year; past recipients are not eligible again. The nomination form is linked on the program page: https://iaswcd.org/conservation-events/awards/friend-of-conservation-award/