board of directors

The Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (Polk SWCD) is a subdivision of state government administered by seven locally elected directors. Each director serves the board without pay for a four-year term. The body of the board is made up of five landowners from different county zones and two at-large directors who represent the entire county. This effective board works cooperatively to plan and oversee the implementation of the conservation district’s programs. As representatives of the conservation district board, opinions expressed publicly by individual directors are consistent with established board policy, regardless of the individual’s personal agenda or opinions. Directors meet monthly to administer the business of the SWCD. Each director donates their time and service on behalf of the residents of Polk County and its natural resources.
Chad Woods
At-Large 1, Chair
Rancher and Real Estate
Judy Beebe
At-Large 2, Vice Chair
Mike Wilson
Zone 5, Secretary 
Retired, Natural Resource Manager, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
John Dalton
Zone 4, Treasurer
Tree Farmer
Brad Ford
Zone 3
​Wine Maker, Illahe Vineyards
Pryor Garnett
Zone 1
Organic Farmer, Garnett's Red Prairie Farm​
David Simmons
Zone 2
Organic Farmer
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Conservation District Board Responsibilities
In order to effectively exercise the powers and authorities as stated in ORS 568, conservation district boards:
  • Identify local conservation needs, programs, and services
  • Keep its conservation district’s mission (“reason for being”) in focus
  • Work effectively with conservation district staff, cooperating agencies, and partners
  • Implement conservation district programs effectively
  • Be knowledgeable about laws that govern board operations, such as budget, audit, public meetings, and contracting
  • Develop and implement a long-range plan and an annual work plan
  • Report to the public on conservation district programs and accomplishments
  • Inform legislators and local government officials of conservation district accomplishments
  • Recruit, train and utilize volunteers and associate directors
  • Participate with the Oregon Department of Agriculture in a periodic review of conservation district operations
  • Recruit new conservation district directors and associate directors
  • Seek new partners in conservation efforts

associate and directors emeriti

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: Conservation districts can expand conservation district capabilities by appointing associate directors. Associate directors do not vote on board decisions. However, they can augment the board’s knowledge and experience level and assist with conservation district programs and activities.  Associate directors, once officially appointed by the conservation district board, are covered by the same Tort Liability Insurance as the directors while doing conservation district work.​
An associate director serves until January 1 of odd numbered years. Every two years conservation district boards should select individuals they wish to appoint or reappoint to associate director positions. An associate director may be appointed to a vacant position or elected to a position if they meet the statutory requirements for director eligibility.
DIRECTORS EMERITI: Conservation districts can expand conservation district capabilities by appointing director emeriti. Director emeriti do not vote on board decisions. However, they can augment the board’s knowledge and experience level and assist with conservation district programs and activities.
Director emeriti is an appointed position with a conservation district. The position is reserved for a person who previously served as a conservation district director in the United States or its territories where conservation districts exist. A director emeritus does not vote when the board makes an official decision. A director emeritus serves until January 1 in odd numbered years. Every two years conservation district boards should select individuals they wish to reappoint as directors emeritus
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Emeritus Matt Crawford
Production Farmer Owner: SeeBreeze Farms
Not Pictured: Tom Thomson
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