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.

Donna Champeau
At-Large 2
Farmer, 2FoxFarm

get to know donna

As a retired Professor of Public Health, Donna has a passion for the health and wellbeing of the communities we live in. On the 160-acre farm she owns with her partner, they grow 17 acres of organic pasture, raise organic tomato plants, are engaged with a 5-acre woodland restoration project, and promote practices that build soil biomass so water is better retained. Nothing is more important in supporting our health than the water and soil we need to support the systems we rely on for our food, recreation, wildlife, and economy. As an educator, researcher, and behavioral scientist by training, Donna believes we can all learn how to contribute to the improvement and protection of these precious resources.
We cannot rely just on our public parks and nature preserves to be the only safe places for the natural world to thrive. Donna wants to encourage the building of similar systems and spaces for nature on private lands such as farms and city lots, to protect and improve our soil and water and increase the biodiversity of our landscapes for future generations to come.

Erubiel Valladares
At-Large 1
Farmer, Hidden Roots Farm

get to know Erubiel

Erubiel Valladares was born and raised in Mexico and has been in the Willamette Valley since 1998. He graduated from Western Oregon University and in 2023 he obtained his master’s in public administration.
The owner and operator of a small 5-acre farm Hidden Roots Farm LLC selling fresh produce and cultural herbs. As well as operating a small food business The B Bite LLC creating seafood delicacies in the Cultural Harvest Collective farmer's market in Monmouth, Oregon.
As an environmentalist and civic engagement specialist Erubiel cares about the ecosystems in Polk County and is part of the efforts to make the Soil and water in Polk County a healthy environment to nurture small farmers and producers. These efforts led him to Polk SWCD where he was elected Director at large position in 2024

Pryor Garnett
Zone 1, Treasurer
Organic Farmer, Garnetts Red Prairie Farm

get to know Pryor

Pryor grows certified organic grains (wheat, rye, triticale, barley, etc.) on a 92 acre farm near Sheridan, where the Willamette Valley floor begins to rise into the foothills of the Coast Range. He began farming in 2016 after retiring from practicing patent law, and was elected as Zone 1 director of the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District in 2020. He also chairs the policy committee of the national Organic Farmers Association, which advocates nationally on behalf of certified organic farmers. He believes that a farm's soil is its most important asset, and that as the climate warms and Oregon's population increases, protecting and restoring Willamette Valley farmland is critically important. Garnetts Red Prairie Farm relies on cover cropping, residue retention, minimum tillage, crop rotation and erosion prevention to build soil fertility and resilience. It is a 2017 Flagship Farm of the Oregon Bee Project, and has 3/4 mile of pollinator-friendly hedgerows as well as extensive Oregon white oak woods and a year-round creek.

Lindsay McClary
Zone 2, Vice-Chair
Restoration Ecologist,
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

get to know Lindsay

Greetings Polk County! Although new to the roles and responsibilities as a District Director, conservation is at the core of my mission. I have worked for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s Natural Resources Department since 2010 in the Fish and Wildlife Program. My current position is Restoration Ecologist and in this role, I manage nearly 2,500 acres designated as fish and wildlife habitat and permanently protected by conservation easements. I regularly coordinate with local partners, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies to protect, restore, and enhance habitats both on and off Tribal lands.
Professional accomplishments include: staffing restructure for 2 new Tribal Fish & Wildlife Program positions; developed 9 management plans, secured approvals, & implemented plans; built new partnerships & strengthened existing relationships; implemented complex restoration projects; managed large scale & complex budgets; brought in over $2.3M dollars in restoration funds from multiple sources including federal, state, local, & non-profit agencies.

Conserving Polk County’s soil and water is important to me. Please check out my Facebook page for more information. I look forward to working with you!

Eden Olsen
Zone 3, Secretary
Farmer,
Lucky Crow Farm

get to know eden

Eden Olsen was born and raised in the Willamette Valley. She graduated with a degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Scripps College and went on to farm in California, Washington and abroad. Her passion for sustainable food production and responsible land stewardship drove her back to Monmouth where she started Lucky Crow Farm in 2017 on family farmland. Lucky Crow produces mixed vegetables for farmers’ markets, CSA, local food banks and restaurants. The farm prioritizes healthy soil and thriving ecosystems. Eden’s recent work with the NRCS and other conservation projects led her to Polk SWCD where she was elected Director of Zone 3 in 2023.

Tom Finegan
Zone 4
Retired,
NRCS

Mike Wilson
Zone 5, Chair
Retired,
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

get to know Tom

Tom’s life revolves around three major areas: Family, Agriculture, and Recreation. Tom grew up on a small family farm in Marion County raising livestock, hay, and produce. In later years the farm moved to Polk County and grew to 250 acres (owned) and over 300 acres managed. Tom owned and managed the farming operation for over 30 years. This farm raised cattle, sheep, hay, Christmas trees, and produce for 4 market stands. The farm operation also was very involved in conservation programs, installing multiple miles of riparian habitat under CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) to improve water quality and provide fish and wildlife habitat. Tom raised his 2 sons on the farm and was involved in their sports activities as their coach. The family enjoyed camping, playing on the beach, hunting, fishing, and water sports.
Tom has an associate’s degree from Chemeketa Community College and a Bachelors in General Agriculture from Oregon State University.
Tom’s work life included working in numerous food processing facilities in Salem and Albany, as well as his 27 years working for the USDA-NRCS (United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service). At NRCS Tom started as a Soil Conservation Technician, learning to design and develop specifications for projects as well as construction inspection. He promoted to a Soil Conservationist, which added plan and contract development to his job duties. He then became a District Conservationist in Tangent, OR, and transferred to Dallas to complete his career. As District Conservationist Tom managed the local county office and worked directly with the SWCD (Soil and Water Conservation District) Board and Staff to develop programs and bring funding and technical assistance to the community. Tom worked closely as the Tribal Liaison to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to implement conservation projects on Tribal Lands. Tom designed and installed the first pond created to assist in recovery efforts of the Oregon Chub, a formerly listed Threatened Species on the Federal Endangered Species list. This pond set the stage for more ponds and a large multi-agency effort which led to the first ever delisting of a fish in the United States from the Endangered Species List. Tom is extremely happy to be joining the Polk SWCD board and looks forward to helping move conservation efforts forward.

get to know mike

Coming Soon!

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

full size zone map

GIS map for districts & zones

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 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.