Three running for Soil and Water Conservation District board

Lisa Clary, Charles Knight and Chris Schimpf are running for two seats on the Seneca Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors.

The election is planned for Nov. 15 during the SWCD’s 58th annual meeting at Sentinel Career Center. Both of the three-year terms begin Jan. 1.

Lisa Clary, along with her husband, Dwight, has owned a no-till grain-farming operation since 1982 in northern Seneca County, producing corn, soybeans and wheat on 1,150 acres.

In addition to 1,800 windbreak trees, they have planted about 30 acres of grass buffers along waterways.

The Clarys have 10 grown children.

Clary, who is co-chairman of Seneca County Farm Bureau’s promotion and education committee, said she feels it is important to conserve natural resources while developing new and innovative ideas.

She said drainage is important to everyone in the county and is in need of improvements as well as maintenance. If elected, she said SWCD should work with cities and towns to reduce soil erosion on urban development sites.

She is in favor of “thinking outside of the box” to develop a well-managed pilot project using in-stream sediment traps.

If they are proven effective, traps could systematically be installed in the streams to accomplish better water quality, improved drainage and save taxpayer money.

Knight is a 10-year board member of the Fostoria Kiwanis; a five-year board member at Good Shepherd Home, where he is in his second year as treasurer and chairman of the financial committee; a four-year board member at Terra Community College; and a three-year board member of the Greater Fostoria Foundation.

He previously has served as the lieutenant governor of Kiwanis Division 12; vice president of the Sandusky Valley Domestic Violence Shelter; treasurer of the Seneca County American Cancer Society; and vice president of the Seneca County Commission on Aging.

Knight said he thinks conservative application of regulations with an eye on the cost to local farmers is a major concern. If elected, he said he would begin on the board with an open mind without any agenda.

Schimpf and his wife, Andrea, live in Bloom Township. They farm 850 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat with his parents, Joe and Joyce Schimpf. In addition to grain farming, they operate a 4,100-head contract hog nursery and raise more than two acres of cut flowers. Lilies, sunflowers, gladiolas, pumpkins and gourds are sold to florists and at farmers markets.

Schimpf uses no-till and minimum-till. He has installed waterways, grid sampling, windbreaks, manure management, filter strips and timber stand improvement practices. He is chair of the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition, a vendor at the Clintonville and Worthington farm markets, a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Bucyrus and a member of the Pearl Alley Growers Association.

Due to recent experiences with large rainfalls, Schimpf said he thinks vigilance on the control of soil erosion is of major importance. If elected, his priorities would be to continue the promotion of conservation practices and place emphasis on soil erosion control.



Eligible voters must be at least 18 years old and reside or own land in Seneca County. People not attending the annual meeting may vote at the SWCD office 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 15, or by absentee vote. Absentee ballot requests must be submitted in writing 21 days prior to the election from the Seneca SWCD office, 3140 South SR 100, Suite D, Tiffin, OH 44883.

For more information or to order tickets for the dinner, call Dawn Mizen at (419) 447-7073.