Dubuque Soil Water Conservation District Celebrates Stewardship Week

Dubuque SWCD Celebrates Stewardship Week 

Dubuque County Supervisors and local communities are supporting sustainability  and agriculture with their “Stewardship Week” proclamation from April 26–May 3,  2026. The proclamation aims to boost soil conservation and water quality efforts  for future generations. The 71st Annual Stewardship Week, themed Soil. Where  it All Begins, promotes nationwide awareness of the importance of soil, water,  and natural resource conservation, which are essential to the health and  sustainability of the environment and communities. Communities participating in  the proclamation include Cascade, Dubuque, Epworth, Peosta, Rickardsville,  Sherrill, and Worthington. 

Since 1955, Soil and Water Stewardship Week has been an important initiative  aimed at educating the public and engaging communities in conservation efforts.  With over 100,000 people participating annually, this program has become one of  the largest natural resource awareness events in the country. Dubuque Soil and  Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a proud member of the National  Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), which oversees this national  program. During Stewardship Week, the Dubuque SWCD hosts a poster contest  open to students in public, private, and home-school settings from kindergarten  through 12th grade. The deadline for poster submissions is Friday, May 1, 2026.  For additional information and to access the entry form, please visit  www.dubuqueswcd.org. Dubuque SWCD supports Beckman's FFA team in the  Envirothon state competition, held April 27, 2026, in Granger, Iowa. These  activities are designed to raise awareness about the vital role that soil plays in  the long-term health of the environment. Stewardship Week resources  celebrating “Soil. Where it All Begins” are available for free download on the  NACD website. 

The 2026 theme, “Soil. Where it all Begins.” highlights the fundamental role soil  plays in sustaining life. According to Mike Freiburger, SWCD Commissioner, “Soil  health is a state of a soil meeting its range of ecosystem functions as appropriate  to its environment. In more colloquial terms, the health of soil arises from  

favorable interactions of all soil components (living and non-living) that belong  together, as in microbiota, plants and animals.” Healthy soil supports food  production, filters and stores water, provides habitat for countless organisms, and  helps maintain resilient landscapes. Protecting and improving soil health through  

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conservation practices benefits agriculture, wildlife, clean water, and the long term sustainability of natural resources. The theme celebrates the power of soil in  supporting life in all its forms and underscores soil as the starting point for  healthy food, clean water, thriving habitats, and resilient communities. “From  backyard gardens to forests to agricultural lands, everything begins with what is  beneath our feet,” said NACD President Gary Blair. “This year’s theme, ‘Soil.  Where it All Begins,’ is a reminder that taking care of soil favors everyone, with  an increase in nutrients, cleaner water, less flooding, higher agricultural yields,  more resiliency, and countless other benefits.” Dubuque SWCD is dedicated to  promoting responsible land stewardship with education, partnerships, and  sustainable agriculture. For more than 80 years, they have been working with  producers, landowners, youth, and the community to improve Dubuque County’s  natural resources.