Kittson Facts, Figures & Fun

  • The Kittson County Soil Conservation District was established on Aug. 4th, 1953.

  • It wasn't until March of 1958 that the District's name was changed to today's moniker: The Kittson Soil AND WATER Conservation District.

  • Money, Money, Money: In the beginning, the District ran without any funds. As a matter of fact, in order to pay a few bills and keep things going, Board members Rusell Younggren, Alvin Wiese and Arnold Eilertson each loaned $25.00 to the District. The three were paid back in February of 1955.
 
  • In the 1960s, tree personnel were paid $1.50 an hour. Trees could be purchased from the District for 5 cents or only 4 cents if they were going to be used for field windbreaks.
 
  • The District newsletter was started in 1966. Today the Northland Conservation News goes out to more than 2,400 landowners twice a year.
     
  • The State Cost-Share Program was started in the 1970s. Each year the District receives funding from the Board of  Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) for projects such as repairing streambank erosion, sealing unused or abandonded wells, and a variety of other conservation projects.
 
  • In 1980, Joe Wilebski, Jr., was named the Conservation Farmer of the Year. Today, Wilebski serves on the Kittson SWCD Board of Supervisors.
 
  • The District's first pickup was purchased in 1983. It was a 1979 Chevy purchased for $3,600.
 
  • Things became technical when the first computer arrived in the office in the 1980s.
 
  • The late Ferdie Forfang holds the record for the most years served on the Board of Supervisors. Ferdie served on the Board from 1967-1970 and from 1975-1997.
  
  • Zoning: The County asked the District to take over zoning duties in the early 1990s. The zoning program includes the administration of building permits, septic system compliance, floodplain issues and shoreland issues.
 
  • The County asked the District to take over the County Ag responsibilities in 1993. This program includes the administration of the noxious weed law and seed law.
 
  • The District has sold nearly 2 million trees since 1953.
 
  • Joanne Quiner holds the record as the longest employee with the Kittson SWCD. Joanne served the district for 37 years!
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