Thompsons are county SWCD Outstanding Conservationists

By Andy Albertson
SWCD District Manager
Mike and Tammy Thompson have been named the 2024 Outstanding Conservationists by the Swift County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD.)
This award honors individuals or families who have shown exceptional commitment to land stewardship, conservation practices, and sustainable agriculture. The Thompsons have demonstrated these values through their innovative and dedicated approach to farming and land management.
The Thompsons have a long history in Swift County, with their family farming in the area for six generations since Mike’s great-great-grandfather homesteaded near Swift Falls in 1876.
Although much has changed over the last almost 150 years, the Thompsons’ commitment to conservation has remained a central part of their farming philosophy. Mike’s father, Marvel, was a pioneer in the area, moving away from traditional moldboard plowing in 1976, a bold transition at the time.
Making big changes on the farm is challenging, navigating new equipment, managing crop impacts, adjusting soil fertility, and taking on financial risks, all while facing potential skepticism from neighbors.
However, the Thompsons have consistently embraced change, understanding that it is a necessary and ongoing part of farming. This mindset has guided their conservation efforts over the past several decades.
Recently, the Thompsons used cost-sharing support from Swift SWCD to install a grassed waterway and water and sediment control basins (WASCOBs). They are also planning to reconstruct a terrace and build a new WASCOB this fall to prevent gully erosion.
These projects were made possible through a grant from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources Clean Water Fund, secured by Pope and Swift SWCDs.

For more on this story, support community journalism and subscribe to the Swift County Monitor-News.