For all their efforts in agriculture and the promotion of conservation, assisting other land owners and being seen as good examples of utilizing programs and practices encouraged by this office, Miami SWCD Board of Supervisors have named Mike Elsner, Bill Shafer and Brayden Ingle of Progress Farms as 2025 Cooperators of the Year!
Mike and Bill have been working together since 1995 and began Progress Farms in 2001 with Brayden coming on the scene in 2017. Working ground for about 20 farms amounting to nearly 3000 acres, this hardworking crew has blazed a path toward real conservation by taking part in programs like CP43 with prairie strips on multiple farms with more requests on several others. They’ve also engaged in practices like grassed waterways, filter strips, cover crops, minimum till and no-till and using ingenious innovations in their business and on their equipment.
To learn more about Progress Farms and their work, please stop by the Conservation Education Area during the Miami County Fair or join us in recognizing this team at the 21st Annual All Ag Meeting and Banquet on August 28th at Heritage Hall at Lost Creek Reserve.