Athens Soil and Water Conservation District
80th Annual Meeting
The Athens SWCD Supervisor and Staff invite you to attend the 80th Annual Meeting and Banquet. Please join the Athens Soil and Water Conservation District as we celebrate 80 years of conservation during our annual meeting! Enjoy an evening of fellowship at the Shade Community Center! Reservations are due by October 8th!
When: Thursday, October 15, 2026
Where: Shade Community Center, 2380 Old SR 33, Shade, OH 45776
Cost: $12.00 per person
Agenda: 5:30 pm - Registration & Social Time
5:30 pm-6:15 pm - SWCD SUPERVISOR ELECTION VOTING
6:15 pm - Meal - Chicken Breast or Baked Steak, salad, mashed potatoes, green beans, hot rolls, dessert, and drinks
7:00 pm - Presentation of Awards
7:30 pm - Garth Ruff, Assistant Professor, Beef Cattle Field Specialist with OSU Extension
Presenting: “Beef Industry Update”
Door Prizes and Raffle Drawing
When: Thursday, October 15, 2026
Where: Shade Community Center, 2380 Old SR 33, Shade, OH 45776
Cost: $12.00 per person
Agenda: 5:30 pm - Registration & Social Time
5:30 pm-6:15 pm - SWCD SUPERVISOR ELECTION VOTING
6:15 pm - Meal - Chicken Breast or Baked Steak, salad, mashed potatoes, green beans, hot rolls, dessert, and drinks
7:00 pm - Presentation of Awards
7:30 pm - Garth Ruff, Assistant Professor, Beef Cattle Field Specialist with OSU Extension
Presenting: “Beef Industry Update”
Door Prizes and Raffle Drawing
Banquet Reservation Form
Supervisor Election Notice
The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of Supervisors of the Athens Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. Individuals who own or occupy land within the Athens Soil and Water Conservation District and are 18 years of age or older may vote for Supervisor.
There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:
1. At the Athens SWCD office, 69 S Plains Road, The Plains, Ohio 45780 from 10/08/2026 until 11/06/2026 at noon. Normal business hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday, and 8:00 am - 4:30 pm on Fridays; or
2. At the SWCD Annual Meeting, which will take place at Shade Community Center, 2380 Old SR 33, Shade, Ohio 45776 on 10/15/2025 from 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm; or
3. Voting absentee from 10/08/2026 till 11/06/2026 by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the Athens SWCD office, 69 S Plains Road, The Plains, Ohio 45780, or by calling 740-797-9686 ext. 6280, or by emailing [email protected]. Absentee ballots must be received by the Athens SWCD office by 11/06/2026 at noon.
Two Supervisors will be elected to a three-year term commencing January 1, 2027, and ending on December 31, 2029. Nominees are: Zach Crabtree, Brenda Dahse, and Sabrina Stalder.
There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:
1. At the Athens SWCD office, 69 S Plains Road, The Plains, Ohio 45780 from 10/08/2026 until 11/06/2026 at noon. Normal business hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday, and 8:00 am - 4:30 pm on Fridays; or
2. At the SWCD Annual Meeting, which will take place at Shade Community Center, 2380 Old SR 33, Shade, Ohio 45776 on 10/15/2025 from 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm; or
3. Voting absentee from 10/08/2026 till 11/06/2026 by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the Athens SWCD office, 69 S Plains Road, The Plains, Ohio 45780, or by calling 740-797-9686 ext. 6280, or by emailing [email protected]. Absentee ballots must be received by the Athens SWCD office by 11/06/2026 at noon.
Two Supervisors will be elected to a three-year term commencing January 1, 2027, and ending on December 31, 2029. Nominees are: Zach Crabtree, Brenda Dahse, and Sabrina Stalder.
Board Candidates....
Zach Crabtree - Zach attended The Ohio State University where he studied Agronomy and Plant Science. While in school he participated in the NRCS student trainee program for 4 years and worked in multiple locations across the state Zach currently holds the position of Treasurer on the Athens SWCD Board of Supervisors where he has served for the past 3 years. He owns an excavating and construction company, ZC Excavating LLC, where he operates and performs residential and commercial projects locally to southern Ohio. Zach also farms with his wife and children in Albany, Ohio. They raise corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and freezer beef.
Brenda Dahse - Brenda is a life long resident of Athens County. She and her husband Kevin reside on a 52 acre horse farm in Bern Township. They have installed fencing, watering systems and structures to accommodate their current livestock operation. Brenda currently holds the positions of Chairman and Fiscal Agent on the Athens SWCD Board of Supervisors where she has served for the past 15 years. She is currently an Area 5 Director for the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and a member of the District 18 Buckeye Hills Natural Resources Assistance Council. Brenda has been employed as the store manager at Buckley Brothers, Inc. in The Plains for the past 23 years. Prior to that, she worked as the office manager for Landmark, Inc. for 5 years. Brenda is very generous with her time in helping her nieces, nephews and area youth with their 4-H projects. "It is very satisfying to see kids succeed with their projects" Brenda says. She enjoys horseback riding, gardening, and the outdoors.
Sabrina Stalder - Sabrina Stalder has called Athens County home for most of her life and has been involved in agriculture from an early age. She grew up on a family farm, showed livestock through 4-H, and has continued to stay connected to agriculture throughout her career. For the past 23 years, Sabrina has been an Agricultural Education teacher and FFA advisor at Athens High School, where she enjoys helping students learn about agriculture, conservation, and natural resources. She also spent 15 years serving on the Athens County Fair Board. Sabrina is passionate about helping people better understand agriculture and our natural resources and how the two can work together. She appreciates the work Athens County Soil and Water Conservation District does to support landowners, protect our natural resources, and educate the community. Serving on the SWCD Board would be another opportunity for Sabrina to give back to Athens County and a community that has been such an important part of her life.