Fall is a time of vibrant red, yellow, and orange leaves, Halloween shenanigans, Thanksgiving with family, and the Delaware Soil & Water Conservation District’s annual meeting and banquet.

We cordially invite you to this year’s event which will be on Monday, Nov. 23, at SourcePoint of Delaware County, beginning at 6:15 p.m. The event is a wonderful opportunity to meet old friends, make new friends, donate nonperishable food to People In Need, and learn about the 2015 conservation accomplishments, while enjoying a delicious roast beef dinner.

Delaware Soil & Water Conservation District was formed in 1944 — so this year marks our 71st anniversary. John Linder, a fifth-generation agricultural producer from Morrow County, will be the featured speaker.

Linder Farms grows corn, seed soybeans and commercial soybeans, soft red winter wheat, and includes a propane business. John and his brother, Mike, travel nationally to compete in tractor pulls.

John is president of the Ohio Corn Marketing Program and chairs the Trade and Biotechnology Action Team for the National Corn Growers Association. John has traveled internationally for the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the U.S. Grains Council, visiting Japan and Cuba to better understand and increase trade with these nations.

While the annual meeting and banquet offers fun and fellowship, it also includes a business component. Ohio’s 88 soil and water conservation districts are led by five local board members who are the key to the success of the district.

These dedicated volunteers serve three-year terms and provide the vision and motivation to the SWCD team. The election of board members is conducted annually by the Ohio Soil & Water Conservation Commission in accordance with Chapter 1515 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Because the SWCD is a government entity, these board members are public officials and follow the same rules and guidelines as those elected during the general election.

Delaware SWCD’s current board members are Sue Cunningham, Steve Sheets, John Miller, Dan Lane and Ted Colflesh. There are three candidates running for the two open positions: James Cola (Powell), and current board members Dan Lane (Delaware) and John Miller (Delaware).

There are three avenues for eligible voters to cast a ballot:

• At the annual meeting (a dinner reservation is not required to participate in the voting process).

• In person at the district office which is located at 557-A Sunbury Road in Delaware.

• By requesting an absentee ballot.

Biographical information about the candidates and details about who may vote and how to vote can be found at www.delawareswcd.org.

The annual meeting will include a pictorial of the conservation activities of the year, and awards for Educator of the Year, Cooperator of the Year and Conservation Boosters of the Year will be presented. The evening will conclude with door prizes. Who knows? You might win.

Tickets to the annual meeting are $10 per person and the deadline for reservations is Nov. 18.

Join us for an entertaining evening and remember to bring your nonperishable food items for People In Need. Please help us in creating brighter holidays for everyone in Delaware County.

Check out www.delawareswcd.org (click on “Current Newsletter” on the homepage) for all the information on purchasing tickets, voting and bios on the candidates for supervisor. And remember to vote!