Tammen Treeberry Farm Tour

Bruce and Becky Tammen, owners of Tammen Treeberry Farm in Wilmington, were recognized this spring as the recipients of Will-South Cook Soil & Water Conservation District’s 2026 Conservation Farm Family Award. On July 24, more than 40 visitors enjoyed a tour of the farm hosted by the SWCD. The Tammen Family has been growing Christmas trees since 1956 when Bruce’s father, Lorenz Tammen, started planting them to utilize the area’s sandy soil. In 1964, blueberries were added

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Jul 6

Tammen Family Wins 2026 Conservation Farm Family Award

The Will-South Cook Soil and Water Conservation District is proud to announce that the Tammen Family will receive the SWCD’s 2026 Conservation Farm Family Award. Tammen Treeberry Farm is operated by Bruce and Becky Tammen of Wilmington, Illinois. The farm offers customers the opportunity to pick their own blueberries and choose and cut Christmas trees. Bruce’s father, Lorenz Tammen, began planting Christmas trees in the 1950s to utilize unproductive blow sand soil. In 1964, h

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Jun 1

2026 Scholarship Winners

The Will-South Cook SWCD is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Conservation Education Scholarship Awards. These students will each receive a $2,000 scholarship and be honored at the SWCD’s Annual Recognition Dinner on July 23 rd , 2026. Nathan Heldt is the 2026 recipient of the Richard “Dick” McHugh Memorial Scholarship. Nathan is the son of Ryan and Shannon Heldt of Beecher. He is a graduate of Beecher High School and plans to attend Iowa State University in the fal

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Jun 1

2026 General Election

The Will-South Cook Soil and Water Conservation District will be holding a general election of directors on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Polling places will be established at 1201 S. Gougar Road in New Lenox, IL 60451 and remain open from 7 am until 5:30 pm. Our Annual Meeting will be held on March 11, 2026 at 9 am at the district office at 1201 S. Gougar Road in New Lenox, IL 60451.

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Jan 23

CONSERVATION EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

In the spring of 2026, the Will-South Cook Soil and Water Conservation District will be awarding three $2,000 scholarships to Will or South Cook County students who plan to major in an agriculture or natural resource-related field at an accredited college or school of higher learning. The purpose of these scholarships is to further the cause of soil, water, and natural resource conservation by helping deserving students pursue the subject at an advanced level. Scholarship w

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Dec 15, 2025

Notice of Acceptance of Nominations

To all persons of legal voting age who own or reside on land located within the boundaries of the Will-South Cook Soil and Water Conservation District: Beginning on December 15, 2025, nominations will be accepted for the two year term of the office of Director of the Will-South Cook Soil and Water Conservation District at the District's Office at 1201 S. Gougar Road, New Lenox, IL 60451 during our normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To be considered for nomination as

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Nov 20, 2025