~For the Land, For the Water, For the Future~
A Conservation District is a local unit of state government with statutory powers and responsibilities to carry out programs of natural resources conservation and encourage wise land management. Our Staff team works with the Board of Directors, neighboring Conservation Districts, and partnership organizations to implement environmental conservation projects.
Meet Our Staff
Brian Talsma joined the Allegan Conservation District in October of 2018. He graduated from Central Michigan University with a B.S. in Biology with a focus on Natural Resources. Before joining us, he worked as an intern at a black bear sanctuary in Minnesota, taught high school Biology in Detroit, and served as an AmeriCorps member at the Antrim Conservation District in Bellaire. He is an avid backpacker and canoeist who is excited about restoring and sustaining wild areas.
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Brian previously worked as our Watershed Technician and focused on reducing sediment and nutrients in our county's rivers by securing multiple funding opportunities and exciting conservation projects. As Executive Director he hopes to continue this effort and make our District the destination for conservation expertise in Allegan County.
Kannon Hoffman started with the Allegan Conservation District in November 2024 as the Allegan County CTAP/MAEAP Technician. Kannon graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.S. in Environmental Sustainability and Freshwater Management. Before joining the Allegan Conservation District, Kannon worked at Tillers International where he preserved essential homesteading/heritage skills and collaborated with small-scale farmers to improve food security issues. When not working, Kannon enjoys being outside and spending time in nature.
Jason Cass joined the Allegan Conservation District in August 2023 as a Conservation Technician. He graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a BA in Geography and Environmental Planning. Prior to joining the Allegan Conservation District, he worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service with a focus on wildlife habitat creation and maintenance. Jason relocated to Michigan in 2020 after five years as a Conservation District Manager in Schenectady NY. He has also managed a commercial compost and recycling facility, volunteered at an environmental education center, and completed major infrastructure improvements at several nature preserves. Jason is dedicated to protecting the environment and promoting practices leading to a more sustainable future.
When not working, Jason can be found outdoors hiking with his dog and exploring new places.
Nathan Hilbrands, Watershed Technician
Nathan.Hilbrands@macd.org
(269) 454-1485
Nathan Hilbrands started with the Allegan Conservation District in February of 2024 as a Watershed Technician. Nathan graduated from Calvin University with a BS in Environmental Health and Conservation and a BA in Geography. Before joining the Allegan Conservation District, Nathan served as an AmeriCorps member with Michigan Natural Features Inventory surveying for rare species across the state and working on their heritage database. He has also helped out the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds with writing watershed climate resiliency reports, and studied dune characteristics and vegetation distribution. When not working, Nathan enjoys bird-watching, playing board games, and spending time in the woods.
Alison joined the Allegan Conservation District team in March of 2023 as the Administrative Specialist. She opened her first business at just 15 years old. Following college at Oklahoma City University then Columbia College, Alison traveled the United States working as a dancer and choreographer. While engaged as an artist, she was usually holding down multiple jobs. She has worked as an administrator for several prestigious organizations, including the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Vanderbilt University and a start-up IT company that was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine. When Alison’s mother became ill, she moved back to Allegan in 2011 to help with her care and her local business. She then opened her own arts academy in Allegan, but after 7 years she had to close its doors due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Alison is very excited to utilize her marketing and administrative experience to help the ACD grow and connect with its community. Alison grew up playing in what is now the Armintrout-Milbocker Preserve and hikes there to this day. When not working you can find Alison enjoying time in her dance / aerial silk studio at home.
Meet Our Affiliate Staff
Ben Savoie earned a B.S. in Forestry from Michigan State University, specializing in Resource Management. He has spent many years in community organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, and has worked in the field for MSU and the USFS. He is passionate about community involvement in ecological restoration and improving public knowledge on conservation management.
Patrick Gordon is a Produce Safety Technician with the Berrien County Conservation District in Southwest Michigan, working primarily with growers in Allegan, Berrien, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren counties. Patrick earned his Master of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech University and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography with a specialization in environmental analysis and land management from Western Michigan University. He is excited to work with farmers in South West Michigan to improve safety in the agricultural food chain. For more information regarding produce safety, visit www.miofps.org.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Mark Ludwig
Chairman
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Mark has worked with the Allegan Conservation District through several grants as a Conservationist and Technician. Today, Mark is a local farmer and an advocate for no-till farming practices.
Board terms through 9/2027
Dale Hedberg
Treasurer
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Dale Hedberg is a machine tool industry veteran with over 30 years’ experience. As an operations executive, his singular focus has been on vendor and customer relationships, end-to-end North American sales operations, product and parts strategy,
product management, and the national service center.
His career path in machine tools came as a natural outgrowth of a fascination with the mechanical and he is often found tinkering with his impressive collection of John Deere tractors and stationary engines, many of which are vintage. When time allows, Dale
enjoys spending time at the 115-acre, MAEAP-certified farm that he shares with his wife and family, indulging his passion for natural conservation by reestablishing wetlands and restoring native plant species.
Board term through 9/2027
Jaclyn Hulst
HR Liaison
Jaclyn Hulst lives and works in Allegan county. At home she enjoys hobby farming with the goal to create a food forest to provide fresh produce for her family and neighbors. She also has quite the collection of house plants! At work, Jaclyn is able to assist feeding the community through a non-profit food bank network.
Board term through 9/2026
Troy Carns
Board Member
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Originally from the Arkansas delta, Caleb grew up working on his family’s row-crop farm of around 1500 acres of corn, milo, wheat, soybeans, and rice. While working towards a degree in Ag. Technology at the University of Arkansas, Caleb accepted an internship at Walters Gardens in Zeeland, MI for the summer of 2017, returning after completing his degree that fall. Caleb’s time at Walters has given him a lot of experience with non-traditional agriculture, they raise over 30 different genera of ornamental plants and builds much of their own custom machinery.
Board term through 9/2025
State of Michigan Special Tributes
Troy Carns served on the Allegan Public School Board for over 10 years. He also volunteered with the the local fire department for 10 years. As an Allegan County farmer Troy is always looking for new conservation practices to improve his operation.
Board term through 9/2028
Raecale Stull
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Lon Koops
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Caleb Smith
Board Member