The McLean County Conservationist of the Year is awarded to farmers and landowners that strive to protect and preserve our precious resources through conservation efforts. McLean County has a long history of conservation champions. To nominate a farmer or landowner, please contact our office.

2025 Conservationist of the Year

Congratulations to the Wyant Family!

On behalf of the McLean County SWCD Board and Staff we are excited to present the Conservationist of the year award to the Wyant Family. For over 35 years, they’ve acquired and developed 152 acres along the Mackinaw River near Colfax, into a thriving wildlife haven. Their conservation story begins in 1964, when 10-year-old on a school bus, caught his first glimpse of three deer running across a McLean County field—on the very farm his grandfather once worked. In 1990, he claimed those 40 acres as his own, farming them until 2005. That year, they enrolled every cropland acre into CRP. This legacy of conservation began with Mike and Trisha Wyant and ignited in their sons a fire for wildlife habitat development and conservation. Michael and Adam attended SIUC to achieve degrees centered around conservation. Michael with a forestry degree and Adam, wildlife biology. Adam has worked for NRCS since 2004 and served as the District Conservationist in McLean County. Since 2005 the family has planted a windbreak with more than 1,100 trees and shrubs. They seeded tallgrass prairie and carved a 4+ acre shallow pond. Wildlife answered instantly: Pheasants, surged; deer and turkey returned; meadowlarks sang from the grasses; and the pond drew waterfowl—species unseen before. 19 acres of the farm is in a permeant conservation easement now, CREP. Today, the 152 contiguous acres is nearly all habitat, with a family passion to preserve it for generations to come. The Wyant family is a great example of conservation legacy and stewardship. Congratulations to the Wyant Family, your 2025 McLean County Conservationists of the Year. The McLean County Board and Staff are honored to induct you into this special recognition of our counties greatest Conservationists.