Early experiences shaped career of AISWCD director

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Eliot Clay didn’t know it in his youth but his later career as an advocate for conservation was in his DNA.

Clay is in his first year as Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts executive director.

Prior to that, he worked for six years for the Illinois Environmental Council where he led their policy agenda on agriculture, conservation and how natural and working lands are utilized in Illinois.

He led the IEC’s Land Use Programs since July 2023 and previously served as director of the council’s State Programs and Agriculture and Water Programs.

Clay previously was on the Illinois Senate Republican staff where his work included agriculture and environmental issues.

Looking back, he credits his dad, Tom, for the creating the path that led to what is now his position with AISWCD.

“Dad worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and I grew up with conservation professionals, wildlife biologists and soil people. I really took it for granted, I think, at the time because I got to do really cool stuff, but didn’t really know why it was important,” he said.

“But now, being in this, I look back and those were really formative times for me. It really shaped where I wanted to be at, even if I didn’t know it at the time.

“Being able to do it from sort of a policy angle, too, in the capitol is kind of wedding conservation and policy, which are two of my favorite things to work on.”

Optimism

Clay is optimistic about the future of SWCDs in Illinois despite the ongoing challenges.

“Our funding has been a big challenge, but overall since starting it’s been good. I feel good in the position,” he said.

“Soil and Water Conservation Districts are not strangers to tough times. AISWCD has been around since 1948 in Illinois. We’re dealing with a lot of the same things we have been dealing with over time, and there are not a lot of new things under the sun at this point for these guys.

“But, all that said, we’re looking into the future and given everything that’s going on in the world right now I do think it’s a time for change, a time for new ideas and new things to get done. I’m excited about that prospect, for sure.”

Illinois SWCDs have been subjected to state budget cuts off and on over the last few decades, the most recent being a cut of $1 million for fiscal year 2026, following a cut by $4 million in the state’s budget a year ago.

“Even during Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration, at one point funding was completely zeroed out. They had nothing,” Clay said.

“So, it’s been years and years of different administrations and politics and who’s in control over the capitol and the governor, all of those things. Like I said, nothing’s new, but we’re navigating the times we’re in, and that’s all we can do.”

Change Ahead?

Funding is among the topics of concern for SWCD program, but there are also many changes underway with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We’re still waiting for a new farm bill. We’re hoping it’s going to be soon, but we don’t know for sure. One of the things that have been signaled to us by the new USDA secretary is that a lot of the functions of U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service look like they may be pushed more onto state-level conservation districts,” Clay said.

“So, what I’m thinking through is, if that is the case, we need to be ready for that opportunity. The SWCD system is stressed in Illinois right now as it is, so we need to strengthen it, but I see it as a really big calling to us to figure out how we move forward because if the feds do step back and start relying more in the states, I don’t know of another organization group like the SWCD system that is so well established in Illinois in every single county. So, I’m trying to figure out how do we set ourselves up for success and continue to provide these resources with farmers.”

Dedicated Efforts

Among the strengths of AISWCD is its foundation of grassroots efforts led by numerous volunteer board members and staff in each county that are passionate about protecting Illinois’ soils and water resources.

“That’s been the really great thing about working for this group. In the ag sector, you’ll meet all different kinds of folks, whether it’s on the business side or the regular day-to-day operation side of farming,” Clay said.

“But with Soil and Water Conservation Districts, you’re talking with people that not only are many of the times farmers themselves, but they really respect the landscape. I think that sense of being a steward yourself of the land and knowing that, although we’re on it now, there will be future generations that are going to be using it, too, and recognizing the heritage of where all this came from.

“I tell people all the time, we have the best soil in Illinois, but it’s not for a lack of the environment trying. It’s thousands of years of prairie and all these things, and we need to recognize the importance of all of that history to really to grasp on to where we need to be going.

“That’s the cool thing about SWCD directors in all these counties is that they know that. It’s not just farming to them. They see the benefits on their soil when they do these practices. They see the benefits in the water quality and air quality, too. And it’s that kind of passion that really makes me happy to be where I’m at.”