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Learning to See the Soil Differently at Pay Dirt – The Elkhart County SWCD Pay Dirt event is designed to be more than a demonstration; it’s an opportunity to learn by doing and by observing with purpose. Our learning demonstration areas are intentionally hands-on, giving participants the chance to touch, question, and interact with real-world conservation practices.

While everyone will be standing at the same demonstration sites, the goal is not for everyone to walk away with the same takeaway. Instead, we encourage participants to view each demonstration through their own lens, whether that’s farming, land ownership, water quality, education, or community planning. One person may see soil health. Another may notice erosion control. Someone else may focus on water movement, equipment choices, or long-term land stewardship. That difference in perspective is intentional. By engaging with the demonstrations in this way, Pay Dirt helps participants understand that conservation practices are not one-size-fits-all. The same field, the same soil, and the same practice can offer different lessons depending on how you look at it and how you apply it.

This approach mirrors real conservation work, where solutions are shaped by local conditions, goals, and values. At Pay Dirt, learning doesn’t stop at watching; it happens when participants ask questions, compare observations, and see familiar practices in new ways.