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Bill Sillman  

Bill Sillman was a pioneer of farmland conservation in Southeast Minnesota. When Bill saw a federal report in the mid 1930's that indicated U.S. farmers were under-producing, he decided to take an active role by becoming the first Soil Conservationist in Winona County with the newly created Soil Erosion Service.

His first project was to demonstrate the benefits of strip-cropping, contour strips, and other conservation practices in Gilmore Valley, Winona County. Working against great skepticism, he was able to start the demonstration in 1935. There was a drought in 1934 and again in 1936. At the end of the 1936 season the farmers in the project area had harvestable crops and enough hay for the winter. This was not the case for many farmers outside the project. As farmers learned of the project's success they wanted more information about improving their land.

In 1938 the first Soil and Water Conservation District for Minnesota was formed with Bill leading the way, and in three years Bill was overseeing all of Winona County, which included four watersheds. Bill worked in this area until his retirement in 1973 and even then remained active talking to service clubs, school classes, and leading tours of the area.

Bill became concerned in later years, as he watched as farm land changed ownership or get rented out, and he saw that many of the conservation structures and practices were no longer being maintained.