Dennis Hinen elected to SWCD board of supervisors Tuesday night
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Bill Overdeer, left, officiates the swearing in of newly elected Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors member Dennis Hinen Tuesday evening. Hinen was elected during the SWCD’s 52nd annual meeting Tuesday night.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Whitley County Soil and Water Conservation District members and their families carefully considered the candidates and cast their paper ballots Tuesday evening, selecting Dennis Hinen as the newest board supervisor for the SWCD. 
Hinen, an active member of the SWCD for more than 30 years, has served on the board in the past as a chairman and assistant supervisor.
Hinen and his sons, Todd and Danny, farm over 900 acres in Thorncreek Township as the Hinen Family Farms Partnership. They also manage a 350-head dairy beef operation.
According to information provided by the SWCD, the Hinens utilize various methods of management on their farms that are environmentally aware. They are completely no-till soybeans, minimum till with their corn production, have installed filtration strips, utilize the environmental quality incentive program and a nutrient and pest management plan and installed a new animal waste management facility for their dairy beef operation.
Additionally, Hinen has planned trees on piece of highly erodible ground that he recently retired from farming due to the steepness of the terrain.
Hinen was sworn in during the meeting by SWCD associate supervisor Bill Overdeer.