Eliot Clay to lead AISWCD

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts announced the selection of Eliot Clay as its new executive director.

Clay comes to the AISWCD from 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 also co-leads the Illinois Livestock Reform Coalition and was appointed in 2024 to the state’s Good Food Purchasing Task Force by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

“I’m excited to join the AISWCD team at a crucial time for soil and water conservation,” Clay said. “The work of local districts is essential to protecting our environment and supporting our agricultural economy.”

Prior to his work with IEC, Eliot served as a legislative analyst for the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus, where he supported the Environment and Conservation and the Agriculture committees.

He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield where he served as a graduate assistant with Illinois Issues magazine and public radio station WUIS in Springfield. He’s a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Dale Shumaker, president of the AISWCD board, said he’s “excited about bringing Eliot on to the association’s team as a problem solver and relationship builder.”

“Eliot comes to us from a conservation partner and is already familiar with the importance of Soil and Water Conservation Districts,” Shumaker said. “He is energetic and enthusiastic about our mission. And we plan to lean on his legislative skills.”

As his first priority, Clay will work closely with local directors of the state’s 97 local Soil and Water Conservation Districts to push for the passage of Senate Bill 3964 and House Bill 5876, which will restore state funding for local conservation staff.

“These local Soil and Water Conservation District staffers provide critical support to farmers and landowners, helping producers access federal grants and implement sustainable farming practices,” he said.