Freeborn County SWCD Staff
Lindsey Cornell
District Manager​
Lindsey is responsible for oversight of staff, management, the fiscal responsibilities of the district, grant tracking oversight, along with overseeing many watershed planning efforts for One Watershed One Plan for the Cedar, Shell Rock/Winnebago, LeSueur, and Blue Earth Watersheds. She also oversees the Minnesota Buffer Law for Freeborn County, the District Tree Program, and many cost share programs the district has. Lindsey also represents the Freeborn SWCD on the Freeborn Area Soil Health Team (FASHT).
Chad Billat
Project Manager
Chad is responsible for habitat restoration on conservation easements and assisting landowners with various programs. Chad is the point of contact for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Reinvest in Minnesota Program (RIM). Chad is a member of the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) for Freeborn County. He provides technical assistance for projects related to the Shell Rock-Winnebago One Watershed One Plan (1W1P). He also assists landowners with the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), soil health, and items related to vegetation establishment.
Mark is responsible for the survey, design and oversees construction of structural practices on agricultural land. He provides technical assistance to landowners regarding the Buffer Law, State Cost Share, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Annual Tree Sale, and soil health. Mark is the main point of contact for the Freeborn SWCD's No-Till Drill Rental Program and coordinates delivery of the drill to users. Mark monitors conservation practices throughout the county to ensure they are functioning as planned.
Senja is responsible for education and outreach efforts for the Freeborn SWCD. This includes the SWCD's annual newsletter, fair booth display, and social media. She is the main point of contact for the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) and Southeast Minnesota Envirothon. Senja serves as Secretary for the Southeast Minnesota Association of Conservation District Employees (MACDE). Senja assists other staff members with tasks related to programs administered through our office.
Linda is responsible for keeping the Freeborn County SWCD running smoothly behind the scenes. Her responsibilities include managing the district’s financial records, payroll, and office operations, while also supporting the Board of Supervisors with meeting preparation and recordkeeping. Along with handling day-to-day administrative tasks, Linda is often the first friendly face or voice to greet visitors that contact the district office. Her work helps to ensure the SWCD can focus on serving Freeborn County’s landowners and protecting our natural resources.
