History
The Emmet County Soil Conservation District was organized in June 1948 under the authority of the Michigan Soil District Law Act 297 of Public Acts 1937 at the request of local farmers and farm organizations. The Grange and the County Farm Bureau took a very active part in the formation of the District. The District came into existence as the result of a referendum at which all farm owners and operators had an opportunity to cast their vote. The result of that vote was 265 to 8 in favor of the formation of a Soil Conservation District covering Emmet County. The first Board of Directors were: President - Kenneth Bare, Vice President – Percy Reed, Treasurer – James Griffen, Members – Sidney Howard and Marvin Johnston.

The Michigan Soil District Law is an act to declare the necessity of creating governmental subdivisions of the state, known as "soil conservation districts", to engage in conserving soil by controlling soil erosion; to establish the state soil conservation committee, to define its powers and duties; to adopt programs for the discontinuance of land use practices contributing to soil waste and soil erosion, and to adopt and carry out soil conserving land use practices.

After two years in existence, the employees of the Conservation District had written 54 Farm Conservation Plans that covered over 21,000 acres and sold over 100,000 trees that were planted in Emmet County. The Conservation District, with cooperation from USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, has continued to serve the property owners of the county with farm, wildlife habitat, and soil erosion control plans and has sold over two million trees that were planted in Emmet County.

In the year 2000 the Soil Conservation District pursuant to state statute changed its name to Emmet Conservation District and continues to apply for federal and local grants to implement practices that protect the soil and water of this county.