Meet the Staff
Hats off to our Ashland SWCD staff for earning the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation District award for the 2020 Ohio Soil & Water Conservation District of the Year! Learn more about our talented staff below:
Jane Houin
As director, Jane oversees the day-to-day operations of the district and the diverse programs we offer to promote healthy soils and clean water. A native of Holmes County, where she still lives on the family farm, Jane is a graduate of Purdue University (Boiler Up!) where she earned a bachelor's degree with distinction in agricultural communications and focused her master's degree in mass communications on scientific and risk communication. Jane enjoys spending time with her husband Craig and three children: Aubree, Garrett and Tristan and their many activities, including 4-H, FFA, karate, rodeo, and bowling. One of her favorite quotes comes from the Harry Potter book series: “It is our choices ... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." To contact Jane please call 419-281-7645 or email jhouin@ashlandcounty.org.
Katie Eikleberry
Katie joined the Ashland SWCD team as our fiscal & education specialist in 2021 but has transitioned to our conservation specialist in 2022. Katie leads our equipment rental program, conservation status checks, technical assistance, pollution investigations and aerial cover crop program. A graduate of WHHS, Katie lived on the ball field or at FFA events. Katie is married to Cole and lives in Ashland County on a small hobby farm with their kids. Katie enjoys spending time with her family and supporting them in the many activities they are involved in. She loves hunting, fishing, riding horses, being on the water and summer (the hotter the better). Her favorite quote is one directly from her Granny Taylor: “There is always good with the bad.” To contact Katie please call 419-281-7645 or email keikleberry@ashlandcounty.org.
Cora Crilow
Cora joined the Ashland SWCD team as an NOWCorps Service Member in 2022 and was hired on to be our water quality specialist in 2024. Cora leads the H2Ohio program and soil testing in our office. She has an associate’s degree in agricultural communication from Ohio State ATI. Cora and her fiance Brayden live outside of Wooster with their two corgis, Tula and Tripp. She enjoys being in the sheep barn and spending time with her family. Her favorite quote is from Winston Churchill: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” To contact Cora please call 419-281-7645 or email ccrilow@ashlandcounty.org.
Jody Irwin
Jody is our Administrative Assistant. She resides in Holmes County with her husband, Cormac, and their three daughters. Jody lives on a small farm, where her family raises dairy goats, chickens, rabbits, dogs, and cats. She is also a county 4-H Cloverbud advisor. She has an associate’s degree in Horticulture Technology from Kent State University. In her free time, she enjoys camping and sewing. Jody’s favorite quote is from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” To contact Jody please call 419-281-7645 or email jirwin@ashlandcounty.org.
Joe Christner
Joe doesn’t quite know how to take it easy. After retiring from Holmes SWCD as their water quality technician in 2021, Joe joined our Ashland SWCD team part time as a watershed assistant in January of 2022. Joe manager our Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District cost share programs: livestock exclusion fencing, cover crops and log jam removal projects. Joe lives in Ragersville with his wife Nina and enjoys spending time with his daughters and grandchildren. To contact Joe please call 419-281-7645 or email jchristner@ashlandcounty.org.
Holly Hale
Holly joined the Ashland SWCD team as our Natural Resource Specialist in July 2024. She also assists with Education Programs. A graduate of South Central Local Schools, Holly was an active member of FFA and 4-H. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters Degree in Instructional Design and Educational Technology and is currently a 3rd Grade at Ontario Local Schools. Holly lives in Greenwich, Ohio and enjoys spending time with family, fishing, reading, going on bike rides and traveling. Her favorite quote is: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss. To contact Holly please call 419-281-7645 or email hollyswcd@gmail.com.