Meet the Nominees
Two supervisors will be elected to a three-year term commencing January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027. The nominees are Mike Hope, Dan Lane, and Eric Penkal. Completed ballots may be returned to the office via U.S. Postal service or in-person, starting October 21, 2024, and must be received at the Delaware SWCD office by November 19, 2024 by 4:30 p.m. Further election information can be found by clicking here.
Candidate Bios
Mike Hope
Mike owns and operates Triple M Farms with his brother Mark. They stay busy with close to 1400 acres of row crops in Concord, Liberty, Radnor and Thompson Township. Both became interested in farming after joining FFA in high school and took over the family dairy farm in 1986. After 45 years of milking cows, they have since moved to a beef cow-calf operation on their family farm.
In 2006, Mike enrolled in the Scioto Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program which kickstarted environmentally friendly practices on his farm. In 2013, he signed into the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and began participating in NRCS’s Conservation Stewardship Program to build upon his existing conservation practices on his land. Because of these programs, Mike and Mark practice no-till as well as vertical tillage, as they realize the importance and benefits of preserving and improving their soil.
Mike and his wife of 34 years, Patty, moved and now reside in Radnor Township after living and raising their family in Concord Township. They have three daughters, one son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Dan Lane
Dan was born and raised in Delaware, Ohio and is a fourth-generation farmer. Dan and his wife, Jennifer, along with their three home-schooled children, are members of Faith Life Church in New Albany where Dan serves as head usher.
Dan uses natural-mined minerals, phosphates, and potassium sources to promote soil health and increase biological life in the soil. The Lanes own HyR Brix, a business focusing on fertilizer and soil amendments for specialty growers, truck farms, and backyard growers. Dan is a member of the Ohio Soybean Association, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, National Rifle Association, Ohio Proud, and Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association. Dan has served on the Delaware SWCD Board of Supervisors since 2013.
Eric Penkal
Eric has served his entire professional career as a public servant. He grew up in Garfield Heights, Ohio and after graduating from Ohio University and then University of Dayton School of Law, Eric moved to Delaware, Ohio in 2008, which quickly became home. From his initial time as a Morrow County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, which transitioned into a 12-year career as a Delaware County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, helping people is Eric’s driving force.
In his time as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Eric prosecuted criminal cases. He also served as a Civil Attorney where he represented several County and Township Clients including the Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District.
In his current role as the inaugural Director of the Delaware County Guardianship Services Board, Eric assisted in the creation of a brand-new public agency in Delaware County. The Delaware County Guardianship Services Board provides guardianship services to folks that are found incompetent by the Delaware County Probate Court.
Eric spends his days with his wife, Whitnee, who is a teacher at Buckeye Valley West Elementary, while also chasing their two kids, Owen and Olivia, along with their puppy-like 14-year-old golden doodle, Homer. After a few stops around the county, the Penkal family now lives in Concord Township.