LEWISTON — Election Superintendent Jane Heikkinen has announced that nomination petitions have been received from Edward Carter of Richmond and Benjamin Dearnley of Bowdoinham for candidacy for the board of supervisors with the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District.

Ballots can be downloaded by going to www.androscogginswcd.org, or mailed by calling 753-9400, ext. 400. The ballots must be received no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20. They will be counted at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. Registered voter and resident of Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties are eligible to vote.

Carter grew up in New Hampshire, received an associate’s degree in animal science at the University of New Hampshire, and moved to Richmond in 1990 with his wife and children.

Carter has been involved with farming more than 30 years. He owns a beef and sheep farm and is chairman of the Maine Beef Council. His daughter is responsible for having sheep on the farm. His son assists as time allows. Carter is a salesperson for Hammond Tractor.

Carter said, “ I want to do anything I can to help people become good stewards of our land and water.”

Dearnley graduated from St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. His major was in environmental science. Dearnley serves as an Ed Tech III at the Spurwink School, working with special needs students. When not working, his time is consumed with working the “Life Force Farm,” an organic vegetable farm. The farm property was purchased in 2005.

Dearnley seriously became involved in developing and implementing his organic vegetable farm plan in 2008. H has worked with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service staff to implement conservation measures on his farm through the Environmental Quality Improvement Program and developed a high tunnel for his organic vegetables.

Dearnley said, “I want to give a voice to the needs of the organic farmer.”

The Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District is a legal subdivision of state government working with local landowners, municipalities and resource managers to solve natural resource problems.

The board of supervisors consists of three elected and two appointed members, who serve for a period of three years providing direction for the district’s programming.