Conservation Day at the Capitol 2009

Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts Sponsors “Conservation Day at the Capitol” March 25, 2009

Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts Will Present Outstanding Conservation Awards During Daylong Events at the Capitol

(See awards program agenda at the bottom of this page or click here for a printable version.)

The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) will sponsor “Conservation Day at the Capitol” on March 25. Cosponsors include a number of the state’s 88 local conservation districts, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The event will take place in the Capitol Rotunda on the fourth floor from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Participants will have exhibits on display featuring diverse conservation activities across the state that address local natural resource needs.

There will be an awards presentation at 1:30 p.m. in the Governor’s Blue Room on the second floor. Presenters will include Oklahoma Sec. of Agriculture Terry Peach, Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts President Trey Lam, Oklahoma Press Association Executive Vice President Mark Thomas, Oklahoma Conservation Commission Chairman Dan Lowrance and Executive Director Mike Thralls. In addition, representatives from Chesapeake Energy, the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma will be present to help present awards.

Three categories will be presented in the OACD Conservation Awards, sponsored by Chesapeake Energy, the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

Dale Wooderson of Blackwell, Okla., will receive the Outstanding Landowner/Cooperator Award, cosponsored by the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma. Gallery is a cooperator with and was nominated by the Kay County Conservation District.

Alveta Taylor of Thomas, Okla., on the board of directors of the Deer Creek Conservation District, will receive the Outstanding District Director Award, cosponsored by the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

Deer Creek Conservation District will receive the Outstanding District Award, cosponsored by Chesapeake Energy. The Deer Creek Conservation District office is in Weatherford.

In addition, five teachers from across the state – one in each Congressional district – will receive Outstanding Conservation Educator Awards cosponsored by OACD and Chesapeake Energy. The recipients are John Beasley, Tulsa; Alicia Brents, Fort Towson; Jennifer Crabb, Sayre; Rick McElhaney, Lawton; and Colby Cagle, Bethel Acres.

Excellence in Communication Awards will be presented to two conservation districts and one newspaper publisher for outstanding efforts to support and promote conservation. Kay County and Deer Creek Conservation Districts will be honored for Outstanding Public Information Campaigns. C.F. David, publisher of the Boise City News Monitor will receive an award for Outstanding Continuing Support of Conservation by an Oklahoma Press Association Member Newspaper.

Conservation Districts are local subunits of state government responsible for care of renewable natural resources. Each district is a governed by a board of five volunteer directors, and cooperates with the Natural Resources Conservation Service for technical assistance.

The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes natural resource conservation through various activities as well as communication and cooperation with legislative bodies at the state and national levels.

Awards Program Agenda: Conservation Day at the Capitol

Presented by the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts
The Governor’s Blue Room, Second Floor, Oklahoma State Capitol
March 25, 2009, 1:30 p.m.

Conservation Educators Awards

For outstanding achievement in Conservation Education
Cosponsored by Chesapeake Energy
Presented by representatives of Chesapeake Energy and Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts

Tammy Jones, Congressional District 1, Wagoner County Conservation District
Caprice Coleman, Congressional District 2, Hughes County Conservation District
Sally Schmidt, Congressional District II, East Woods County Conservation District
Congressional District 4, Jane Dmytryk, Cleveland County Conservation District
Congressional District 5, Gloria Vass, Oklahoma County Conservation District

Excellence in Communication

For outstanding achievement in communication in support of conservation
Cosponsored by the Oklahoma Press Association
Presented by Mark Thomas, Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma Press Association
Deer Creek Conservation District: Outstanding Public Information Campaign
Kay County Conservation District: Outstanding Public Information Campaign
C.F. David, Boise City News: Continuing Support by an OPA Newspaper

OACD Conservation Awards

For outstanding achievement in conservation of Oklahoma’s renewable natural resources
Presented by the Terry Peach, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture; Jess W. “Trey” Lam III, President of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts; and representatives of the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma, the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, and Chesapeake Energy

Outstanding Landowner/Cooperator
Cosponsored by the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma
Dale Wooderson, Kay County Conservation District

Outstanding Director
Cosponsored by the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Alveta Taylor, Deer Creek Conservation District

Outstanding District
Cosponsored by Chesapeake Energy
Deer Creek Conservation District