OACD Conservation Awards Presented at the Capitol

Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts Hosted “Conservation Day at the Capitol” March 19, 2007

(Links to more photos and info on award recipients is at the bottom of this page.)

The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) presented the OACD Conservation Awards and the OACD Outstanding Conservation Educator Awards during “Conservation Day at the Capitol” on March 19. Cosponsors included a number of the state’s 88 local conservation districts, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The event took place in the Capitol Rotunda on the fourth floor from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Approximately 30 participating organizations presented display booths featuring diverse conservation activities across the state that address local natural resource needs.

In an awards presentation in the Governor’s Blue Room, state Sec. of Agriculture Terry Peach joined OACD President Scotty Herriman in presenting the OACD Conservation Award. The three award categories were cosponsored by Chesapeake Energy, the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

East Woods County Conservation District (EWCCD) received the Outstanding District Award, sponsored by OACD and Chesapeake Energy. The district was honored for carrying out a wide variety of activities to promote and support conservation of natural resources. EWCCD activities including education opportunities for students and sponsoring trees for Washington School and bird feeders for Longfellow School. Both schools are in Alva. The district makes conservation-related implements available to farmers and cosponsors the Northwest Oklahoma Land Judging Contest for area 4H and FFA members.

Outstanding District 2007 East Woods CCD

East Woods County Conservation District (EWCCD) was named Outstanding Conservation District for 2006. Above, from left, are EWCCD Director David Lyon, Sen. Owen Laughlin, EWCCD Program Coordinator Reva Maddox, EWCCD Director Jay Leeper; Chesapeake Energy Government Relations Director Sarah Gainer; EWCCD Directors Clint Olson and Bob McCray; Chesapeake Energy Vice President Tom Price; Sec. of Agriculture Terry Peach and OACD President Scotty Herriman.

Paul Brown of Chickasha, on the board of directors of the Grady County Conservation District, received the Outstanding District Director Award, sponsored by OACD and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. Brown represented the conservation district during the construction and inspection with NRCS of the Bitter Creek No. 18 flood control dam, completed in June 2006. The Brown Dairy helps with conservation education by hosting tours for students with visitors ranging from elementary school to exchange students from Germany, Russia and Brazil.

Paul Brown of Chickasha was named Outstanding Director for 2006. Above, from left, are Sen. Ron Justice, Paul Brown, Noble Foundation Agricultural Division Director Waddel Altom, Sec. of Agriculture Terry Peach, and OACD President Scotty Herriman.

Joe Jeter of Copan received the Outstanding Landowner/Cooperator Award, sponsored by OACD and the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma. Jeter is a cooperator with and was nominated by the Caney Valley Conservation District. Jeter is a fourth generation farmer in Washington County who began farming his own land in 1971 while still in high school. Through conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), he has installed ponds, re-shaped terraces and sprayed weeds to fight soil erosion and invasive plants. Jeter also employs no-till farming methods to curb soil erosion and conserve moisture. His great grandfather B.H. “Bud” Jeter was a founding member of the Caney Valley Conservation District and served on the board until 1950.

Joe Jeter of Copan, Okla., was named Outstanding Cooperator for 2006. Above, from left are, OCC Executive Director Mike Thralls, Rep. Earl Sears, Rep. Steve Martin, Sen. John Ford, Joe Jeter, Sec. of Agriculture Terry Peach, and OACD President Scotty Herriman.

In addition, five teachers from across the state – one in each Congressional district – received Outstanding Conservation Educator Awards cosponsored by OACD and Chesapeake Energy. The recipients were Shannon Chatwin, Tulsa; Shirley Nelson, Talihina; Tracy Leeper, Alva; Jyme Tyner, Chickasha; and Nellie Patterson, Edmond. (Links to more information on each teacher is at the bottom of this page.)

Above, from left, are Shannon Chatwin, Shirley Nelson, Chesapeake Energy Vice President Tom Price, Tracie Leeper, Jyme Tyner and Nellie Patterson.

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.

East Woods County Conservation District, Outstanding Conservation District

Paul Brown, Outstanding Conservation District Director

Joe Jeter, Outstanding Landowner/Cooperator

Shannon Chatwin, Outstanding Conservation Educator, Congressional District 1

Shirley Nelson, Outstanding Conservation Educator, Congressional District 2

Tracie Leeper, Outstanding Conservation Educator, Congressional District 3

Jyme Tyner, Outstanding Conservation Educator, Congressional District 4

Nellie Patterson, Outstanding Conservation Educator, Congressional District 5

Click here to access all the photos from Conservation Day at the Capitol 2007 including award presentations and display booths.

Photos were taken by Mark Harrison and Dwain Phillips of Oklahoma Conservation Commission staff and Duane Harrell of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry.

Last Modified on 03/26/2007