Conservation Day at the Capitol 2008 Announcement
Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts Sponsors “Conservation Day at the Capitol” March 19, 2008
Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts Will Present Outstanding Conservation Awards During Daylong Events at the Capitol
The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) will sponsor “Conservation Day at the Capitol” on March 19. 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 8:30 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 10:00 a.m. in the Governor’s Blue Room on the second floor. Presenters will include Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts President Scotty Herriman, Oklahoma Press Association Executive Vice President Mark Thomas, Oklahoma Conservation Commission Executive Director Mike Thralls.
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.
Dan Gallery of Wann, Okla., will receive the Outstanding Landowner/Cooperator Award, sponsored by the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma. Gallery is a cooperator with and was nominated by the Caney Valley Conservation District.
Rick Jeans of Tonkawa, on the board of directors of the Kay County Conservation District, will receive the Outstanding District Director Award, sponsored by the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. In February Jeans was inducted into the Oklahoma Conservation Hall of Fame.
Deer Creek Conservation District will receive the Outstanding District Award, sponsored 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 two newspaper publishers for outstanding efforts to support and promote conservation. Kay County Conservation District will be honored for an Outstanding Public Information Campaign. Garfield County Conservation District will receive an award for Excellence in Broadcast Communication. Mark Carson of the Woods County Enterprise and Willis Choate of the Marietta Monitor will each receive awards 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.