WGCD Annual Meeting & Awards Supper
Greeley/Weld County CO – West Greeley Conservation District (WGCD) hosted its 70th Annual Meeting, Dinner and Awards on Thursday night (11/8/18) at Island Grove Regional Park Event Center. Over 230 District members attended the event catered by Kenny’s.
The meeting was brief and facilitated by Board President, John Leone and Board of Supervisors members: Randy Miller, V.P., Lenny Simpson, Treasurer, Tony Becker, and Allen Beloin, plus Richard Foose, Member Emeritus.
Last year’s minutes were reviewed and approved as well as the upcoming year’s budget. Then Awards followed.
Recognition and cash prizes went to this year’s WGCD Annual Conservation Poster Contest top three winners from 5th and 6th grades within the District’s boundaries. The contest was managed August to October. All schools in the district were invited to participate.
Winning artists include:
2nd – Sabrina Ruiz-Horsman, Salida Del Sol Academy – middle
3rd – Reagan Kochevar, Eaton Middle School – left
Salida del Sol was the only elementary school whose 5th Graders participated this year.
2nd – Amy Jimenez, Salida del Sol (middle)
3rd – Kelsey Carillo, Salida del Sol (left)
Now Kate Harrison and Lilia De La Mora’s posters will go to Colorado Association of Conservation Districts’ (CACD) state-wide competition the end of November.
Those present took time to honor deceased Col. Stanley D. Cass, July 29, 1933 – April 14, 2018, who served on the WGCD Board for 26 years following his 33-year military career. Col. Cass is greatly missed.
The Conservationists of the Year who were recognized in three categories for being good stewards of the land and actively participate in the implementation of conservation practices as valued producers are:
Pictured here with Allen Beloin, Randy Miller, Tony Becker, Lenny Simpson, Barry Reider, John Leone – all WGCD Board of Supervisors and Liz Schneider, WGCD Small Acreage and Conservation Technician.
Rob is pictured here with his wife, Allison Johnson, holding the metal art Award crafted by Greeley West H.S. FFA and Agriculture students.
Lenny Simpson presented Jim with his award and Sturrock proceeded to lead the crowd in a conservation pledge to:
Be socially responsible with environmental stewardship of all natural resources.
Maintain and enhance wildlife and plant community biodiversity through appropriate
grazing management.
Protect human rights of usage on the property through due diligence.
Be economically viable.
A sparkling cider toast followed to wrapped-up the evening’s festivities.
The West Greeley Conservation District looks forward to another year of combined education and landowner support to its stakeholders, both rural and urban in 2019.
Both the Board and staff thank the GWHS FFA youth and their 2018-19 Scholarship recipients who were volunteering Thursday night to make the evening a total success.
West Greeley Conservation District (WGCD) was established on June 14, 1948 in the wake of the overwhelming ecological disaster labeled The Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Congress created the conservation district network. West Greeley is one of 10 Conservation Districts in Weld County and 76 such districts (of various sizes) throughout the state. WGCD encompasses 66 percent or 1,650,000 acres in Weld. Federal and State land totals 260,000 acres and private land producers total roughly 1,390,000 acres. Since January of 1987 WGCD has been supported by a .414 tax mill levy.
Submitted to The BARN by:
Kristi L. Helzer
Community Education & Outreach Coordinator
4302 W 9th Street Rd
Greeley, CO 80634
Phone: (970) 534-2320 (NEW)
Cell: (970) 381-8905