Thurston Conservation District’s Community Awards Program publicly honors community members, partners and volunteers for their support of our mission and conservation values. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the recipients for their dedication and demonstration of good land stewardship, their work inspiring a conservation ethic in fellow community members, and their contribution to the story of voluntary stewardship in our community through partnership with Thurston Conservation District.
2024 Community Awards
Thurston Conservation District is pleased to share the 2023 Community Awardees that District Board and Staff have recognized as outstanding leaders in our community for their conservation of natural resources!
Congratulations to the 2024 awardees!
Producer of the Year: Helsing Junction Farms
Land Steward of the Year: Michelle Boderck
Volunteer of the Year: Rebecca Champagne-Bingaman
Educator of the Year: Jane Rizika
Student of the Year: Lily Morgan
Partner of the Year: Dan Calvert
Doug Rushton Conservation Legacy Award: Nelson Ranch
2023 Community Awards
Congratulations to the 2023 awardees!
- Producer of Year: Jesse Ratcliff
- Land Steward of the Year: Muhammad Ayub
- Land Steward of the Year: The Townsend Family
- Volunteer of the Year: Aimee Richardson
- Educator of the Year: Heidi Yerrington
- Student of the Year: Tina Wagner
- Partner of the Year: Ashley Arai
- Doug Rushton Conservation Legacy Award: Erica Guttman
2022 Community Awards
- Producer of the Year: Keith Fagernes & Selma Bjarnadottir, Flying Cow Creamery
- Land Steward of the Year: Bill & Lesli Arney
- Educator of the Year: Ron Holtcamp
- Partner of the Year: Nick George, U.S Fish & Wildlife – Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program
- Student Lead of the Year: Leila Chavez
- Volunteer of the Year: Kayla McCarthy
- Doug Rushton Conservation Legacy Award: Fred & Katherine Colvin
2021 Community Awards
- Producer of the Year: John and Susan Dana, 3Ds Alpacas
- Land Steward of the Year: Geoff and Lorna Mueller
- Educator of the Year: Dixie Reimer and Jana Brock, North Thurston Public Schools
- Partner of the Year: Heidi Smith, Bounty for Families
- Doug Rushton Conservation Legacy Award: Tom Salzer
Click on the above links to view the awardee recognition videos.
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