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.
2026 Community Awards
Thurston Conservation District is pleased to share the 2025 Community Awardees that District Board and Staff have recognized as outstanding leaders in our community for their conservation of natural resources!
Producer of Year: Sarah & Nick George- Land Steward of the Year: Kim & Mark Conner
- Educator of the Year: Julia Fregonara
- Partner of the Year: Jesse Duvall
- Volunteer of the Year: Charlie Garrott
- Doug Rushton Conservation Legacy Award: Marcie Cleaver
2025 Community Awards
- Producer of Year: Riverbend Ranch
- Land Steward of the Year: Betsy Dewreede
- Educator of the Year: Carmen Kardokus
- Partner of the Year: Jamie Glasgow
- Volunteer of the Year: Tami & Garth Farro
- Student of the Year: Ali Owen
- Doug Rushton Conservation Legacy Award: Bob Barnes
2024 Community Awards
- Producer of the Year: Helsing Junction Farms
- Land Steward of the Year: Michelle Boderck
- Educator of the Year: Jane Rizika
- Partner of the Year: Dan Calvert
- Volunteer of the Year: Rebecca Champagne-Bingaman
- Student of the Year: Lily Morgan
- Doug Rushton Conservation Legacy Award: Nelson Ranc
2023 Community Awards
- 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 Year: Keith Fagernes & Selma Bjarnadottir, Flying Cow Creamery
- Land Steward of the Year: Bill & Lesli Arney
- Volunteer of the Year: Kayla McCarthy
- Educator of the Year: Ron Holtcamp
- Student of the Year: Leila Chavez
- Partner of the Year: Nick George, Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program
- 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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