Award Recipients
NCDEA proudly sponsors the National Conservation District Professional Award and the National Conservation District Board Member Award to recognize professionalism and dedication in the people behind the nation’s conservation district programs. Award recipients are not only district professionals or board members – they are people that truly believe in conserving the natural resources and making the world a better place.
Nominations for these awards may be submitted at any time to Regional Directors, with an annual deadline of October 1.
2017
District Professional
Rick McSwain received the 2017 NCDEA National Conservation District Professional award.
Rick is the District Director for the Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
District Board Member
Jim Harreld received the 2017 NCDEA National Conservation District Board Member award.
Jim is the Chairman of the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District in Canton, Mississippi.
2016
District Professional
Mamie Caison received the 2016 NCDEA National Conservation District Professional award.
Mamie is Director of the Brunswick SWCD in Bolivia, NC.
District Board Member
Gary Blair received the 2016 NCDEA National Conservation District Board Member award.
Gary is the President of the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts.
2015
District Professional
Richard (Rick) Mickowski received the NCDEA National Conservation District Professional award.
Rick works for the New Castle County Conservation District in Delaware as Conservationist II/Education Coordinator.
District Board Member
John W. Peterson received the NCDEA National Conservation District Board Member award.
John represents the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District where he serves as Chairman of the Board.
NCDEA Awards History
| Year | District Professional | District Official |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Janice Gillispie, TN | Paul Hunter, MS |
| 2017 | Rick McSwain, NC | Jim Harreld, MS |
| 2016 | Mamie Caison, NC | Gary Blair, MI |
| 2015 | Rick Mickowski, DE | John Peterson, VA |
| 2014 | Peter Vigil, NM | John Finch, NC |
| 2013 | Carol Edwards, TN | Kevin Jeffries, KY |
| 2012 | George Boggs, WA Millie Langley, NC | Charles Holmes, AL |
| 2011 | Pamela Hawkins, NC | Dan Ellison, KY |
| 2010 | Bryan Evans, NC | James Lacy, KY |
| 2009 | Robert Dobbs, NJ Tommy Brooks, NC | Gerald Scheele, WA |
| 2008 | Phil Griswold, NY | Pat Sueck, PA |
| 2007 | Martha Buff, NC | NA |
| 2006 | Martha Newby, KY | Andrew Jackson, FL |
| 2005 | ||
| 2004 | Wilma Newton, AL | James Todd, IL |
| 2003 | NA | NA |
| 2002 | Glenda Lewis, SC | Eli Mast, MO |
| 2001 | Kay Wasinger, KS | John D. (Jack) Majeres, SD |
| 2000 | ||
| 1999 | Michael Lovegreen, PA | Joe Lomax, NJ |
| 1998 | Perry Lindquist, WI | Rudy Langley, NC |
| 1997 | Judy Krebs, OH | Alan Cooke, FL |
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Gretchen Rank serves as the Southwest Director for NCDEA. Take a look at some of the work being done by her conservation district in Mancos, CO.
Ranchers get help from unexpected source
www.thefencepost.com
Agricultural producers in southwest Colorado, mostly cow-calf ranchers, expended less labor to access the same amount of water to irrigate their pastures since implementing improvements to their irrigation ditchesLisa Ogden, Natrona County Conservation District highlighting the restoration of the North Platte River at the NACD convention in Las Vegas.
Meet your new NCDEA officers. We are so lucky to have such a diverse and professional group of people in leadership roles!
Rhonda Kelsch, President
Jeff Parker, Member at Large (Northeast)
Gretchen Rank, Treasurer
Velynda Parker, Secretary
Melissa Higbee, Vice President
Congratulations!!!!