Washtenaw County Conservation District 74th Annual Meeting and Conservation Awards

submitted by Megan DeLeeuw, Executive Director Washtenaw County Conservation District

The Washtenaw County Conservation District’s (WCCD) 74th Annual Meeting will be held virtually via Zoom on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 6:30 pm. The virtual event will be free and open to the public. An RSVP is required to log into the virtual event. This can be done going to www.washtenawcd.org, and clicking on the “Events” tab.

The meeting will kick-off with keynote speaker, Dr. Asia Dowtin, Assistant Professor of Urban and Community Forestry at Michigan State University, who will present on trees and green infrastructure in urban spaces.  Conservation awards will be presented for outstanding commitment to applying conservation on the ground.  The WCCD will present program highlights from 2021, director election results will be announced and participants will be randomly selected to receive “door prizes”.  

The meeting will also include the presentation of three conservation awards and a volunteer award.  The ”Walter Wolfgang Memorial” Conservation Farmer of the Year Award will be presented to Lee Maulbetch of Northfield Township. The Tree Conservationist Award will be presented to Kirt Tidwell of Sylvan Township. The Beginning or Small Conservation Farmer of the Year Award will be presented to Malaika Whitney and Matthew Haarklou of Whitney Farmstead in Webster Township. The first annual Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to Linda Prieskorn of the City of Ann Arbor. Visit the WCCD website for more details about the 2021 awardees.

Absentee ballots for the 2022 District Director election are now available at the WCCD office (705 Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI) or by request. All Washtenaw County residents, 18 years of age and older, are eligible to vote in the district election. All absentee ballots must be submitted by 12 pm on January 20. Proof of residency is required with submission of ballot. Visit the WCCD’s website for information about director candidates, and instructions on how to participate in the election.

Registration is required for the virtual event by January 14, 2021. To make reservations visit: https://www.washtenawcd.org/event-registration.html  or contact us at 734-302-8715, info@washtenawcd.org. 

The Washtenaw County Conservation District is a local unit of government, assisting Washtenaw residents with the conservation, management, and wise-use of their natural resources since 1948. This District is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Information on the Conservation District is available online at www.washtenawcd.org .

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.