I want to extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude to everyone I’ve had the good fortune to work with for more than a decade – from staff and Board of Directors to the Budget Committee, conservation organization and agency partners, farmers and landowners, volunteers, contractors, and residents of Benton County and beyond. It’s been an honor to serve as Executive Director of Benton SWCD. I consider it the capstone to 40 years in public service related to natural resource conservation.

As I reflect on the career choices that led me here, I’ve thought about why I chose Benton SWCD as the place to work for what was likely to be my last full-time job before retirement. Up to that point I’d already had a diverse career: field biologist, environmental permit enforcement officer, restoration ecologist, grant writer and project manager, public policy analyst, scientific researcher, legislative liaison, farmer, and watershed conservation educator and outreach specialist.

It was in this latter role where I recognized that without effective outreach combined with reciprocal listening and learning, results of the good work in these other areas remained inaccessible to a wider audience or were misunderstood. Education and Outreach is “where the rubber meets the road” so to speak.

I knew I wanted to continue in public service and to join an organization whose mission focuses on connecting people with place and provides opportunities for building awareness and taking action to address key natural resource concerns in our community. I can’t think of a better place to have landed, and now, 12 years later, I’m excited to pass the torch on to new leadership, with Michael Ahr taking the helm February 3rd. By reaching out, asking what tools or information residents need to take their own actions, and providing varied pathways to participate in conservation, we empower each other to have an impact.

While thousands of residents already access the District’s services, we recognize that there are still many who have not engaged with us and vice versa. To that end we created a new position last year, Conservation Outreach Assistant, to increase our capacity for education and outreach across Benton County. Aligned with our strategic plan, our Communications staff conducted a Community Needs Assessment to determine gaps in our programs and services. Results from that survey will inform future projects and activities. Enjoy these outreach stories from the field written by the BSWCD team.

My last official day with the District is February 28th but you’ll see me volunteering at future native plant sales, Paddle and Pulls, and attending our ever popular Twilight Tour series. Thanks again for your passionate work on behalf of conservation!