JIM LOW
Nick continues to lead the state with Quail Habitat Initiative Projects each year and has over 35 landowner QHI projects ongoing which brings his total to over 155 projects with landowners in a several county area. These projects have been able to fit in crucial habitat where other programs could not help the landowner and help bring back quail numbers in the local area to much better numbers than previous years prior to the lack of habitat work. Nick is a leader in the community for local conservation of all types of wildlife from quail, turkeys, ducks, etc. He is very active in organizations such as Quail Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited and serves on many committees in different roles. Nick is an outstanding professional who is creative, attentive and very astute. He knows what he is doing and goes far beyond expectation. He never sits back and ignores the request of landowners. Nick is always there to assist in developing operational plans, CRP burnings, assisting with planning food plots and in obtaining seed for said plots. Nick is the type of professional that should be elevated to higher levels within the Department of Conservation.
Youth Conservationist of the Year Dane Balsman Dane is currently a senior at Missouri State University (formerly SMSU) in Springfield, Missouri. He is majoring in Agriculture-Wildlife Conservation Management and will be graduating in May 2006. Dane plans on starting his masters degree this summer in fisheries biology. Dane was a Conservation Honors Program recipient from the Missouri Department of Conservation. He was a fisheries assistant with MDC in which his activities included: 1 0
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• Assisted regional fisheries biologists with fish population surveys through electrofishing, trawling, seining, and hoop netting • Constructed species list of fish inhabiting Black River • Compiled information and equipment to assist Outreach and Education with catfish clinic on Mississippi River • Repaired fishing equipment for fishing clinics • Repaired shop equipment and maintenance • Assisted in aquatic vegetation planting and maintenance in nursery and lake impoundments • Treated nuisance aquatic vegetation and herbicide • Collected field data on plant locations, species, and health for reestablishment • Trapped muskrats with conibear traps to control populations to allow desired vegetation establishment Dane was a volunteer animal care assistant with the Wonders of Wildlife Museum in Springfield where he fed freshwater and saltwater fish, observed and recorded animal behavior, maintained and cleaned aquariums and exhibits, answered questions and communicated with museum guests. He also worked as a Gypsy Moth trapper for MDC in which he surveyed five counties in Southeast Missouri for gypsy moths. He assembled, placed and collected traps in designated areas and plotted trap locations on a map. Dane is a member of the American Fisheries Society, National Wild Turkey Federation and is currently the Vice President of the Student Chapter of the Missouri State Wildlife Society. Dane has been active in the CFM Conservation Leadership Corps for five years. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Youth Conservationist of the Year Patrick “Neal” Hutton Neal is a senior at Missouri State University, majoring in Biology with a Wildlife emphasis along with an Agronomy minor. He is an avid deer and turkey hunter and enjoys fishing. The summer after Neal’s junior year in high school he was asked to participate in the Conservation Honors Program at the University of Missouri. For the next year Neal contacted the Missouri Department of Conservation to request that they establish a mentorship or volunteer program that he could participate in during his senior year of high school. He spent every other afternoon volunteering with the NRCS office in Hickory County. He also served under Kevin Hedgpeth with MDC
recording the changes of a 40-acre private ownership plot that underwent prescribed burns and selective tree harvest. This project involved extensive photo-station records throughout the seasonal changes of a glade. For his work, Neal earned the Earth Team Certificate for Volunteer Program with the United States Department of Agriculture Conservation services in 2002. Neal was a charter member of CFM Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) and has attended annual conferences since the CLC was initiated. He has contributed to committees which drafted resolutions pertaining to the natural ebb and flow of the Missouri River and proposing that more conservation education be added to the State curriculum. Neal has met with lobbyists in Jefferson City and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, Parks and Natural Resources. Recently, Neal helped support the establishment of an active Wildlife Society chapter on campus. Their members have organized trips to the nearby Bois d’Arc and Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center with volunteers to help maintain the area. They participate in fishing trips and trash pick ups and meet regularly to discuss the possible ways that their group can promote conservation in the region. Neal also volunteered at the CFM membership drive booth at both the Bass Pro Shops Fishing and Fall Classics. Neal is interested in pursuing a career in wildlife protection, education or even wildlife illustration or photography after he graduates in December of 2006.
JIM LOW
JIM LOW
CFM CONSERVATION AWARDS, cont’d from previous page
Conservationist of the Year Ron Coleman Ron is a life member of CFM and has served as a member of our board of directors for 25 years. During his CFM service, Ron has been chairman of the Parks Committee, the Trails Committee, the Rivers and Streams Committee, the Natural History Committee and the Environment Committee. He has also served as CFM Secretary. His outstanding individual performance and team leadership have brought many successes to CFM and to outdoor
Missouri. He was among the very earliest in Missouri Stream Teams. For 28 years he has lead the restoration of the Meramec River by coordinating the annual Operation Clean Stream project. Through this one project alone, Ron has inspired thousands of volunteers to get involved and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support their efforts. Ron has long worked diligently and patiently to conserve thousands of acres of parks and open space in the St. Louis region…and in southwest Missouri. He helped acquire many rights of way personally and has helped develop hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. Among his greatest successes may well be the second longest rails-to-trails conversion in Missouri, the Frisco Highline which runs from Springfield to Bolivar. By the way this “rails to quails” project also saved thousands of acres of wildlife habitat along the corridor. More recently, Ron has turned his attention and efforts to orchestrating unique and successful world class events to promote the image of conservation. The establishment of the Annual Clean Water Celebration in St. Louis, with the bestowing of the annual William C. Schock Clean Water Conservancy Award has become a “can’t miss” event each year at the St. Louis Science Center. Nearly 600 high school students participated in the educational programming the first year. This past fall, Ron lead CFM efforts to establish the first Missouri Wildlife Art Festival in historic downtown St. Charles. Hundreds of folks came and enjoyed the fun weekend. Thousands of dollars were raised to help fulfill our conservation mission. Ron currently serves in his third term as President of the Missouri Parks Association. He is leading the way for all Missourians in the effort to renew the State Parks and Soils Sales Tax. His excellent service and imaginative contributions are at the very center of the campaign. A veteran of the US Marine Corps, Ron earned a BS from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) and an MS from the University of Missouri. He is a very serious and well traveled angler. He and his lovely wife, Rhonda, reside in Wildwood. Their two sons both volunteer for Operation Clean Stream and other conservation programs. Whether removing trash from a Missouri stream or contributing to a board room discussion, Ron Coleman is in his element. Always willing to serve, he brings a spirit of cooperation to the conservation community which we recognize and honor with our highest award.