Jones
County Turner Youth Foundation Wins Award
The Jones County Turner
Youth Foundation had the honor of winning
the National RC&D Outstanding Youth
Involvement Award. This is the first
National RC&D Award that South Dakota has
received.
They were presented this
award at the National RC&D Leadership Forum
in Washington, DC on March 1, 2010.
Kia Miller and Jewell Bork accepted the
award thanks to the Ted Turner Foundation's
generosity.
The competition for this
award began two years ago when the Jones
County Turner Youth Foundation won at the
state level. They then went on to win
at the Western Region Level, which consists
of a 10 state area. In November 2009
their nomination was submitted for the
National Level of competition which consists
of seven different regions across the United
States. Judging was based on the
following criteria: 1) How did they make a
substantial commitment to the ideals of the
RC&D program? 2) How did they take a
leadership role in implementing the goals
and objectives of the RC&D Council? 3) How
did they involve other youth and
organizations in the RC&D council
activities? 4) How are they committed to
bettering the local community through RC&D
council projects?
The Jones County Turner
Youth were honored for their work on
renovating the Turner Community Center and
also for their other projects they have
completed to help improve Murdo, South
Dakota. Such projects included
upgrading the outdoor basketball/tennis
court, installing benches around the Murdo
City Pool and constructing the play center
at the Murdo City Park. This year they
are planning on partnering with the City of
Murdo to make additional improvements to the
Murdo City Park.
While in DC, Kia and Jewell
were able to visit many monuments and also
meet with two of the three South Dakota
elected officials. They were given the
opportunity to discuss the RC&D program as
well as their work for Turner Youth
Foundation at all three South Dakota
representatives' offices.
RC&D is short for Resource
Conservation and Development. It is a
unique program that helps people protect and
develop their economic, natural and social
resources in ways that improve their area's
economy, environment and quality of life.
The Jones County Turner Youth Foundation is
part of the South Central RC&D Council.
South Central RC&D covers the counties of
Todd, Tripp, Mellette and Jones.
Pictured from left to right:
Kim Brannen, Assistant State
Conservationist; Edith Schneider, South
Central RC&D board member, Jewell Bork,
Jones County Turner Youth Foundation adult
board member; Kia Miller, Jones County
Turner Youth Foundation youth board member;
and Bruce Kroetch, Western RC&D president.
Northwest Regional RC&D Celebrates RC&D Week
Northwest Regional RC&D (NWR)
celebrated RC&D Week by holding its first
Annual Meeting. The Annual meeting was
held at a Lookout Tower in Whitefish,
Montana with spectacular views of Whitefish
Lake and Whitefish Ski Resort. Over 40
people listened as the Board of Directors
outlined their emphasis for 2010 which
includes Hazardous Fuels Treatments, Noxious
Weeds, Flathead Lake Watershed Improvement,
and assisting small woody biomass markets.
In the past year, RC&D has
received 6 new grants totaling over $1.1
million and treated 360 acres for hazardous
fuels reduction on private property.
Community partners were
recognized for their significant
contributions to the RC&D program.
2009 award recipients include: USDA-NRCS,
Kevin Jump, John Jump Trucking, Ed Levert,
Lincoln County Forester, Paula Short, DNRC,
Dave Jones, DNRC Mike Frost, Elkhorn
resident, Joyce Goss, RC&D Program Assistant
and Bill Swope, RC&D Community Forester.
Congressional Contacts
