2008 Western RC&D Association Conference
The 2008 Western R&CD Association Conference, held in Las Cruces, New Mexico January 13-16 was a great success! The Western Association of RC&D Councils includes the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah. Panhandle RC&D Coordinator Ron Moore, Secretary/Treasurer Verlin Bruns, and Vice-President Ron Klemke attended the four-day event, made great contacts, learned a lot about what other RC&D programs are doing, and had a lot of fun. Nebraska RC&D Councils took home five of the six awards that were given out during the awards ceremony!
Nebraska award winners at the conference (left to right): Verlin Bruns from Panhandle RC&D accepting on behalf of The Chadron Native American Center for the Outstanding Sponsor Award; Dennis Wacker and Bud Knuth accepting the Outstanding Council Award for the Northeast Nebraska RC&D Council; Dan Hruza accepting the award for the Outstanding Youth Involvement Group for the Ord FFA; Jan Jorgensen from Northeast Nebraska RC&D won the Outstanding Coordinator Award; and Donna Christiansen also from Northeast Nebraska RC&D received the Outstanding Council Member Award. Between Dan and Jan is Joe Leichtnam, President of the Western RC&D Association.
Nebraska RC&D attendees (from left to right): Bud Knuth - Northeast Nebraska RC&D Council President; Doug Christensen - Nebraska NRCS Program Manager; Ron Klemke - Panhandle RC&D Council Vice President; Gerald Willis - Special Assistant to the Chief of NRCS; Alicia Toczek - Loup Basic RC&D Council Member; Dennis Wacker - Northeast Nebraska RC&D Council Member; Dan Hruza - Loup Basin RC&D Council Member; Donna Christiansen - Northeast Nebraska RC&D Council; Richard Bolli - Loup Basic RC&D Council Member; Leroy Jons - Loup Basin RC&D Coordinator; Jan Jorgensen - Northeast Nebraska RC&D Coordinator; and Verlin Bruns - Panhandle RC&D Council Secretary/Treasurer. Not Pictured: Ron Moore -, Panhandle RC&D Coordinator. |
