2026 Conservation Celebration
- Okanogan CD
- May 14
- 5 min read
Updated: May 15
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year's Conservation Celebration! This year's event featured a presentation from Washington State’s Poet Laureate, Derek Sheffield.
Following the presentation, Okanogan CD's Executive Director Craig Nelson shared program updates and 2025 successes. We then celebrated exceptional landowners and partners for their conservation work this year! Read about the 13 award winners below and watch their highlight videos.
Volunteer of the Year Award:
Cristian Hurtado
Conservation Advocate Award:
Julie Vanderwal
Conservation Advocate Award:
Don Haley
Conservation Partner Award:
Rachel McClure
Conservation Partner Award:
Jeff Paulson
Conservation Teacher Award:
Okanogan GEAR UP
Conservation Excellence Award:
Celeste Acord
Sustainability Star:
Chick & Sindy Jackson
Wildlife Habitat Steward of the Year:
Nathan Wehmeyer
Albert Roberts Cutting Edge Cooperator:
John & Tree Kiesecker
Cooperator of the Year:
Christianson Ranch
Norm McClure Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award:
Hanna & David Kliegman
Employee of the Year:
Rosalie Powell
Volunteer of the Year Award
For dedicated time, effort, and participation with district projects and commitment to the improvement of natural resources in Okanogan County
Cristian Hurtado
Brewster High School Student
Cristian is a senior at Brewster High School and a running start student at WVC. He will graduate this year with his diploma and AA. He expressed interest in volunteering with the district to further pursue his passion in wildlife biology. From the start, Cristian has demonstrated strong communication skills and the ability to manage an independent work schedule.
Conservation Advocate Award
For exemplary commitment to teamwork and the education of natural resources conservation
Julie Vanderwal
Methow Okanogan Beaver Project, Sparrow Song Consulting, and Beaver Food Forest Farm
Julie is simply genuine in the way she shares knowledge with our community about sustainably caring for the land we share. Julie turns restoration into a learning space where ranchers, landowners, students, community members and practitioners experience firsthand how collaboration strengthens our connection to natural resources and gives us the tools to restore the landscapes we all depend on.
Conservation Advocate Award
For exemplary commitment to teamwork and the education of natural resources conservation
Don Haley
Sun Mountain Ranch Club (SMRC) Firewise Committee
Don Haley has been an essential partner in our air quality work. He has worked to increase interest in our mobile chipping program and our green waste dumpsters in the SMRC community. Don has also assisted through letters of support for grant applications and a postcard campaign to the legislature to advocate for more wildfire resiliency funding.
Conservation Partner Award
For outstanding teamwork and enduring commitment to natural resources conservation and education
Rachel McClure
Senior District Representative
Rachel McClure was recognized for her outstanding teamwork and enduring commitment to natural resources conservation in Okanogan County. In her role with Representative Dan Newhouse’s office she has regularly helped the district navigate the complex nature of federal programs. She has remained a strong advocate for voluntary, locally-led conservation everywhere she goes.
Conservation Partner Award
For outstanding teamwork and enduring commitment to natural resources conservation and education
Jeff Paulson
NRCS Regional Forester
Jeff has been a key partner and mentor figure to several Okanogan CD employees. Jeff has provided our Forests and Wildfire Team opportunities to learn, encounter new forest management challenges to surmount, and make connections with landowners. As a private land owner, Jeff has also welcomed the district onto his property to help demonstrate the value of biochar.
Conservation Teacher Award
For creative energy and action educating young people in natural resources conservation
Okanogan GEAR UP
“Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs”
The GEAR UP program in Okanogan serves students in grades 7th – 12th. In their first year organizing the program, Casey and Jesse have hit the ground running, facilitating a career demo day for middle school students, hosting multiple job site visits and organizing college tours for Okanogan students. We are grateful to have such caring and passionate educators who are committed to providing meaningful opportunities to our local students.
Conservation Excellence Award
Special recognition for partnership and support of natural resource conservation in extraordinary circumstances
Celeste Acord
NRCS Resource Conservationist
Celeste Acord is the Natural Resources Conservation Service Resource Conservationist for Okanogan County. In this role she has assisted landowners and partners with connecting with the Okanogan Conservation District on priority conservation practices where their needs aligned with funding and assistance available from the district. She routinely supports landowners with such connection to resources whether with the district or other partners whose programs may help the landowner.
Sustainability Star Award: for dedication and passion in restoring sustainable landscapes
Chick & Sindy Jackson, Jackson Ranch
Local Landowners & Agricultural Producers
Okanogan CD and DNR partnered with the Jacksons and their contractors to implement 182Jacksons ’ long-term acres of additional treatment on previously harvested stands to reduce wood debris through mastication. Not only did this work benefit the Jackson’s long term timber management goals on their ranch, but it also helped significantly reduce wildfire risk along a vital transportation corridor. Their work will help sustain the wide array of wildlife that call the Colville Reservation and Okanogan County home.
Wildlife Habitat Steward Award
Landowners that have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to improving wildlife habitat through implementation of conservation practices and/or land management activities
Nathan Wehmeyer
Local Landowner & Agricultural Producer
These landowners have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the improvement of wildlife habitat. With the recent completion of a wetland protection and enhancement project, they installed approximately 2387 ft of exclusion fencing and completed a riparian forest buffer planting. The Wehmeyer family has participated in the Washington Soil Health Initiative Program and Nathan is an active Work Group member for Okanogan County’s Voluntary Stewardship Program.
Albert Roberts Cutting Edge Cooperator Award
For outstanding vision and implementation of innovative conservation practices
John & Tree Kiesecker
Local Landowners
John and Tree have been long-time cooperators with the NRCS, and have worked diligently to steward their property near Wauconda for many years. After an unexpected discovery of Douglas fir beetles they worked with Jeff Paulson from NRCS to find an ecologically and economically viable solution. In the fall of last year, John and Tree welcomed Okanogan CD and our partners to their land to use some of the slash from their treatments to demonstrate and test out our biochar kiln.
Cooperator of the Year Award
For exemplary commitment to cooperative conservation and implementation of conservation practices to meet resource management goals and criteria
Christianson Ranch & Palm Family
Local Landowners & Agricultural Producers
Julie Palm of Christianson Ranch has been steadfast in her cooperation with Okanogan conservation district, as well as other conservation organizations in the county. She has sought out and implemented conservation practices to conserve water, energy, and farm inputs, in order to sustainably provide the community with local products. Julie’s leadership, initiative, and willingness to partner set a standard for what cooperative conservation can achieve.
Norm McClure Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award
For enduring commitment to the principles and practices of natural resource conservation
Hanna & David Kliegman
Local Landowners
For more than four decades, Hanna and David have embodied an enduring commitment to voluntary natural resources conservation. Hanna and David steward their forested property, partnering with DNR, NRCS, and WSU extension; they spearheaded efforts to protect water quality and regenerate habitat in the Okanogan Highlands.
When asked to write a little something for Hanna and David, family and friends said, “All of their work is still an ongoing project, and that is what makes it a legacy”
Employee of the Year Award
Rosalie Powell
Rosalie manages Okanogan CD's social media accounts. She has demonstrated independent planning and implementation, leading to a huge increase in views and followers growing, our online presence and engaging people around the world. She consistently supports and encourages staff to participate in media creation and outreach activities. Rosalie has also played a large role in our air quality work with chipping events to reduce wildfire smoke.
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