Stars achieving excellence in their work will be celebrated not only at the Oscars in Hollywood in March, but also in Saginaw Bay at a new awards program organized by The Nature Conservancy to recognize Saginaw Bay area farmers, agribusinesses and conservation professionals that have made significant contributions to agricultural conservation in the watershed.

Nominations are now open for the awards, in several categories including Conservation Innovation, Veteran, Newcomer, Impact and more. The program will to shine a spotlight on exemplary work in the field to improve agricultural practices for people and nature.

For the last three years, the conservancy has partnered with agribusinesses, governments, corporations, nonprofits and conservation agencies to test innovative agricultural conservation programs in critical areas of the Saginaw Bay Watershed — reducing more than 1,260 tons of sediment runoff in Michigan’s largest watershed. These practices help farmers retain healthy and productive soil while providing ecological and economic benefits to the community.

The inaugural awards dinner will be March 1 in Bay City. The conservancy has convened a selection committee consisting of representatives from the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Bureau, Michigan Agri-Business Association, Michigan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development, and Delta Institute.

“We’re very excited to come together and provide much earned recognition for area farmers that have worked hard to better their farms and better the Bay,” says Mary Fales, The Nature Conservancy’s Saginaw Bay program director. “This is a great opportunity for farmers to receive wide-spread recognition while also encouraging other members in the community to participate in conservation practices.”

Award winners will be honored at the event and featured in conservancy communications. In addition, each winner will receive a framed award featuring stunning photography of the Saginaw Bay Watershed.

To make a nomination or to learn more about the awards, visit nature.org/sagbayawards.

“We look forward to receiving nominations and highlighting important conservation work taking place in Saginaw Bay,” Fales says.

For questions or assistance, contact Fales at 517-316-2278 or [email protected].

Learn more online at nature.org/michigan.

Source: The Nature Conservancy