The Utah Farm Bureau recently wrapped up its annual convention, and a highlight was the naming of Fred Thurston as the 2017 Utah Leopold Conservation Award recipient. The honor was conducted by Sand County Foundation in partnership with Western AgCredit, Utah Farm Bureau and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association.

Thurston owns a cattle ranch in Weber River Valley, in Morgan County, Utah, where his great-grandfather settled. He was honored with a crystal award and $10,000.

The award is given in honor of Aldo Leopold, the conservationist often considered to be the “father of wildlife ecology.” The award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac: Sketches Here and There,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Thurston uses and promotes innovative and resilient methods to maintain land health and enhance productivity, often at his own expense. An early-adopter of such methods, he has worked with agencies to test, develop and implement practices that protect and enhance land, water and wildlife resources. For example, he partnered with the Utah Department of Natural Resources and Trout Unlimited to rehabilitate nearly a mile of the Weber River to benefit his ranch, as well as neighboring operations, native fish and other habitat.

Thurston also collects all of the manure from his corrals, in addition to manure from his enterprise of 2,000 female minks, to spread on farm fields. His other work includes structures to manage effluent from the operation, and installation of water systems and realignment of many fences to protect waterways. Thurston also actively promotes and demonstrates conservation principles with outdoor sport enthusiasts, youth and other agriculturists through leadership in organizations, and by sharing the ranch for fishing, hunting and youth events.

You can learn more about the award at leopoldconservationaward.org.

POLICY LEADER: Wade Garrett was recently named director of public policy at the Utah Farm Bureau. He takes on the opportunity to effectively develop and implement Farm Bureau policy with local, state and federal governments.

New policy director
Utah Farm Bureau also announced the hiring of Wade Garrett of Nephi, Utah, as its new director of public policy. Garrett is a former state director for former Rep. Jason Chaffetz.

Garrett will work with Sterling Brown, current vice president of public policy, and with Farm Bureau members, to develop and implement policy programs with local, state and federal governments and their agencies.

In the release announcing his appointment, Garrett commented that he is “really excited to work for the Utah Farm Bureau. Admittedly, it is more of a homecoming than a new venture. Having been a Farm Bureau member for many years, I know of the organization’s ability to work with federal and state lawmakers on behalf of agriculture. I can’t wait to use the lessons I learned while working with Congress for the direct benefit of our farmers and ranchers.”

Garrett grew up in Juab County on his family’s cattle ranch, where he’s been an official partner since 1992. The family raises 400 cows and maintains a small feedlot, in addition to farming 1,200 acres of grains and forage crops.

Garrett has degrees from Snow College (Ephraim, Utah) and Utah State University. He and his wife, Mandi, served previously on the Utah Farm Bureau State Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, and together they have four children.

Source: Utah Farm Bureau