It takes a host of dedicated and passionate conservationists — you might say “rock stars” in the conservation world — to protect, preserve and enhance Nebraska’s natural resources.

“Nebraska’s natural resources districts involve many dedicated individuals,” Nebraska Association of Natural Resources Districts President Martin Graff said at a special ceremony held at Husker Harvest Days. “We’re proud to recognize these outstanding individuals for the significant improvements they’ve made to our natural resources, and the NRD Hall of Fame is one small way to thank them.”

This year’s Hall of Fame class includes the following director, employee and supporter of NRDs in Nebraska:

NRD director

Larry Moore of Ulysses, Neb., has been there almost since the beginning. From 1975 to 2022 — that’s 47 years — Moore served on the Upper Big Blue NRD board. Even as a retired board member, Moore still attends meetings and offers his own unique perspective and institutional memory, helping existing board members through several issues they face.

TELLING A STORY: Larry Moore (with microphone) spoke about his almost 50-year stint on the Upper Big Blue NRD board during the Hall of Fame announcement ceremony at Husker Harvest Days earlier in September. Next to Moore is Vickie Staab, wife of Stanley Staab, the longtime general manager at the Lower Elkhorn NRD who passed away earlier this year. In the foreground is state Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, Neb., earning the NRD supporter inductee role in this year’s class.

In addition to his work on the NRD board, Moore put his convictions into practice on his own farm, transitioning over the years into no-till and adding cover crops. Since the 1970s, Moore moved his land from gravity-flow irrigation to center pivots, keeping up with water-efficiency technology such as soil moisture sensors and irrigation-scheduling technology.

Related:Cover crops gain steam in Nebraska

NRD supporter

State Sen. Dan Hughes, Venango, Neb., is a farmer and legislator, having served from 2015 through 2022 as the senator from Nebraska’s 44th District. He was instrumental in passing legislation to protect groundwater and land rights for irrigators, balancing the needs of farmers and the environment while serving with and chairing the Natural Resources Committee.

Hughes was able to understand issues and challenges from both sides, which made his involvement crucial in the passage of legislation involving ag and groundwater resources. He continues to serve the public today as District 5 commissioner for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

NRD employee

Stanley Staab of Kearney, Neb., passed away March 5 at the age of 77, but he is being honored posthumously as the supporter Hall of Fame inductee this year, with his wife, Vickie, representing Staab at the announcement ceremony.

He served as the general manager at the Lower Elkhorn NRD for 29 years, beginning his long career in 1979 as the information and education coordinator at Upper Big Blue NRD. He was with the Lower Elkhorn NRD from 1986 until his retirement in 2015.

Related:Cedar County farmer saves on inputs by planting cover crops

During his stint with the NRD system, Staab was the driving force in scores of flood-control projects, recreation development and rural water systems. He also was a promoter of new trails, including the Cowboy Trail Connector in Norfolk.

IT’S TRADITION: Over the past several years, the NRD Hall of Fame announcement has been made during HHD, with the official recognition ceremony taking place at the annual NRD conference later in the month.

The three Hall of Fame inductees were announced Sept. 11 at Husker Harvest Days from the Hospitality Tent stage. They officially were honored Sept. 23 at the annual NRD conference in Kearney.

Learn more at nrdnet.org.