Please join us on Monday March 25th for our 73rd Annual Meeting! We will be having a spaghetti dinner, presentation of awards and poster contest winners, and a professional presentation on understanding and interpreting renewable energy contracts.
Please note the change in location to the Edwards Township Hall this year!
Join us March 2 at Klacking Township Hall to learn about how to prune, protect, and rejuvenate your fruit trees and orchard! With Steve Fouch (retired MSUE Educator) and Ogemaw CD staff, you can learn more about your fruit trees and get a hands on demonstration about how to accurately prune many types of fruit trees.
Lunch will be provided, cost is $5. Please make checks payable to Ogemaw Conservation District. RSVP to save your spot today!
Help us showcase conservation, farming and nature in Ogemaw County! All photos submit for the contest must be taken in Ogemaw County, and highlight farming, nature or conservation. One person will win a $25 gift card for the Ogemaw CD tree sale! Photo entries close on March 22, 2024. Submit photos on facebook post.
By entering the photo contest, you are releasing your photo to be used by the Ogemaw Conservation District on their website or social media. Please ensure that any people shown in the photo consent to being shown on the internet.
As a longtime resident of Ogemaw County, Reid is running for the Board of Directors to help ensure that the land is conserved and protected for future generations. Born and raised in Ogemaw County, Reid has been dairy farming since age 16 on his family’s farm. He has participated in several NRCS projects, uses cover crops to prevent soil erosion, and is currently working to MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program) verify his farm.
My name is Mary Rankey. I grew up a city girl, but have always felt more "at home" in the solitude of the country and the canopy of the forest. My commitment to conservation was instilled at an early age, when my parents and maternal grandparents taught me to respect our earth and to work within the harmony of nature to grow food and reforest our lands. My grandparents had the classic Victory Garden during WWII, which they continued throughout their lives. It was on their mini-farm that I learned the value of growing my own food and eating close to the source. My parents owned acreage in Northern Michigan on which we planted thousands of seedling trees which they would procure from their local county tree sale. These values were nurtured in my hobbies while I maintained my professional career in Financial Planning and investments. After a 35-year career in financial services, I retired from Merrill Lynch in 2017 and moved to Rose City.
My husband Rich and I have been married for 31 years. We are volunteers for the Ogemaw County Conservation District Tree Sale. In addition, we have partnered with the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement a forest management plan for our 40 acres along the Houghton Creek in Cumming Township. We have always dreamed of owning acreage where we could pass down our love for nature to our family. We were thrilled to find our little "slice of heaven" back in 2009. It provides a family gathering place for hunting, bird-watching, and simply enjoying nature. Our ultimate long-term goal is to ensure that our natural resources are preserved for future generations.
I want to demonstrate my lifelong commitment to conservation by volunteering as a director for the Ogemaw County Conservation District. I hope I can count on your vote to allow me to help make a difference.
Dan Hill is a new resident of Ogemaw County but has been around for many years. He has been an active volunteer and employee at Cole Canoe Base in Mills Township. Whether helping behind the scenes with the tree sale, or on the front lines with the 5th grade conservation tour, Dan is excited to get more involved. With over 20 years of experience in outdoor education, Dan is the new Camp Director at the Cole Canoe Base. Hosting over 2,000 scouts each summer, he has a special place in his heart for Ecology and Conservation. His first assignment was at their world class nature center and among his other roles over the years, he still enjoys educating future stewards about the important role we play in the future of our planet. It's no wonder why he dove right into being involved in the Conservation District once he became an Ogemaw County resident.
Gus Chutorash has been a member of the Ogemaw Conservation District Board for more than 20 years. Throughout his years of service, he has been chairman for 14 of those years. Gus brings over 40 years of conservation, forestry and land management, and outdoor education to the team. He graduated from Michigan State University with a concentration in Plant Science, Forestry, and Adolescent/Early Childhood Developement. He has been an avid supporter of federal, state and local programs by promoting and participating in them across the state. During his time working for the Boy Scouts in Michigan, he has managed more than 9,000 acres of land in Ogemaw County and across the state. Through partnerships he has aided and supported at least 5 different Tree Farms. Most notably including the award of Michigan Tree Farm of the Year and Michigan Educational Tree Farm of the Year, both in 1997, the first and only time both awards has been presented to the same Tree Farm. Gus has previously been the chairman of the Rifle River Restoration Committee and is actively involved in spreading awareness of programs like MAEAP certifications and the USDA Qualified Forest Program. It is an understatement to say that he has a vested interest in conservation, land and forest management, and the Rifle River watershed.
Eric Clemens is a lifelong resident of Ogemaw County. Past member of the Ogemaw County Conservation Board. Past recipient of Conservationist of the Year award. He was instilled with the commitment to the land from an early childhood. Having been born and raised on a farm near West Branch, he learned the value of proper land and conservation management. He was active in 4H, FFA, tree plantings, county fair and cattle showmanship competitions. Growing up, he always participated in planting, maintaining and harvesting an oversized garden. Additionally he worked alongside his siblings in producing hay, grains and raising beef cattle. Eric’s first job outside the homestead was in Jr. High school where he started in dairy. His boss, Leon Rau, told him he would be paid $2 per day and based upon his potential, would work “down” from there. After receiving a degree in agriculture, from Michigan State University, he started his own dairy farm with 13 milk cows which expanded to over 200 cattle and over 650 acres of farmland. Two years ago he disbanded the “24 hours a day / 7 days a week” dairy commitment to focus on crop farming and raising beef cattle. With the new found free time, he is now able to devote time to the conservation board to help in fostering conservation efforts to all citizens of Ogemaw County. Please support Eric Clemens with your vote.
For the very first time, the Ogemaw Conservation District is helping to facilitate a seed exchange at the 2024 tree sale! Please bring your flower or garden seeds to the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds packaged and labeled by 10 am to share and exchange with others.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.