Annual Meeting Awardees

Conservation Awards through the Years

Each year at the WCCD Annual Meeting, we honor and celebrate outstanding achievement in conservation.

Annual Awards Recipients

'Walter Wolfgang Memorial' Conservation Farmer of the Year

The “Walter Wolfgang Memorial” Conservation Farmer of the Year Award is presented to outstanding conservation farmers in Washtenaw County, selected by the District Board of Directors. It was established in 1977, in memory of Walter Wolfgang, a Director on the first Board of Directors of the Washtenaw County Conservation District, when it was organized in 1948. Prior to 1977 it was known as the Conservation Farmer of the Year Award.

2024 The Henes Family
2023 Tom Shanahan
2022 N/A
2021 Lee Maulbetsch
2020 Randy Klager
2019 Billy & Mike VanRiper
2018 Gerarld Kuhl
2017 Frank Rochwiak
2016 Philip Selter
2015 John & Jean Cares
2014 Blumenauer Farms LLC
2013 Paul & Connie Marion Family
2012 Michael Mahrle
2011 Dewey Baker
2010 Gary Weidmayer
2009 DuRussels’ Potato Farms
2008 Marvin Feldkamp
2007 Bauer Farms
2006 Donald Korte
2005 Breuninger Farms
2004 Donald Laier
2003 William Lutz
2002 Gilbert Whitney
2001 Robert Heller
2000 Lesser Farms
1999 Talladay Farms, Inc.
1998 Marvin & Dan Marion
1996 Huehl Acres
1995 Koenn Farms
1994 Bohnett Brothers
1993 Rentschler Brothers
1992 Baldus & Heller Farms
1991 Horning Farms
1990 Ernst Farms
1989 Ermine Finkbeiner
1988 Leonard & Jim Burmeister
1987 Lloyd & David Jedele
1986 Alber Orchard & Cider Mill
1985 Robert Schultz
1984 William Fishbeck
1983 William Nixon
1982 Larry Briggs
1981 Arthur Kuhl
1980 Don Zeeb
1979 David & Philip Gordon
1978 John Stimpson
1977 John & Ron Jansen
1976 Elmer Bristle
1975 Dan Murray
1974 Sullivan Brothers
1973 Ken Zeeb
1972 Rudy Layher

Tree Conservationist of the Year

2024 Terry & Shelia Calhoun
2023 Dean & Jane Wilson
2022 N/A
2021 Kirt Tidwell
2020 Walter Keppler
2019 Emerson School
2018 Norma & Dan Green
2017 Vic Mann
2016 Galen & Rhonda Kenyon
2015 Edward & Robin Wojtys
2014 David Renner
2013 Tom & Jenae Chulig
2012 Gary Moore
2011 Jim Kaercher
2010 Albert & Mary Harris
2009 Camp Munhacke, BSA
2008 Robert Kellum
2007 Ron & Carol Blewett
2006 Grant Howard
2005 Robert Miller
2004 Robin Warner
2003 Margot Foster
2002 Dave & Mary Lazor
2001 Louis Boone

Distinguished Service Award

2024 Megan DeLeeuw
2023 Howard Sias
2023 Jill K. Dohner

Small or Beginning Farmer of the Year

2024 Kim Bayer
2023 Takunia "TC" Collins
2022 N/A
2021 Malaika Whitney & Matthew Haarklou
2020 John Cox
2019 Nate & Jill Lada
2018 Kathy & Tom Shurmur

Volunteer of the Year

2024 Maren Sande
2023 Helen Peters
2022 Kathy & Norm Fisher
2021 Linda Prieskorn