Congratulations to the 2024 Conservation Award Winners!
2024 Outstanding
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Marilyn DuFour has worked for the City of Toledo, in both the Division of Environmental Services and Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, for over 30 years. Her passion for education and water resources developed early in life and has been furthered by a broad range of educational experiences including Girl Scouts; Ohio Youth Conservation Corps; a B.S. in Environmental Biology from Heidelberg University; and the U.S. Peace Corps Marine Fisheries Extension Program in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Marilyn is a founding member of the Rain Garden Initiative, a collaborative group of agencies including Lucas SWCD, whose efforts are geared towards stormwater education via rain barrels and rain gardens. The Lucas SWCD and Marilyn frequently partner on community events and are both participating members of the Environmental Education Committee of Northwest Ohio. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and we appreciate all Marilyn has done for stormwater and environmental education in our community!
Marilyn is a founding member of the Rain Garden Initiative, a collaborative group of agencies including Lucas SWCD, whose efforts are geared towards stormwater education via rain barrels and rain gardens. The Lucas SWCD and Marilyn frequently partner on community events and are both participating members of the Environmental Education Committee of Northwest Ohio. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and we appreciate all Marilyn has done for stormwater and environmental education in our community!
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2024 Cooperator of the Year
The 2024 Outstanding Cooperator of the Year is presented to MacQueen Orchards, for their willingness to be the featured farm for the inaugural Lucas County Farm Connection held on July 20th. The event brought together both the agricultural and non-agricultural communities for a day of learning, family-fun, and inspiration for the future of what is Home Grown in Lucas County.
MacQueen Orchards is a true family farm of Lucas County, having been in operation since 1936 when the first apple tree was planted. Today the 200-acre orchard produces apples, peaches, and pumpkins. In addition to fresh produce, visitors can enjoy the bakery, cider mill, retail farm market/gift shop, and Christmas store. We are grateful to the MacQueen family and their contributions to our community! |
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2024 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Award
Gary Meinke (1941-2023) is being recognized posthumously with this award to bring attention to his love of nature and dedication to environmental stewardship. The Meinke Family owns and operates Meinke Marina, which started in 1979 and is now the largest marina on Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline.
Through CREP, Mr. Meinke installed two wetlands adjacent to Crane Creek. In total, 23 acres of tile drainage is directed via a pump system into the wetlands from nearby agricultural fields. The wetlands are approximately 3 miles from the Lake Erie shore and not only filter water but provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. Thank you Mr. Meinke and family! |
2024 Community Partner Award
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Amy Stone serves as the AgNR Educator in Lucas County, and has been with Extension for over 32 years. She provides leadership in the areas of horticulture, natural resources, agriculture, and sustainability in the County. Amy’s specialization is invasive species, which includes plants, insects and diseases and their identification, detection, scouting and management. Both USDA and ODA refer clients directly to her to address questions on emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, and the spongy moth.
To address all of these areas, she answers questions via Ask An Expert, emails, calls, text messages, samples and face-to-face consultation and develops timely and research based programs, printed educational materials, social media posts and press releases to increase awareness and adoption of accepted forestry, landscape, turf, natural areas and garden practices. She loves to collaborate with others and to build strong relationships to better serve the residents of Lucas County and Ohioans. Amy has been an invaluable partner of the Lucas SWCD over the years and we appreciate her unwavering effort to inform, educate, and collaborate towards a better future for us all!
To address all of these areas, she answers questions via Ask An Expert, emails, calls, text messages, samples and face-to-face consultation and develops timely and research based programs, printed educational materials, social media posts and press releases to increase awareness and adoption of accepted forestry, landscape, turf, natural areas and garden practices. She loves to collaborate with others and to build strong relationships to better serve the residents of Lucas County and Ohioans. Amy has been an invaluable partner of the Lucas SWCD over the years and we appreciate her unwavering effort to inform, educate, and collaborate towards a better future for us all!
