2011 King CD Awards
The King Conservation District announced its 2011 award winners at our Annual Meeting on November 14. The following awards spotlight individuals, programs and municipalities that have demonstrated service and leadership in conservation efforts within the District over the past year.
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR: Dr. Thomas W. Murphy, Anthropology Department Chair,
Edmonds Community College
Dr. Thomas W. Murphy
quality, meaningful hands-on educational experiences in the outdoors.
All of his projects involve partnerships with conservation districts,
non-profits, governments or local business. These partnerships make
the learning real for students, as they help solve actual conservation
problems through the service that they provide.
This award honors a teacher who has
involved students in the betterment of
natural resources and strives to incorporate conservation education into their
program. In addition to being chosen
for this King Conservation District
award, Dr. Murphy recently received the
statewide award in this category from
the Washington Association of Conservation Districts.
Dr. Murphy’s impact is best illustrated by highlighting recent accomplishments of the Learn and Serve Environmental Anthropology Field (LEAF)
School, which he founded in 2006. Over the past six years more than 300
students have contributed over 6,000 hours of service with dozens of
community partner organizations. His students have played key roles in
a wide variety of service-learning projects, including many habitat restoration projects with both King and Snohomish Conservation Districts.
Students have also explored sustainable food production, community
supported agriculture, farmer’s markets and low-impact design with 21
Acres, Veteran’s Agricultural Cooperative and other local farms.
As an anthropologist teaching courses in human ecology, Dr. Murphy
emphasizes the role that people play in conservation. He particularly
specializes in the creation of outdoor educational experiences drawing upon traditional ecological knowledge accumulated and passed
on by local indigenous communities. Service-learning is central to Dr.
Murphy’s teaching. He believes students need an opportunity for high
WILDLIFE STEWARD OF THE YEAR: Cory Huskinson, Baxter Barn
plants and animals are as important as native plants and wildlife. The
land has been farmed since 1875 and the last of the farm buildings is
Baxter Barn, which is on the Washington State Heritage Barn Register.
With over half of
Washington in private ownership, private farms, ranches
and forests play a
critical role in preserving our State’s
rich fish and wildlife
heritage. This
Salmon Science Camp at Baxter Barn
award recognizes
farmers, ranchers and foresters who have made an important contribution to habitat conservation and fish and wildlife-dependent recreation.
In addition to being chosen for this King Conservation District award,
Cory Huskinson was recently the second-place winner for the statewide
Wildlife Steward of the Year award given by the Washington Association
of Conservation Districts.
Cory Huskinson’s mission is to demonstrate sustainability and conservation on his property, a working historical farm where domesticated
For the last four years, Cory and his wife Lena have worked with King
CD to restore the fish-bearing stream that cuts the property in half and
they recently finished an upland wildlife plan to enhance habitat. After
implementing his own buffer project, Cory reached out to his neighbors,
encouraging them to do the same. As a result of his efforts, 12 land owners in the neighborhood have followed Baxter Barn’s example!
The farm, which includes chickens, quail, pheasant and miniature
donkeys as well as gardens and an apple orchard, is used to educate all
ages through open farm events, school camps, and private and public
field trips. Cory has had close to 2,500 people visit his farm for education
events and the number is growing every month. Visitors learn about
conservation, stream ecology, salmon, native plants and ways to create
wildlife habitat. To learn more, visit www.baxterbarn.org
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King CD Awards
KING CD CONSERVATION LEADER: Wade Bennett
a thriving economic engine and participated in the overhaul of the King
County Agricultural Drainage Assistance Program.
Wade Bennett is the owner of Rockridge
Orchards and Cidery, a diverse farm
with over 148 crops, specializing in
“exotic edibles” and manufacturing local
soft and hard ciders and wines. He is a
member and past president of the King/
Pierce Farm Bureau, a member of Puget
Sound Fresh and sells at numerous local
markets.
Wade has been a longstanding advocate for working farms, emphasizing
that farmers be recognized for their role as stewards of natural resources.
He drills down to the practical costs of proposed enhancement and mitigation efforts, evaluating the potential impacts for our region and our
farmers. He has the respect of other farmers and the agency staff at the
table, even if there is disagreement on the points along the way.
Wade and Judy Bennett
King CD would like to thank Wade for volunteering his time and sharing
his passion for practical solutions that support and promote a vibrant
local farming sector.
Wade has given many years of service,
working tirelessly to make sure that farmers have a voice at the table
with local governments and the King County Agricultural Commission.
He has contributed in developing policies that recognize agriculture as
Rock Awards:
This year we had two recipients of our Service Award, which is given to a person who helps the District accomplish its goals by providing resources
and/or technical assistance
SERVICE AWARD: Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water
Alayne Blickle
of on-the-ground conservation and who provide farm tour participants
with a valuable learning experience.
Alayne Blickle with Horses for Clean
Water has been an invaluable resource to
the King CD for many years now. In addition to providing technical assistance
on numerous horse-related topics, she
is instrumental in organizing workshops
and farm tours that are unique and
interesting. Her connections throughout
the horse and livestock community put
us in touch with landowners and land
managers who stand out as examples
On top of everything else, Alayne is an outstanding speaker and educator, distilling complex ideas into a format that is easy to understand.
Alayne is especially skilled at helping people make the link between
animal health and the health of the environment, reminding us that
conservation actions are a win-win for everybody. Those who participate
in Alayne’s farm tours and workshops walk away with new ideas and the
resources they need to make changes on their own property.
SERVICE AWARD: Megan McPhaden
Megan McPhaden
About the same time that Megan contacted us, the District found itself
without a dedicated staff person to carry on the water quality efforts
initiated in recent years. Because of Megan’s help, the District was able
to continue this farmer-focused water quality monitoring work in 2011.
Megan has brought a careful research approach to the project, as well as
a professional and enthusiastic manner. Along the way, she has supported farmers, partnered with District board and staff and engaged other
agencies. We feel fortunate to have had her assistance and expertise.
In the spring of 2011, Megan contacted
the District interested in volunteering
on a project that would support District
needs and serve as part of her graduate
work at the University of Washington.
Megan ended up joining us in our water
quality monitoring efforts, helping with
a research study that looks at the water
quality impacts of dredging reed canary
grass from drainage ditches.
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King CD Awards
Conservation Landowner:
This award is given to a landowner who demonstrates leadership and initiative in implementing best management practices. This year we had such
great candidates that we decided to give two awards, one in our urban category and another for our rural landowner.
URBAN CONSERVATION LANDOWNERS: Dr. Afia Menke & Dan Thielman
Dr. Afia Menke &
Dan Thielman
pond. Over the last three years, they have transformed their backyard
into an urban wildlife haven that provides habitat with four key needs:
food, water, shelter, and a place to raise their young.
Dr. Afia Menke and Dan Thielman
exemplify the idea that important
conservation work can be done in the
urban environment. With help from the
King CD Landowner Incentive Program,
Afia and Dan began by digging out and
removing invasives in their backyard,
including 20 years worth of ivy growth
on their trees, fence line and three
neighboring properties!
With support from the City of Shoreline’s environmental mini-grant program, Afia has gone on to share what she has learned by organizing tours
that highlight urban wildlife habitat (to learn more, visit www.wowta.
org). The tours are designed to empower others to create wildlife habitats in their own backyards. Over the last two years, these events have
included nearly 450 participants! Afia plans to begin working with local
schools to create gardens where kids grow their own food for lunches.
Afia and Dan then brought in 20 yards of soil, planted nearly 200 native
plants (many purchased from the King CD plant sale) and built a wildlife
RURAL CONSERVATION LANDOWNERS: Tom & Mary Bryan
Tom & Mary Bryan
Over the years Tom has done many planting projects along the tributary
of Weiss Creek that runs through his property. He has done much of the
work on his own with plants purchased through both King and Snohomish CD native plant sales. But now that he is getting older, doing the
work on his own is not so easy. So Tom was glad to get some help last
year from the King CD crew who installed a 600-foot stream buffer. Tom
is an excellent example of rural conservation and a proud King CD Farm
of Merit—if you go to his website (www.circlecreekstables.com), you’ll
see the sign posted front and center!
As the owner of Circle Creek Stables,
Tom has worked hard to put best management practices in place throughout
his property. He uses confinement areas,
carefully avoids overgrazing and composts manure, which he then spreads on
his pastures. As a result, his pastures are
in excellent shape, which he attributes
to thinking of himself as a “grass farmer,”
a principle he learned from the King CD
workshops.
BEST PARTNERING ORGANIZATION: Washington Native Plant Society
Volunteers clear blackberry
canes.
In addition, the Washington Native Plant Society has collaborated
with King CD to extend their excellent volunteer training program to
cities within the District. Programs have been implemented in Seattle,
Kirkland and Issaquah as part of the Green Cities program in partnership
with Cascade Land Conservancy. Over the past several years, the Native
Plant Society has trained over 300 volunteers in King County, providing
60,000 volunteer hours!
This award is presented to the Washington Native Plant Society for their
outstanding contributions as a King CD
partner over the last several years. Native plant stewards trained by the Native
Plant Society regularly volunteer at our
native plant nursery and at our annual
native bareroot plant sale. The volunteers are equipped with a vast array of
knowledge of and dedication to the
conservation of native plants.
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King CD Awards
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONSERVATION AWARD: City of Seattle Parks Dept.
ety, with a grant to develop this Native Plant Stewards program. The
program will train volunteers to restore urban forests and will provide
stewardship opportunities for surrounding landowners and park users.
This program would not have been a success without the vision and
commitment of the Seattle Parks Department.
This award is given to a local municipality or public entity that demonstrates
excellence in implementing conservation programs and/or practices in their
jurisdiction. As a result of Seattle Park’s
Green Seattle Partnership program,
thousands of community volunteers
have received training in forest stewardship and are now actively working to
restore and maintain Seattle’s forested
Seattle Parks Forest Steward
training
parklands. Due to the success of this
program, Seattle Parks reached out to King CD with the idea of creating
a similar program in other parts of the county. King CD has awarded
Seattle Parks, in partnership with the Washington Native Plant Soci-
Seattle Parks has also been a valued partner with King CD’s long-term
stewardship of the Brandon Street Natural Area along Longfellow Creek.
The staff at Seattle Parks is quick to respond to requests for wood chips,
dealing with off-road vehicles, strategizing on native plant selection and
invasive weed control. Their involvement has been an enormous help
and it has been a pleasure having their support during the five-year
partnership.
Farm Tours and Workshops
All events are FREE!
Farm Tour: Willow Creek
To register and receive directions, call
425.282.1949 or email signup@kingcd.org
Saturday, March 3, 10 am to noon, Maple Valley
This horse owner, a former endurance rider turned Equine Assisted
Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) practitioner, set up his farm
over thirteen years ago after attending Horses for Clean Water and King
Workshops for Horse and Small Farm Owners
CD events. He testifies that it’s continued to be chore-efficient since
Black Diamond Library
then. See mud management working even in the midst of the rainy sea-
Thursdays, February 16 & 23 and March 1 & 8, 6:15 pm to 8:45 pm
son. View easy-to-use aerated compost bins, uniquely-shaped track pad-
FREE, hands-on workshops on livestock management practices. See a
docks which promote horse movement, slow feeders that encourage a
variety of options and work with technicians to discover ways you can
horse to eat smaller amounts for longer periods, wildlife hedgerows and
have less mud, better pastures, manage manure and care for streams
more! Learn about EGALA, a non-profit organization in which horses are
and wetlands. Includes light refreshments.
used in the treatment of mental health.
February 16: Streams and Wetlands: Living with Livestock near Water
February 23: Mud Management: Record Rainfall – Record Mud with
Alayne Blickle as a presenter
March 1: Manure Management: Got Livestock? Got Manure! with Alayne
Blickle as a presenter
March 8: Pasture Management: Becoming a Grass Farmer with a King
County noxious weed specialist to talk about weed identification and control
Russ, a former endurance rider turned EAGALA practitioner, set up his farm
over 10 years ago after attending Horses for Clean Water & King CD events.
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