Conservation District seeks supervisor

District Supervisors are volunteers who make a difference in their communities. The Crook County Natural Resource District is still seeking an urban representative for its board.

Conservation districts have been around since the early 1930s, when, along with the greatest depression this nation ever experienced, came an equally unparalleled ecological disaster known as the Dust Bowl. Following a severe and sustained drought in the Great Plains, the region’s soil began to erode and blow away, creating huge black dust storms that blotted out the sun and swallowed the countryside.

Thousands of “dust refugees” left the black fog to seek better lives but, to their surprise, the storms stretched across the nation. Dust even sifted into the White House and onto the desk of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

On Capitol Hill, while testifying about the erosion problem, soil scientist Hugh Hammond Bennett threw back the curtains to reveal a sky blackened by dust. Congress unanimously passed legislation declaring soil and water conservation as a national policy and priority.

Nearly three-fourths of the continental United States is privately owned and Congress realized that only active, voluntary support from landowners would guarantee the success of conservation work on private land.

In 1937, President Roosevelt wrote letters to all state governors recommending legislation that would allow local landowners to form soil conservation districts. Brown Creek Soil & Water Conservation District in North Carolina was the first district established.

The movement caught on across the country with district-enabling legislation passed in every state. Today, the country is blanketed with nearly 3000 conservation districts managed by elected supervisors that represent rural and urban interests.

On March 5, 1941, Wyoming’s governor passed a law to develop local government agencies to help implement conservation practices. There are 34 county districts within the State of Wyoming, all of which address conservation practices on private and public lands to ensure that natural resource needs are being fulfilled.

The Crook County Natural Resource District is a legal subdivision of the State of Wyoming and therefore abides by state statutes. The CCNRD does not operate from direct federal funding; however, the CCNRD earns both federal and state grant funds through competitive application processes.

Despite the CCNRD’s lack of consistent funding, the CCNRD diligently pursues opportunities to increase conservation awareness and participation by Crook County residents.

Anyone who is a registered voter and resident of Crook County is eligible to serve as a conservation district supervisor. Once elected, supervisors serve a four-year term. Candidates must meet the residency requirements for the duration of the term.

By statute, three positions are rural, one urban and one at-large. Urban representatives must reside in an incorporated municipality (Sundance, Moorcroft, Hulett, Pine Haven).

Rural representatives must reside in Crook County and outside of an incorporated area. At-large representative may reside anywhere in Crook County.

A Conservation District Supervisor is the voice for local conservation. As a supervisor you will: establish programs to address local natural resource concerns, prioritize programs and projects, provide direction for the staff to administer programs and serve as an advocate and local voice in the conservation of our county’s natural resources.

Supervisors do not receive compensation for duties, except for expenses incurred. Vacancies are filled by appointment by the Board of Agriculture based on recommendation of the District Supervisors. Appointees serve until the next general election and at that time they will run for the unexpired term.

If you are interested in applying or would just like more information, please call our office at 307-283-2870 X 4, email us at [email protected] or attend our next Board meeting. We meet the first Tuesday of the month at 12:00 p.m. at the Sundance USDA Service Center.