The Wyoming Stock Growers Association presented two awards last week during the Wyoming Cattle Industry Convention in Jackson. JoAnn Wade was named the Outstanding Range Professional and Dr. Frank Galey  was honored as Guardian of the Grasslands. The 2012 Leopold Conservation Award winners, the Sommers  Ranch, were also recognized.

JoAnn Wade received the Outstanding Range Professional award, which is given

“in recognition of the valuable contribution to the livestock industry made by range professionals who exemplify high professional standards coupled with a dedication to building strong working relationships with livestock producers.”

Wade was nominated based on her work as the Soil Conservation Technician for the Niobrara Conservation District (Niobrara USDA Service Center).  She is highly respected and trusted by area landowners due to her diligent work assisting with technical support in stream surveys, windbreak and drip irrigation, grazing plans and plant identification.

Wade also works with resource education in the county. She offers Hat Creek Stage Station as a learning center and gives her time to the Black Hills Natural Resources Youth Camp workshops and tours. She is passionate about helping agricultural producers on the land and the Wyoming Stock Growers are proud to recognize her for her dedicated years of service to resource enhancement and education.

Dr. Frank Galey , University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean, is the recipient of the Guardian of the Grasslands award. The award is given

“for outstanding efforts in protecting the natural resources of Wyoming.”

Galey has demonstrated outstanding efforts through his strong leadership of the Governor’s Task Force on Brucellosis, his commitment to brucellosis research, as well as his outstanding contribution to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the past 13 years.

Dr. Galey received his PhD in Veterinary Biosciences and holds a specialty certification in toxicology. His research interests include the fields of diagnostic and forensic medicine, plant and other natural product poisonings and analytical pharmacology and toxicology.

The Sommers Ranch of Pinedale was also recognized for receiving the Leopold Conservation Award as part of the Wyoming Environmental Stewardship program. Siblings Albert and Jonita Sommers received a crystal statue and a ranch sign. The Sommers will host the Environmental Stewardship Tour on their ranch in July. More details are available at www.wysga.org. Sponsors of the program are the Wyoming Stock Growers, Sand County Foundation, Encana Oil & Gas and Peabody Energy.

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