2021 State Trees Award Winners Recognized
Fifteen Trees Award winners from across the state will be recognized at the 31st Trees Bowl and Awards Ceremony sponsored by the North Dakota Forest Service and North Dakota State University (NDSU). Honorees will be celebrated at the Fargodome on Saturday, October 30th, 2021. The Trees Awards recognize individuals, organizations, and agencies who contribute in an outstanding way to forestry activities. Forestry activities can include: fire mitigation, protection and suppression; tree planting, preservation, or maintenance; community forestry efforts; forest or fire management practices; or environmental education.
The winners will be provided a noon luncheon in the Fargodome, which will be followed by the awards ceremony at 1 p.m. NDSU President Dean Bresciani and State Forester Thomas Claeys will present each winner with a plaque. The winners will also attend the Trees Bowl NDSU football game against Indiana State at 2:30 p.m. and be recognized on the field during half-time. The North Dakota Forest Service will distribute free, tree-related items before and during the game to attendees.
The 2021 award winners include:
COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR – Garrison
CONSERVATION ACHIEVEMENT – Henry Eide, Arnegard
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE – Wendy Ross, Theodore Roosevelt National Park
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR – Sherry Niesar, ND Game and Fish
EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT – ND Department of Emergency Services
FIRE DEPARTMENT – Flasher Rural Fire Protection District
FOREST STEWARDSHIP LANDOWNERS – Mike and Heather Duerre, Walhalla
MEDIA OUTREACH – “Dakota Gardener”, NDSU Extension
NATURAL RESOURCES PROFESSIONAL – Ryan Melin, North Dakota Forest Service
2020 SMOKEY BEAR POSTER CONTEST WINNER – Mason Evanger, Bismarck
2021 SMOKEY BEAR POSTER CONTEST WINNER – Keegan Schatz, Park River
TREE CELEBRATION – Towner State Nursery 70th Anniversary
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION – Shade Tree Committee of Granville
YOUTH TREE PLANTERS – Rice Lake
DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP – Cody Schulz, ND Department of Emergency Services
