Hero Story

Rick owns property that was devastated by the Emerald Ash Bore. He was looking for help with the problem before it destroyed the trees on his property. He was told about the local Conservation District but he could never catch anyone in the office and no one returned his calls. After finally calling one of the other Conservation District offices he learned that Iosco's Board was no active. AFTER his property was devastated, Rick continued his search to find out what was the issue in Iosco County. Finally, he talked to the right person who asked the right questions and Rick was asked, along with two other individuals that were having issues in the county, to attend special meeting. At the meeting, the former Board members resigned and Rick and the other two people were asked if they would be interested in taking on the responsibility of rebuilding the Board. They took it on with no money and lots of negative feelings in the county, left by the actions of the resigning Board. It has taken years, hard work and a lot of conversations with local neighbors an businesses to rebuild the ICD into the growing and prospering entity it is today.
Rick is the first to admit he did not make these changes alone, but I believe that he was VERY instrumental in identifying the the need and finding a solution. Rick is 71 years old and he still drives 20-24 hours every spring to pick up trees around the state of Michigan for the annual tree sale. This sale is the only regular income this conservation district has. Rick, for many years, used his own truck and trailer and gas to do this. Recently they have had to rent a larger truck because the sale has outgrown the size of his truck.
Rick uses his own tractors and whatever else is needed to do the projects for the conservation district.
The Iosco Conservation District does everything from the tree sale to holding classes for adults and has partnered with local schools to provide classroom opportunities outside for the sciences classes.