CHADRON, Nebraska -- The Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD) hosts a Range Day Education Event at Chadron State College annually to provide learning and networking opportunities for landowners, producers, students and agency personnel who are interested in rangeland management, upcoming technology, weather forecasts and even financial tools to improve their operations. The Range Day has been held for nearly 10 years now with the generous support of the C.F. Coffee Family Foundation. This year, the UNWNRD decided to expand the Range Day in order to provide a consolidated public event in which our Conservation Award Winners could be recognized for their outstanding conservation efforts as well.

Annually, the UNWNRD accepts nominations for individuals or groups who have shown exemplary work to protect the natural resources in Northwest Nebraska.  Nominations are accepted from agencies and natural resources professionals as well as private citizens and nominees must be conducting their conservation efforts within the UNWNRD encompassing Dawes, Sheridan, Box Butte and Sioux Counties.

Multiple categories of natural resources conservation can be recognized including Tree Planting, Forest Management, Range Management, Soil Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, Wildlife Habitat, Water Conservation, and Natural Resources Education. The UNWNRD Board of Directors will also entertain nominations in other categories as long as they fit into natural resources conservation.

The 2024 winners were recognized at the Range Day awards luncheon on Jan.14, 2025, with their families and other conservationists in attendance.  Congratulations to the 2024 UNWNRD Conservation Award Winners and thank you for your noteworthy conservation efforts.

The 2024 UNWNRD Conservation Award Winners are:

Conservation Award for Natural Resources Education
David Carlson of Hay Springs, Nebraska
Nominated by: Robin Foulk and Bryan Kahl, Chadron NRCS

Conservation Award for Wildlife Habitat & Outdoor Recreation 
Arlee and Betty Phillips of Hemingford, Nebraska
Nominated by: Kelly Mildebrandt, Pheasants Forever

Conservation Award for Range Management
Ronald Betson of Crawford, Nebraska
Nominated by: Robin Foulk and Bryan Kahl, Chadron NRCS

Conservation Award Soil Conservation
Steve Benzel of Alliance, Nebraska
Nominated by: Brad Carlson, Alliance NRCS

Nominations for 2025 will be accepted from July 1, 2025, to Nov. 1, 2025. Please contact Kylen Armstrong at the UNWNRD at (308) 432-6190 or armstrong [at] unwnrd.org for more information on Conservation Awards.

2024 Award Winners from left, Dave Carlson, Betty and Arlee Phillips, Ronald Betson, Steve and Lorie Benzel.