For three days in November, Lisa Shaw and Matt Dockery (board member) of the Niobrara County Conservation District were in Casper participating in the Wyoming Natural Resources Rendezvous convention. The convention, running from November 28 to the 30th, as explained by Shaw is, “Leaders from the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts and the Wyoming Stock Growers gather with specialists from around the state to work on issues, celebrate successes, share knowledge and network. Natural resources, agriculture and the great State of Wyoming are the focus of the conference”. During this convention, the Niobrara County Conservation District received accolades for their 2017-2018 Outstanding Work Plan where they were awarded full honors and their 2016-2017 Outstanding Annual Report where they were awarded Honorable Mention. “These documents are written to show what we plan to work on as well as what we have accomplished the past year.  Each year we are required to submit these documents to the Department of Ag and WACD. I view these two documents as the record of our history and a way to present the things we have done to a general audience in a concise manner” states Shaw. For each award, the District was recognized at the Award Luncheon held on Wednesday, November 29 and included a plaque of recognition as well as pictures and being honored before the room of attendees. “In March I will have been at this job for 25 years. I am proud of the District, the county, the producers and what we do as a community. If it was not for the great people the Conservation District represents, I would not have such a well-rounded and robust report” says Shaw of the awards. 

Both preceding and following the award luncheon, Shaw and Dockery were kept busy at different seminars of the convention. “I attended the opening ceremony, a presentation on UW, new information on sage grouse impacts of grazing, a very passionate presentation on the Ag statistics and census, an update from several DC lobbyists and sat on the District operations committee discussions” comments Shaw. For Dockery, work began early with a legislative breakfast from which “he felt was very informative particularly about the budget. Wyoming has faced many budget cuts that affect every entity in the state including us. The legislator from Sheridan spun a positive light and how we needed to focus on generating more revenue”. Dockery was also the Niobrara District voting delegate during the business meeting where resolutions were put up for debate and passed among other items including the WACD budget. “WACD’s work on special districts is now the Department of Ag’s template for all Special Districts to follow throughout the State” explains Dockery. The convention didn’t end for either at the mentioned events as they both went on to participate in other seminars and programs, however Shaw explains the overall as, “We both heard from the congressional delegation, networked with folks across Wyoming and enjoyed the fellowship”. 

Per Shaw, “WACD and WSG host annual meetings separately but we gather together every five years. Some years we add the Weed and Pest and it is called the Mega Ag Convention”. While Shaw and Dockery were the only participants for Niobrara County during the convention, Shaw explains just how important it is for the District and what is taken from the convention, “The District gathers all sorts of information when you attend. It is an awesome chance to network. The trade show also provides useful information.  This year we will be implementing procurement rules, a reserve policy, public records request policy, updating our Long Range Plan and more. Discussions and updates on grant programs we use is also helpful”. Nearing her twenty-fifth anniversary mark, Shaw adds, “Some year’s convention is a tool to rejuvenate your mind and soul, a way to affirm you are helping to create a better whole. This was one of those years. Matt and I both came away excited about our roles in the conservation and Ag world”.