Board of Directors
Kevin Craig, current chairman of the Gratiot Conservation District, has been on the board of directors since 2009. He and his wife Jann have a 160-acre farm in southern Gratiot County that houses a small beef cow-calf operation. Their farm is MAEAP verified in Farmstead, Livestock, and Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat *A*Syst*.
Kevin has a BS in Agricultural Engineering from NSU. He has enjoyed being on the board due to the ties to agriculture and natural resources. He was drawn to the governmental and legislative aspects of conservation districts and enjoys getting to know his representatives and senators as well as local county commissioners. |
Dann Bolinger, Director A graduate of Purdue University, Dann Bolinger has been on the Gratiot Conservation District Board of Directors since 2022. Dann and his wife Kathryn live in southern Gratiot County. Dann works as a Dairy Specialist with Pioneer. He and his wife also own a livestock company and enjoy breeding Angus, Shorthorn and crossbred cattle as well as Golden Retrievers. Dann has a passion for conservation education and has been an asset to the board.
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"A conservation district is a governmental subdivision of this state, and a public body - corporate and political, organized by the people within the district boundaries under provisions of the Soil Conservation District Law, which is part of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) Public Act 451 of 1994, as amended. It is a locally controlled resource management agency, created by concerned landowners and administered by publicly elected boards of directors. It has since been amended and is now Public Act 463 of 1998 (hereafter referred to as CD Law, see Appendix A).
The locally elected five-member board of directors makes all decisions regarding the district’s programs and activities. The directors employ a district manager (also referred to as executive director or district administrator [or district administrative manager]) who oversees all day-to-day activities including the hiring and management of qualified staff necessary to implement the district’s programs and carry out its mission. The guiding philosophy of conservation districts is that decisions on conservation issues should be made at the local level, by local people, with technical assistance provided by the government."
What this means is that the five-member board of directors are elected by the citizens of Gratiot County, though they are not presented on the Fall election ballot. Conservation District Law states that elections are held under the direction of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), who certifies the results of each election.
(MICHIGAN’S CONSERVATION DISTRICT OPERATIONS MANUAL, https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/)
The locally elected five-member board of directors makes all decisions regarding the district’s programs and activities. The directors employ a district manager (also referred to as executive director or district administrator [or district administrative manager]) who oversees all day-to-day activities including the hiring and management of qualified staff necessary to implement the district’s programs and carry out its mission. The guiding philosophy of conservation districts is that decisions on conservation issues should be made at the local level, by local people, with technical assistance provided by the government."
What this means is that the five-member board of directors are elected by the citizens of Gratiot County, though they are not presented on the Fall election ballot. Conservation District Law states that elections are held under the direction of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), who certifies the results of each election.
(MICHIGAN’S CONSERVATION DISTRICT OPERATIONS MANUAL, https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/)
We're thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for passionate individuals to join our Gratiot Conservation District family! We're on the lookout for dedicated volunteer leaders to step into roles on our board of directors as elected officials. As a key player in promoting voluntary stewardship in agriculture and natural resources in Gratiot County, your involvement will make a meaningful impact. If you're ready to roll up your sleeves, help out with our events, attend our monthly board meetings, and collaborate with our partners, we want to hear from you! Together, we can drive positive change and foster a sustainable future for our community. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of something special. Click one of the links to download and print a nomination petition. Petitions are due at the Gratiot Conservation District Office on December 13th.