Vote Don Johnson for 2012 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year

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Vote by Jan. 6 at www.Budweiser.com or www.confedmo.org.

By Debra Lee, Conservation Federation of Missouri

CONTACT INFO: 573-634-2322 or dlee@confedmo.org

JEFFERSON CITY Mo – Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation are teaming up again to honor four conservationists and award $65,000 in grants for candidates’ conservation projects as part of the 2012 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year program.

The Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) is taking this special opportunity during the holiday season as “The Voice for Missouri Outdoors” and gladly championing Don Johnson of Festus for the 2012 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year.

Johnson is one of four commissioners of the Missouri Conservation Commission, which is responsible for appointing the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) director, serving as policy makers, approving wildlife code regulations, strategic planning, budget development and major expenditure decisions for the Department. He is also active in the National Wildlife Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, National Archery in Schools Program and Conservation Federation of Missouri. He is the standard bearer for Missouri conservation.

A lifelong outdoorsman, Johnson has invested his life in conservation projects from wild elk restoration to implementation of the National Archery in Schools Program. Don continually searches for ways to give back to communities. He works tirelessly as a proponent for Share the Harvest, a program of the CFM and MDC that provides food for the hungry, helps manage the deer herd and promotes greater awareness of the many contributions to society made by hunters. Don is an enthusiastic hunter and angler with true heart, a fantastic standard bearer for conservation! His commitment and perseverance to conservation work can be honored with your vote.

In addition to his dedication with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Rifle Association and Ducks Unlimited, Don was president of the CFM from 2006 until his appointment to the Missouri Conservation Commission in 2007. He served as CFM’s president and held the posts of second and first vice president. He has chaired both the Ways & Means and Executive committees and served on many resource committees. His leadership has shaped much of what CFM is today. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Howard University in Washington D.C.

Following college he served as a pilot in the United States Air Force, flying 130 combat missions in Vietnam and earning four Air Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

The annual Budweiser Conservationist of the Year program recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions through their volunteer activities to the outdoors and conservation. Each year a committee selects four conservationists as finalists from dozens of outstanding nominees.

Online voting runs through Jan. 6. Each person may vote one time and must enter his or her date of birth.  Adult consumers over 21 from across the country vote for the Budweiser Conservationist of the Year in an open-ballot process at www.Budweiser.com. People can also vote through www.confedmo.org and follow the Budweiser Conservationist of the Year link found on the home page. Also visit the Conservation Federation of Missouri Facebook page and “like” and “share” the link there.

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• Meeting of the Missouri Conservation Commission (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• MDC to seek elusive answers about ruffed grouse (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

MDC’s Kyle Lairmore receives State Employee Award of Distinction

Governor recognizes MDC Private Land Conservationist for outstanding public service. 

JEFFERSON CITY Mo – Missouri Governor Jay Nixon recognized Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Private Land Conservationist Kyle Lairmore with the 2010 Missouri State Employee Award of Distinction for Public Service at an Aug. 18 ceremony at the Capitol.

The award recognized Lairmore for his “outstanding dedication to the advancement of state service, which enhances the quality of life to citizens and is above and beyond the employee’s normal job requirements.”

The annual awards are coordinated through the Office of Administration, Division of Personnel, and recognize outstanding state employees in the categories of Public Service, Human Relations, Safety and Heroism and Innovative Suggestion of the Year.

“Missouri’s outdoor resources are some of our greatest treasures, and preserving them for the use and enjoyment of future generations depends on our wise stewardship today,” said Gov. Nixon. “I commend Kyle Lairmore for his dedication to both his profession and to conserving those natural resources we are blessed with.” 

A five-year employee with the MDC, Lairmore works with private landowners and others in Maries and Gasconade counties to help them achieve their land-use objectives in ways that enhance the conservation of Missouri's fish, forest, wildlife and natural communities. He is also active in numerous MDC committees and working groups from feral-hog eradication efforts to driver’s training to customer service.

His public-service activities include staffing fishing events for kids, assisting conservation agents on patrols, working with the Missouri Seed Program, coordinating local stream-bank stabilization projects for the Soil and Water Conservation District, teaching hunter education courses, serving as an instructor for Missouri’s National Archery in the Schools Program, serving as a guide and mentor for the annual Governor’s Youth Turkey Hunt and assisting with the MDC’s Prairie Chicken Recovery Project. 

“Kyle exemplifies what it means to be conservation professional, and we value him, his talents and his energy,” said MDC Private Lands Division Chief Mike Hubbard. “He conducts hundreds of on-site visits with landowners and provides dozens of workshops and presentations that teach thousands of people about conservation. Kyle’s passion and enthusiasm for Missouri’s natural resources also carry over into his personal life.”

A resident of Owensville, Lairmore is active in his community and with other conservation-related organizations.

He helped establish the Mid-Missouri Dream Hunters program for young hunters with disabilities and helps with other hunts for youth with special needs. He is active in the Gasconade River Gobblers chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Four Rivers chapter of Quail Forever, the Ozark Border Bobwhites chapter of Quail Unlimited, the Gasconade County Youth Shooting Sports groups and other local organizations. 

He has been recognized for his conservation-related leadership and public service by the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) and is active in the CFM’s Conservation Leadership Corps where he helps students and young professionals as they begin careers in natural- resources fields. Lairmore was recognized recently by the CFM as its Conservation Educator of The Year. 

Lairmore also received the National Rifle Association’s award for the Best NRA Youth Club for 2008-2009 and a Partnership Award from the Natural Resources Conservation Service for his work.

Lairmore was also named Owensville “Man of the Year” for 2010. 

 Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Private Land Conservationist Kyle Lairmore recently received the 2010 Missouri State Employee Award of Distinction for Public Service from Governor Jay Nixon during a ceremony at the Capitol. Pictured are (l-r): MDC Private Land Services (PLS) Unit Chief Bob DeWitt, MDC PLS Agricultural Program Coordinator John Knudsen; Fisheries Unit Chief and Lairmore’s former supervisor Brian Canaday, Conservation Commissioner Don Johnson, MDC PLS Division Chief Mike Hubbard, Lairmore, Gov. Nixon, MDC Director Bob Ziehmer, MDC Deputy Director Tom Draper, Lairmore’s mother Chris Lairmore, Lairmore’s father Jerry Lairmore and Lairmore’s grandfather

Maurice Landwehr.