Mahnomen’s Joe Starkey wins DNR conservation award

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Mahnomen’s Joe Starkey wins DNR conservation award
(Released September 6, 2011)

Four years of conservation efforts were honored recently by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) when Joseph Starkey from Mahnomen received the annual Future Farmers of America (FFA) award from DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. The award ceremony was held at the Minnesota State Fair on Sept. 2.

The DNR Commissioner’s Youth Award is given annually to a FFA student who has demonstrated initiative, leadership, creativity and achievement in the conservation and wise use of natural and agricultural resources. This year is the 20th year of the award program.

Since 2007, Starkey has worked on his environmental science and natural resource management project on his parents 70 acres of land. “I have been able to implement almost all of the habitat improvements that I set out to achieve as a high school freshman,” said Starkey.

In addition to gaining valuable lesson on habitat management, last year Starkey had an internship with the Tribal NRCS in Mahnomen County, where he shared his knowledge of habitat management and learned about surveying methods and how to operate a GPS unit and make GIS templates.

“Joe Starkey is a very good youth,” said Adam Woltier, NRCS Tribal Liaison. “I highly recommend him for this conservation award.”

Landwehr said, “It is encouraging to see young people take an interest in the importance of habitat for game and nongame animals and help to teach others.”

Starkey volunteers for Meals on Wheels, Student Council, FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America), and plays football, basketball and golf. He is also active in Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the Minnesota Waterfowl Association.

Starkey graduated from high school last spring and is now a freshman at the University of Minnesota, Crookston where he plans to major in natural resources.

Joseph is the son of Bruce and Shannon Starkey. His FFA Advisor is Steven Funk. Also present at the award ceremony were the state FFA Advisors Joel Larsen and Jim Ertl.