Heward receives WSGLT award
Cheyenne – The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust (WSGLT) is happy to announce Todd Heward of Medicine Bow is the recipient of the 2022 Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award. Heward was nominated by Rick Danvir of Basin Wildlife Consulting and Western Landowners Alliance, James Sewell of TA Ranch and Stacey Scott of Eagle Ridge Ranch. Heward is being recognized for his outstanding efforts in the conservation of water, soils, habitat and land across Wyoming.
The Bucholz Conservation Award is given in memory of the late Kurt Bucholz, DVM, a rancher from Carbon County and early supporter of WSGLT. The Bucholz Award winner encompasses the values and stewardship ethic Bucholz exemplified in his life. Bucholz had a unique understanding of water and land issues and worked to protect the fundamental historic water rights of the North Platte River Valley.
“When you think of all the good and worthwhile things Todd has done on his ranching operation, and across the state – range improvement projects, conservation efforts and encouraging appropriate use of water, soil and habitat – he is very deserving of this award,” says Scott.
In his current role as president of the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts and as the supervisor and district manager on the Medicine Bow Conservation District, Heward has served the state by assisting with range improvement projects totaling more than $3.7 million. He has actively supported landowners in their efforts to conserve Wyoming’s working lands, livestock and wildlife habitat for more than 20 years.
Heward is active in many conservation and policy shaping efforts. He serves on the statewide Greater Sage Grouse Interagency team for U.S. Fish Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Historic Trails Resource Conservation and Development, the USFWS Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurance Development Team for Greater sage grouse ranch management and on the Bates Hole and Shirley Basin Local Sage Grouse Working Group.
He served nine years on the Wyoming Livestock Board and was a technical advisor for three wildlife technical committees related to wind energy development and a cooperator in the Simpson Ridge Wind Project sage grouse telemetry study.
Heward, alongside his wife Malea and seven children, have played a key role in the conservation and recovery of black-footed ferrets (BFF) in Wyoming, both by serving on the BFF Technical Advisory Committee and managing habitat for one of the most successful BFF reintroductions in the world. Most recently, he has begun riparian habitat improvement efforts in the Little Medicine Bow River drainage, which will include 26 plus miles of river restoration efforts to improve riparian health, river function and fisheries.
“Todd’s quiet voice of reason and collaborative problem solving have done Wyoming proud and will continue to do so,” adds Danvir.
Heward will be presented with a bronze statue sculpted by the late Jerry Palen at the WSGLT’s 2022 Annual Roundup Fundraiser and Barbeque at the Berger Ranch near Saratoga, on Aug. 27.
Join WSGLT in recognizing Heward’s important conservation work in Wyoming. Tickets can be purchased by visiting wsglt.org/annual-roundup-bbq-2022, e-mailing kaylee@wsglt.org or by calling 307-772-8751.
This article is courtesy of the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
