Reservations Due Soon for Washtenaw County Conservation District Awards Dinner

The Marion family of Saline Township will receive the 2013 Conservation Farmer of the Year at the upcoming 66th annual meeting and dinner.

The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Washtenaw Farm Council grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, the Chelsea Update reports. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.

Tom and Jenae Chuling of Bridgewater Township will also be honored at the annual event with the 2013 Tree Conservationist Award.

In addition to highlighting the conservation work of Marion and Chuling families in the awards presentation, a program on “Michigan Raptors” presented by Joe Rogers of the Wildlife Recovery Association.

Elections will also be held for two district directors. Candidates are Jeremy Hodges of Chelsea and Howard Sias of Lima Township.

Hodges is production coordinator for the Eisenhower Center at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and manages a 63-acre vocational farm. Sias operates a cash and livestock farm and is a current director.

All Washtenaw County resident of legal voting age may vote in the election  by one of two methods following completion of a voter registration form and demonstration of residency by one piece of identification.

An absentee  allot can be completed at the conservation district office, 7203 Jackson Road in Ann Arbor, during regular business hours from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, before Jan. 18. Or, ballots can be cast at the annual meeting.

Reservations for the annual meeting must be made by Jan. 13 by calling the district conservation office at (734) 761-6721, Ext. 5.