Stasney receives award for dedication to conservation

Bruce Stasney is passionate about conservation.

He learned the importance of preserving, protecting and restoring the natural environment for the earth’s wildlife when he was a young man growing up on a farm outside of Montgomery.

The son of John and Rita Stasney loves to hunt and be outside. He remembers the moment in his youth when the importance of conservation took hold in his heart. 

“We used to have geese land on one of our hay fields and Dad would always say, ‘That’s a good place for them to rest. Leave ‘em alone.’ He didn’t mind that we hunted, but said to conserve them. They’ll be there next year. Don’t shoot them all,” Bruce recalls.

His passion earned him the Conservationist of the Year – Pioneer Award from the Minnesota Waterfowl Association (MWA) last Friday. The award is presented to a Minnesota landowner who demonstrates a significant commitment to Minnesota’s wetland environments, waterfowl and wetland wildlife through exceptional land management practices.
 

Stasney has 57 acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Wetland Restoration Project this includes three ponds he dug years ago that include trees and plants for the habitat.

Brad Nylin, Executive Director for the MWA, said Stasney’s life-long dedication to conservation made him the perfect recipient for the award.

See more in the print edition.