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BUR OAK AWARD

BMAP's Annual Bur Oak Award for Excellence in Private Land Stewardship is awarded to a BMAP Member who has undertaken or recently completed a project that makes outstanding progress in protecting or restoring native biodiversity.

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Celebrating the efforts of exemplary BMAP members

The bur oak tree, with its thick, corky bark survived the frequent fires of the oak savanna in precolonial times. The bur oak represents both the dominant native plant community of the region, and symbolizes persistence in the face of adversity.

 

This annual award recognizes BMAP landowners who have dedicated themselves to the restoration and stewardship of native habitat on private lands. Excellence in private land stewardship is shown by the degree of leadership and innovation in the project's approach, sensitivity to the local landscape, and enhancement of the habitat of threatened, endangered or special concern species or rare plant communities.

Bur Oak Awardees

Jerome and Jackie Helmenstine

2024 Bur Oak Award

Every year we give out the Bur Oak Award. This award recognizes a member landowner who has undertaken or recently completed a project on their own land that makes outstanding progress in protecting or restoring native biodiversity. Excellence in private land stewardship is shown by the degree of leadership and innovation in the project's approach, sensitivity to the local landscape, and enhancement of the habitat of threatened, endangered or special concern species or rare plant communities. The bur oak tree, with its thick, corky bark survived the frequent fires of the oak savanna in pre-settlement times. The bur oak represents both the dominant native plant community of the region, and symbolizes persistence in the face of adversity. 

 

This year we present the Bur Oak Award to Jerome and Jackie Helmenstine. For the past 17 years, Jerome, Jackie and their family have been working on restoration of both woodlands and cultivated fields on the 305 acre Helmenstine family farm which has been in the family since 1897. They have multiple restoration projects in diverse habitats where they not only restore native plants but also encourage bird nesting and track the wildlife they see. This past spring we toured the woodlands where the focus is on clearing underbrush ten acres at a time, followed by overseeding with native grasses and woodland plants, as well as a young prairie in a formerly cultivated field. We look forward to visiting their other restoration projects in the future. Jerome and Jackie also have experience coordinating CREP, CRP and CCP programs for funding their restoration work.  We are pleased to present this award to Jerome and Jackie in recognition of their long term, extensive restoration work and accumulated knowledge of both habitats and funding sources.

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Ron Endres

2023 Bur Oak Award

Ron Endres has made many contributions to prairie restoration in our area over the 30 years since he and Sheila purchased their land and began learning to restore native vegetation. In the process he learned that the seeds of native plants are very expensive, and so began his journey of collecting, processing and distributing tailor-made seed mixes for the last 13 years to land trusts, school groups and nonprofits in the region. Over 100 organizations have benefited from Ron’s steadfast volunteer work.

Upon receiving the Bur Oak Award Ron said:

“The world we are living in is experiencing extreme heat, drought, floods, massive wildfires, melting ice caps, dying coral reefs, polluted air and land and water, deforestation, mass insect extinctions, invasive, species over-running native species…What can one person do? Why should I even try when it all seems so hopeless?

I keep trying because I am not alone. Organizations like the Prairie Enthusiasts, Dane County Parks, Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Groundswell, and BMAP along with many others are all working on making positive environmental changes. They show us that groups of like-minded individuals CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. When we work side-by-side with other volunteers or when we support their efforts financially, we ALL feel a sense of hope.

Even though the Bur Oak award is presented to an individual, it reinforces the idea of what we can accomplish when we all pull together. I humbly accept this award and want to tell you all “thank you”. Not just for recognizing my contribution, but for giving my work as well as my life meaning. For helping me see that when I wake each morning, what I do -- what WE ALL DO --  truly can make a difference.”

Ron Endres Receives Bur Oak Award Photo

Mike Samuel and Nancy
Thomas

2022 Bur Oak Award

Mike and Nancy own and care for 66 acres in
the Town of Perry that they have been working on since 1999. On their property you can find oak woodlands, prairie, and a sedge meadow. They have established a conservation easement on 50 acres and are now working on an endowment for the maintenance of the property in perpetuity. BMAP is pleased to give this award to such good land stewards. Congratulations, Mike and Nancy, and thank you for your commitment to caring for the land!

Bur Oak Award 2022 Mike Samuel and Nancy Thomas
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Contact

Blue Mounds Area Project
P.O. Box 332
Mt. Horeb, WI 53572

info@bluemounds.org

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