The Routt County Conservation District has recently received a federal grant through the Natural Resources Conservation Service to carry out a virtual fencing program in Routt County.

The district is currently taking applications for the program and has recently hired staff to carry out operations. In addition to the virtual fencing program, the district is continuing its efforts to help landowners with programs for a wide range of practices, including soil health, weed control, water conservation and wildfire mitigation.

Landowners who might be interested in hearing more about virtual fencing, or have other resource concerns or questions, are invited to attend the Annual Landowner’s Meeting on March 19 at the Soroco High School Ag Annex Building.

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Reasons to attend

Do you own land in Routt County? Are you an ag producer? Are you interested in improving your stewardship skill networking with other landowners, learning about how to access new funding opportunities?

Here are 10 reasons why you may wish to attend:

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1. Help shape the future of your conservation district.

2. Learn about funding opportunities available through NRCS.

3. Free food.

4. Network with your fellow ag producers, gardeners, neighbors.

5. Meet face to face with local conservation agency folks.

6. Meet new friends.

7. Share success stories with like-minded people.

8. Participate in a Local Working Group interactive session to prioritize resource issues in the county.

9. Learn how to become a participant in the virtual fencing program. 

10. Find out how to apply for NRCS technical and funding assistance.

A light supper will be served. Topics to be discussed include how the district can best serve. Some of the programs RCCD is proposing for the short and long term include decoding NRCS funding programs. Attendees will have the chance to influence the direction of stewardship programs in the valley by identifying and prioritizing current and future needs that will best sustain natural resources while meeting economic goals.

We hope to see you there. RSVPs will be helpful for planning purposes. You can RSVP at board@routtcountycd.com.

Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level by providing technical assistance and tools to manage and protect land and water resources. NRCS provides technical assistance and implementation funding to private landowners and relies on local input, provided through the RCCD, to prioritize their programs.  

Tyler Snyder is the Board President of the Routt County Conservation District.