District Cooperator Signs
Undoubtedly you've heard, "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" many times in your life. Following the essence of the proverb, we can say in 'conservation language', "A Cooperator Sign Speaks Volumes."

Statewide, districts have landowners who are doing great things with the help of their Conservation District staff. But beyond those landowners and the District, who else knows about it?

Districts would like to recognize these important people who support and practice outstanding conservation, and at the same time, promote the good work of Michigan's conservation districts. M.D.A. (Michigan Department of Agriculture) has developed an attractive and sturdy sign which will be used to recognize outstanding contributions and participation in District conservation programs.

Landowners receiving a District Cooperator sign, would sign a Cooperator Agreement signifying a commitment to adopt and maintain conservation practices that protect soil, water, and related natural resources on their property.

When I began my career with the District, a ledger was kept of "District Cooperators". The first landowner recorded signing a District Cooperator Agreement was Clayton Healey in 1949, on 196 acres. This ledger (332 entries) was maintained until 1994.

Each Cooperator had a file containing their signed agreement, site visit notes, management plans, etc. At that time, the District Office was co-located with USDA Offices and Cooperator files were kept with USDA files. When the USDA Offices moved to a new Service Center in Petoskey (1995) they took all the files with them. Unfortunately, losing the technical assistance of NRCS forced the District to stop maintaining the ledger.

If you are proud of how you manage the resources on your property and would like to be recognized for your efforts, contact the Conservation District. Despite a staff of only two, we are here as "YOUR LOCAL POINT OF ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT" in Charlevoix County. If your circumstances are beyond the scope of assistance the District can provide, we will connect you with a more appropriate agency or organization.