Upper Snake Volunteers Honored

The Idaho Department of Fish & Game held their annual volunteer appreciation banquet Thursday January 29th at the Shilo Inn Convention Center in Idaho Falls. Over 100 guests were in attendance to recognize and honor the many volunteers that make wildlife conservation possible. Fish and Game appreciates all of their volunteers for donating more than 7,300 hours of volunteer service in the Upper Snake Region during the 2014 year. This generous donation of time and services has an estimated value of over $175,000 to the department. As an added value, Fish and Game is able to utilize these volunteer hours and donated mileage as match for Federal dollars and other funds. This means that the volunteer service in the Upper Snake has a potential to be worth almost $400,000 to Fish and Game. As inflation and the cost of doing business increases, IDFG relies more and more on the services provided by volunteers. "I am privileged to work with so many great volunteers in Eastern Idaho," said Fish and Game Volunteer Coordinator James Brower. "Whether we need to shuttle vehicles or plant sagebrush there are always plenty of volunteers willing to help us out, and I want them to know that we could not do as much as we do without them. Our volunteers truly care about conserving wildlife for the future." Fish and Game wishes to thank all of their 300 plus volunteers along with 22 distinguished volunteer service award recipients for the year 2014 for their outstanding efforts toward wildlife conservation: 2014 Volunteers of the Year: Ken and Collett Olson for a combined volunteer effort of over 900 hours. Volunteers donating over 300 hours of volunteer service: Roy Leavitt Volunteers donating over 200 hours of volunteer service: Robert Anderl, Alan Crockett, Dave Godfrey, Teresa Meachum, Jerry Steed Volunteers donating over 100 hours of volunteer service: Tony Appelhans, John Braastad, Wendy Brockish, Dale Claflin, Mary Dolven, Emma Insco, Errol Mobley, Robert Nitschke, Brenda Pace, Ned Rockwell, Jean Taylor, Julie Wemple, Donna Whitham, Al Yonk If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with the Idaho Department of Fish & Game in the Upper Snake Region please e-mail James Brower at james.brower@idfg.idaho.gov or call the regional office for more info (208) 525-7290.