Montana Weed Control Association Awards
As you go about your efforts to manage noxious weeds , please keep in mind MWCA awards. Who is a super weed fighter? What weed district is doing a great job? Which group or young person is battling weeds? If someone worthy comes to mind, please submit a letter of nomination of this person, group or business to the MWCA Awards Committee for consideration for a Montana Weed Control Association Award.
Nominations are Friday, December 1, 2011 at the MWCA office. Submissions must be postedmarked no later than November 19th and may be submitted via email, US mail or fax.
View a list of all past winners here. Download a list of the awards and their criteria.
Nine major awards may be presented at the MWCA Annual Awards Ceremony during the banquet dinner at the Great Falls Heritage Inn, January 11, 2012
The awards are:
Weed Fighter of the Year – (Non-professional)
- A proven leader who cooperates or partners with others. (Examples of partnership may include the public, departments, landowners and agencies.)
- Institutes an aggressive attack on weeds.
- Uses unique and innovative approaches to weed control.
- Good use of integrated weed control.
- Open to any age level.
Agency Weed Fighter of the Year
- Must work for local, state or federal agency.
- A proven leader who cooperates or partners with others. (Examples of partnership may include the public, departments, landowners and other agencies.)
- Institutes an aggressive attack on weeds.
- Uses unique and innovative approaches to weed control.
- Good use of integrated weed control.
Weed Fighters United
- For two or more people working together
- A proven leader who cooperates or partners with others. (Examples of partnership may include the public, departments, landowners and other agencies.)
- Institutes an aggressive attack on weeds.
- Uses unique and innovative approaches to weed control.
- Good use of integrated weed control.
- Open to any age level.
Outstanding Weed District
- For a district that has increased public awareness of weed problems.
- Involved county government and the general public in weed control efforts.
- Used integrated and innovative approaches to overwhelming problems.
- Has provided cost-effective means of control within the program.
- Has shown improvement through on-the-ground treatment at a significant level within the county.
- A weed district may only receive this award once within a 5-year period.
- Please refer to the attached list to see who has won in the past.
Weed Stopper Award
- Cash award of $100.
- Person or persons must have indentified an initial infestation of one of the Priority 1A or 1B species previously undetected in the area it is found in.
- Districts are eligible to receive one cash award per year.
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Award requires a copy of the sheet sent to MSU Herbarium for verification.
Weed Management Services Award
- A supporting member of the MWCA who goes above and beyond the call of duty.
- Individual or business may include equipment dealers, company representatives (including bio-control and grazing businesses), and private, commercial and aerial applicators.
- Individual/Business assists private landowners as well as governmental agencies.
- Participates in MWCA activities.
- Supports the programs of the MWCA.
- Is very involved in weed management
Weed Board Member/Outstanding Commissioner of the Year
- An outstanding weed board member or commissioner who is a member of the MWCA.
- Displays commitment and dedication to the cause of fighting weeds and making a difference in their county.
- Takes an active role in county weed management programs.
- Actively participates in county, agency and private weed management programs.
Screw-Up of the Year Award
- Must be an MWCA member who has had a “screw-up” of some sort this past season.
- Please use discretion when making your nomination; we do not want to jeopardize someone’s job or cause hurt feelings.
Barb Mullin Lifetime Achievement Award
- Person has been active in the MWCA for 10 years or more.
- Demonstrates leadership abilities.
- Successfully deals with agencies and the public in the noxious weed effort.
- Cash award of $100 in conjunction with Achievement Award.
- Agency personnel, officials and private individuals may qualify.
Nomination Process:
- All nomination letters are sent to MWCA office by November 15th.
- Becky will compile “packets” of nomination letters and send out to the work group established to vote on the nominees.
- Work group members will have two weeks to review the packets and submit their ballot to the MWCA office for final tally.
- Becky and Pam will work to secure awards for the nominees who receive the most votes, and Pam will design and implement the awards process at the annual conference.
Montana Weed Control Association Scholarship
The MWCA awards a total of $3,000 in scholarship money. Two $500 scholarships may be awarded to students pursuing associate degrees, and two $1,000 scholarships may be awarded to students pursing 4-year or graduate degrees. Scholarships will be limited to students pursuing a degree (Associate, B.S., M.S., PhD) in natural resource management, (i.e. range ecology and management, land rehabilitation, land resources sciences, crop science, weed science, forest resource management, etc.) or agricultural business and agricultural education. For complete details on this scholarship please see the application. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2012. Download Scholarship Application [Word Format]
MWCA Memorial Fund
The Barb Mullin Memorial Fund was established in 2003, in honor of the Montana State Weed Coordinator who passed away unexpectedly in 2002. Barb was greatly respected in local and national circles for her efforts in noxious weed prevention and management in Montana. In 2006 the Montana Weed Control Association decided to rename this fund to the MWCA Memorial Fund, to reflect the diversity in the organization and honor all those who wish to contribute to this fund.
This fund supports annual awards that recognize an outstanding weed professional in Montana, and provides two cash awards to the best noxious weed project at the Montana State Science Fair for the high school and middle school level,
If you would like to contribute to the MWCA Memorial Fund, please go shopping cart page to make your donation.