“The Bradford Bees” were honored Friday by the McKean County Conservation District for the team’s performance at a state event earlier this year.
The Bees took top honors at the Wild Envirothon May 10 at the 29th annual Keating Sportsmen’s Club event and finished seventh at the Pennsylvania event. The team received additional honors at the conservation district’s annual awards luncheon at the Bradford Township Lions Club Building.
At the local event on May 10, the team — Nick Haner, Clare Mulcahy, Ethan Hollamby, Tyler Thompson and Austin Jadlowiec — with an overall score of 431 of a possible 500 points, won the Wildlife, Forestry and Current Issue components on their way to victory and advancing to the PA Envirothon on May 22-23 at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove.
“There, they placed seventh, the highest scoring finish ever for any McKean County team,” said Jody Groshek, communications and outreach director for the conservation district, sponsor of the Wild Envirothon. “Noteworthy station scores the state competition were 94 in Oral Component, 80 in Forestry and 85 in Current Issue.”
Groshek presented awards to the team members. Thompson was absent. Several of the students are now enrolled in college. Advisor Jan Russell, who was recognized for her contributions to the team, accompanied the high school students.
State Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, also presented certificates from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to the “Bees.”
The awards part of the agenda continued with District Manager Sandy Thompson presenting certificates to Kerry Fetter and county commissioner Cliff Lane, recognizing them for many years of service.
Fetter was honored for 20 years of voluntary service. After two years as an associate director, he became a public director and has been chairman of the district for the past 11 years. During his teaching career at Smethport Area High School, Fetter advised that school’s envirothon teams and in his retirement continues to play a key role in the Wild Envirothon.
Lane congratulated “Bees” on their performance at the state envirothon, saying, “Seventh place. That’s awesome.”
Lane’s service to the district covers 15 years and is the conservation district’s commissioner director in addition to holding the offices of secretary-treasurer. In accepting his award, Lane said, “I couldn’t have done this by myself. There are many in this room who made the award possible.”
Pointing to the conservation district’s emphasis on education, Lane mentioned the district’s junior envirothon which drew 103 students in grades six through eight earlier this week, he noted, “They are really enthusiastic and without young people, there is no change.”
Echoing Thompson’s comments on how the Wild Envirothon has shown significant growth to almost 100 students this year — Cameron County School District has been added recently — Lane said, “Education is very important.”
Lane’s remarks showed some of the growth of the conservation district since it was formed in 1959 at the request of county residents. “In 2004, there was still a part-time manager, and the county contributed $30,000 to the annual budget that was about $70,000,” stated Lane. “Today, the county’s share is $40,000 out of a budget of almost $2 million. That’s quite a bargain, a great deal. Thank you to a great staff.
“Our conservation district continues to grow for all the right reasons.”
Causer also recognized Fetter and Lane with certificates from the House of Representatives.
In her comments, Thompson noted 2019 is the district’s 60th anniversary.
“I’m lucky to have a great staff and the best board of directors in Pennsylvania,” Thompson said as she introduced both groups.
Besides Thompson, the full-time staff includes Sherry Dumire, Lindsay Shine, Groshek and Adam Causer. Maddie Stanisch is an intern.
The directors are Fetter, Lane, Blaine Puller, Bob Wright, Steve Sherk, Chase Miles and Jeff Larson. Associate directors are Ken Kane, Pete Mader and Charlie Kirkpatrick.
Also attending the luncheon were Tony Siliano, business operations manager, Penn State Extension; Harry Crissy, economic resource development agent, Penn State Extension; and Wendy Coons, USDA-NRCS district conservationist.
