Contact: Shelby MacLeish, (607) 547-4488, coordinator@occainfo.org
(COOPERSTOWN)- The Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA) will host “The Mohican Meet and Mingle” on Friday June 9th from 6 pm- 9 pm adjacent to the historic Ellen Biddle Shipman Garden at Mohican Farm in Springfield. OCCA Executive Director Amy Wyant, Board members and staff will be on hand to talk informally about the organization’s projects and initiatives in areas such as clean energy, environmental education, planning, conservation and more. Wyant said, “We believe that coming together for a meal, meaningful conversation and camaraderie will be a fantastic way to keep our amazing supporters informed and involved in all we do. We also want to use this time to invite new supporters and people who are interested in environmental conservation to see what OCCA is all about. We hope you will join us on the 9th.”
Along with the return of our annual event, comes the return of our Conservationist of the Year Award. OCCA will also be honoring Milford Central School teacher, Kim Burkhart as its “Conservationist of the Year” for 2023. The Conservationist of the Year award goes to individuals who have made an outstanding, positive impact on Otsego County’s natural resources, either through direct action or by educating our citizens about conservation. The award has been given out since 1989, with a brief pause in the program due to Covid. Nominations are accepted throughout the year, and the award is presented at our annual dinner. Burkhart was nominated by Kevin Kelly and Tom Trelease of the Dave Brandt chapter of Trout Unlimited specifically for her work with Trout in the Classroom. OCCA Board Member Trish Riddell Kent said, “Kim Burkhart has built an entire curriculum around the “Trout in the Classroom” program. She is teaching the next generation environmental stewardship.”
Tickets for the Mohican Meet and Mingle are $25 and can be reserved through the OCCA website or by calling Project Coordinator, Shelby MacLeish at 607-547-4488.
Founded in 1968, Otsego County Conservation Association is a private, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation and sustainable use of Otsego County’s natural resources through education, advocacy, resource management, research, planning, and practice. For more information on OCCA, or to donate, visit www.occainfo.org