George and Trish Patrick of Ames win Hagie Heritage Award
Posted on September 25, 2018 in Press Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Joe Jayjack, INHF communications director
jjayjack@inhf.org, 515-288-1846, ext. 19
AMES - George and Trish Patrick of Story County have been selected to receive the 2018 Lawrence and Eula Hagie Heritage Award. The Hagie Heritage Award is given annually by Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), a nonprofit that works to protect Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. The award recognizes Iowans who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to conservation and improvement of the natural environment.
“I know Story County’s outstanding and diverse conservation program wouldn’t be what it has become without the leadership and active support of people like George and Trish Patrick,” wrote Steve Lekwa, who worked alongside George on the Story County Conservation Board and nominated them for the award. “They are, indeed, the kind of people that the Hagie Award was created to recognize.”
George and Trish were nominated for their conservation leadership in Story County and their work on prairie restoration statewide. George previously served on the Story County Conservation Board and played an integral role in securing a rail corridor for the Heart of Iowa Trail and creating a successful REAP (Resource Enhancement And Protection) plan, which was used as a model for other counties. Both George and Trish are actively involved in the annual Iowa Prairie Network meetings, and collect and distribute seed from their own prairie to help diversify and support prairies throughout the county.
“This was originally a prairie state. Trish and George have done a lot of work promoting, protecting and restoring native prairie back to Iowa,” said Mike DeCook an INHF board member on the award selection committee. “There are a lot of conservation issues facing Iowa, and the Patricks understand that education around native biodiversity and restoration play a big part in addressing those. Their long-term efforts to promote conservation in Iowa make them worthy recipients of this award.”
More than two decades ago, the Patricks helped start the monthly prairie walks at Doolittle Prairie in Story County, which are led by Lloyd Crim. They continue to help coordinate and publicize the walks and can often be found helping people learn about the prairie plants found there.
“I have known George and Trish for a long time, and they are some of the kindest people I know,” said Joe McGovern, INHF president. “They are always so welcoming, they are always so nice. And that extends not only to the people they work with but the natural environment as well.”
The Hagie Heritage Award was established by Janice Hagie Shindel of Florida and Ila Jeanne Hagie Logan of Moville, IA in honor of their parents, Lawrence and Eula Hagie.
The Hagie Heritage Award recipient receives $1,000 and a hand-carved acorn sculpture made by INHF members Dennis and Linda Schlicht of Center Point. A ceremony will be held later this fall to recognize George and Trish Patrick’s efforts.
For more information about INHF, visit www.inhf.org
For more information about INHF’s Hagie Heritage Award and the nomination process, visit www.inhf.org/what-we-do/scholarships-awards