The SVS Annual Harvest Celebration is a fundraiser and community morale booster. We work with local livestock growers, fruit and vegetable producers, bakers, brewers, winemakers and more to showcase the bountiful possibilities of the Salmon River Valley.
A silent auction has featured unique items like a Dutch Oven dinner for 8 at the historic Indian Creek Guest Ranch, natural fiber pillows, a live goat, and a handcrafted river pendant. The event highlights SVS accomplishments for the year, and pays tribute to others in the community who are creating a more sustainable community. How do we define sustainability?
"To continue without lessening, to nourish and to allow
to flourish."
The David Krosting Sustainability Award
2010 - Lemhi County Humane Society
The annual David Krosting Sustainability Award is named in honor of the Bureau of Land Management Salmon Field Office manager who lost his battle with cancer in 2003.
Attendees of the Harvest Celebration also heard from University of Idaho Professor Karen Launchbaugh, a rangeland ecologist. Launchbaugh commended the community’s collaborative successes and said the willingness of people from all perspectives to bring something to the proverbial table is key to sustaining any effort, including ranching.
Celebration go-ers gave the thumbs-up to Odd Fellows Bakery as they made their debut catering appearance, incorporating local ingredients in their delicious hors d’oevres.
Guest speakers at the Harvest Celebration have included:
2010 - Karen Launchbaugh, University of Idaho Range Ecologist
2009 - Tyrell Hibbard, Western Sustainability Exchange
2008 - James Reed, Idaho’s Bounty
Dan & Lisa Mudd accept the Sustainability Award from Anita Andrus, SVS Board Chair in 2008.
What's your definition of sustainability? If we like it, we just might use it!
Click on any photo below to start the slide show from our most recent Harvest Celebration!
The Lemhi County Humane Society took home Salmon Valley Stewardship’s 2010 David Krosting Sustainability Award at SVS’s Harvest Celebration October 16.
“Not only does Rags and Wags divert thousands of pounds of material from the landfill, but the re-use of clothing, furniture, and you-name-it is easier on the pocketbook and the environment.
Income generated supports an aggressive spay and neutering program, which in turn benefits birds and other wildlife who can suffer at the paws of domestic animals. Furthermore, as the Society restored a Main Street building, they incubated the Odd Fellows Bakery,” SVS Board President Anita Andrus told the sold-out audience.
SAVE THE DATE!
The 2011 Harvest Celebration is scheduled for
Saturday, October 22nd at the Salmon City Center.
Nominations for the David Krosting Sustainability award are closed, winner will be announced at our Harvest Celebration.
2009 Lemhi County Farmers Market
The Lemhi County Farmers Market contributed to the environment by increasing our local food choices, contributed to the community by providing a positive atmosphere to meet and trade, and contributed to the economy by giving dozens of small, locally owned businesses a chance to connect with customers.
Elk Bend resident Linda Cohen and her family didn’t miss a market day from June 21 through October 3. Cohen said the people-watching was half the fun. Whitewater enthusiasts and other tourists mixed with the locals every week. She credits the market with creating a sense of community.
2008 Salmon Valley Honey
Salmon Valley Honey, which has been in operation since the mid-70's, has proven to be a viable local producer of a variety of products including honey, fresh honeycomb, candles and beeswax and has also contributed to the health of agricultural crops and local plant species.
Bees increase the diversity of the flora, which subsequently increases the diversity of insects, animals and even soil fertility. It is well known that the quality and quantity of blossom flowers are increased when pollinated by insects, especially by bees. Through pollination of a variety of sources from willow blooms to sweet alfalfa flowers, the Mudd's bees are a key facilitator to both rich agricultural crops and a healthy natural environment.
2011 Beyeler Ranches
Salmon Valley Stewardship presented the 2011 David Krosting Sustainability Award to Beyeler Ranches of Leadore at SVS’s Harvest Celebration October 12. Julie Hopkins, SVS board member, said the Beyelers extraordinary efforts to enhance the environment on their own private land, as well as the public lands where they graze cattle, was one element of the award. But Merrill Beyeler and his sons Bryant, Curtis and
Doug and their families also make a positive difference for the local economy and the community.
As he accepted the award, Merrill Beyeler said he was honored to receive an award that recognized that the environment, the economy and the people are all important. Beyeler Ranches have placed conservation easements on nearly 2,400 acres of their private land with the intention of supporting sustainable agriculture practices while maintaining and improving fish and wildlife habitat.
Ron Troy of The Nature Conservancy said the Beyelers’ actions to help rearing and spawning chinook salmon have been extensive. The list of projects that improve connectivity, flow and riparian habitat is long and includes: the upper Lemhi RiverLemhi Little Springs, lower Mill Creek, Walters Creek, Lower Lee Creek, lower Big Eight Mile Creek, Big Springs, lower Timber Creek, lower 18 Mile Creek, lower Canyon Creek.
Troy said that while the restoration projects are already proving to have greatly improved fish habitat, the funding secured for restoration projects has also provided an economic boost to the local economy
.
Merrill Beyeler is deeply committed to improving the vitality of Leadore and other struggling and shrinking rural communities. Besides managing a large cattle operation, the Beyeler family finds time to support their community in other ways, as well. Merrill serves on the Board of Directors for the Lemhi Regional Land Trust and coaches varsity basketball at Leadore High School, Bryant coaches junior high basketball at Leadore, and Curtis serves on the Board of Directors for the Lemhi Soil and Water Conservation District.
The annual David Krosting Sustainability Award is named in honor of the Bureau of Land Management Salmon Field Office manager who lost his battle with cancer in 2003. Attendees of the sold-out Harvest Celebration also heard from Karen Lanphear, a cofounder of the Sandpoint Transition Initiative. Lanphear said communities like Salmon still remember what it is like to be resilient, “Your grandparents ate carrots that were grown right here, and not trucked in from 1800 miles away.”
She commended the all local menu prepared by Shannon Weaver.
Lanphear explained that the worldwide Transition movement is about restoring hope. “Worries about things like economic instability take away our dreams,” she said. “By realizing all that you have here and all that you can do, you can have hope again.”
View photos of the 2011 event on Facebook!
