Chaney Named 2025 Colvin Ranch Conservation Partner

On Friday, the Colvin family, along with NRCS leadership, presented Marty Chaney with the Colvin Ranch Conservation Partner Award.  Chaney was recognized for more than 20 years of collaboration and partnership.

“We’ve been very happy to work with Colvin Ranch for longer than the 20 years of the conservation easement,” said Natural Resource Conservation Service Acting State Conservationist David Rose. “NRCS is in almost every county across the nation and we provide assistance where we can, both financial and technical assistance. The main thing is we get to wear the white hat. We’re not regulatory. It’s a whole lot of fun when we get invited out to spectacular places like this and we get to see conservation in action.” 

In 2005, Colvin Ranch was the first in Washington to obtain a permanent conservation easement to protect the ranch’s native prairies.  Over the past 20 years that the conservation easement has been in place, the Colvin family said they have worked closely with NRCS on countless conservation projects.

Many Acres Have Benefited From This Partnership

“This is very much a partnership,” Chaney said. “I have learned so much out here, watching what happens to the prairie as this grazing system goes in year after year after year. And the great thing is now we’re seeing it spread to other properties as we keep the prairies in the system while we still have agriculture and hamburgers, and good things like that.” 

"Marty balances her technical knowledge with a dose of practicality, understanding that conservation only works in partnership with all parties when everyone's needs are taken into account, including the needs of livestock producers like us,” said Jennifer Colvin. “After all, we're only able to take on additional conservation projects above and beyond what's required by our conservation easement because we’re able to have a sustainable business selling beef.”

That partnership, Chaney noted, includes collaboration with other agencies in addition to NRCS, including US Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ecostudies, CNLM, Thurston Conservation District, and WSU Extension. 

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