Knox-Lincoln County
Soil & Water Conservation District
Supervisors & Staff
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Supervisors & Staff |
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The Knox-Lincoln County Soil & Water Conservation District is a Non-Profit Organization. All proceeds from our fundraising efforts are used to promote conservation and the wise use of our natural resources. The Knox-Lincoln County SWCD is an equal opportunity provider and employer. |
Rick
Parent, Jr. became a District supervisor in the fall of 2007 and presently
serves as Secretary/Treasurer. Rick lives in Warren with his wife Ann and
daughter Molly where he has a small custom sawmill. Rick graduated from
Rockland District High School and the University of Maine at Orono. Upon
graduation from college he worked for a few months on a local dairy farm then
moved on to selling John Deere farm Machinery. In 1974, Rick went to work for
the Maine Dept. of Agriculture where he stayed in various capacities for about
12 years, before transferring over to the Maine Dept of Transportation where he
was employed as a real estate manager within the Highway program. He was
employed by the State of Maine for over 38 years and retired in April, 2008.
Rick has served on several board and committees over the years within the local
community and is currently service as a Knox County Commissioner.
Tim
Hathorne joined the District in May, 2008 and is a strong supporter of the
District's education programs including the Conservation Fair. Tim has a strong
background in agriculture, technology and animal management in conjunction with
a sincere interest in energy conservation and management. He enjoys working
with people to develop and implement soil and water conservation projects that
are environmentally, socially and economically friendly. Time has been actively
involved with "Agriculture in the Classroom" projects and volunteers at the
Shrub Sale offering pertinent input in both venues.
Gary A. Balducci, Sr.
lives with his wife Donna at Wishing Well Acres Farm in Edgecomb. Gary has been
farming for 27 years and is a diversified farmer, living on a 40 acre commercial
family farm. Together with his wife and children, , Gary raises chickens, meat
goats, lamb and holiday turkeys providing local customers with fresh all natural
products. Their farming also includes llamas and emus. In addition to his
farming activities, Gary has been active in several farming organizations. He
is currently serving as President of the Knox-Lincoln County Farm Bureau, of
which he has been a member for 16 years, and from whom he received recognition
as an outstanding leader and the Friend of the Farm Bureau Award in 2001. He was
drawn to the Farm Bureau because of their willingness to lobby in support of
important agricultural issues. Gary is also President of the Maine Alternative
Poultry Association, a Sheep and Goat Committee Chairman, a member of the State
Animal Welfare Advisory Committee for 6 years, Director of the Knox-Lincoln
County Tractor Safety Course for 9 years and is a Judge of 4-H programs at local
fairs. Currently, Gary is working toward his degree from the University of
Guelph on Dairy Goat Production and Agricultural Economics.
Katherine
Ward joined Knox-Lincoln SWCD staff in October, 2005 as the District's
Office Manager. Her previous background includes over 30 years of experience in
secretarial, quality control and managerial positions. On a daily basis, Kathy
handles the financial, office and employee data for the District where her
duties also include working with the Board, USDA/NRCS and other staff to
organize and implement a variety of conservation programs and activities
including the Annual Tree & Shrub Sale. Kathy relocated to Maine based on the
quality of life, the people and the determination to find a position that would
enable her to make a difference. In her spare time, Kathy enjoys fishing with
her husband Mike, volunteering at various events and traveling.
Rebecca
Jacobs comes to Knox-Lincoln SWCD with a wide range of experience in the
field of conservation. While formally trained as a landscape designer at STCC
and the Univ. of MA at Amherst, Rebecca has brought her knowledge and love of
plants to a number of conservation related organizations and locally owned
garden centers. Her interest in native and non-native plants grew while at the
Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary. While living in MA, Jacobs served on the town of
Monson's conservation and master plan committees as well as on the board Opacum
Land Trust, which serves 13 towns in south-central MA. Moving to Maine in 2006,
Jacobs was able to share her love of horticulture and "all things outdoors" in
her role as education coordinator for the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
Since that time she has moved on dividing her time professionally with her own
business and as the education/outreach coordinator for the Knox-Lincoln SWCD.
While not at work, she enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband and
daughter, running, biking, gardening (of course) and generally anything that
involves being outdoors.
Autumn
Birt is the USDA/NRCS Zone District Conservationist assigned the supervisory
responsibilities for the newly established MidCoast zone which will cover Knox,
Lincoln, Waldo & Kennebec counties. She has lived in Montville for the past 6
years with her husband Adam and their 2 dogs Sparky & Nemo. Autumn holds a
Masters Degree in Ecology & Environmental Science from the University of Maine
in Orono. Autumn is looking forward to rolling out the new farm bill and
creating some multi-county projects in her new position. The newly formed
multi-county Zone is a pilot project designed to explore efficiencies in NRCS
resources and dollars with the goal of using less to put more into conservation
work on the ground for Maine farmers and producers.
Resource
Conservationist Mary E. Thompson provides technical assistance to
District Cooperators, landowners, municipalities as well as State and Federal
agencies. She has over 20 years of experience in helping the District with
various projects, and helps landowners in implementing projects authorized by
the "Farm Bill". Mary graduated from Belfast Area High School and has a
Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Maine. Mary has served
for 17 years in Knox and Lincoln County.
Robert
W. Spear (Bob) was awarded Knox-Lincoln's Honorary Lifetime Membership Award
in 2005 at the MACD Winter Meeting. Box served on the board of Knox-Lincoln
SWCD as an Associate Supervisor for 8 years and as a Supervisor for 20 years.
More recently, he has served as Maine's Commissioner of Agriculture for 6
years. His vast knowledge, dedication & expertise are greatly appreciated and
admired by those who share his values of agriculture and conservation. Box has
always been generous of his time and talents, traveling extensively across the
United States representing Maine to ensure continuing and effective
accomplishments in resource conservation. Bob and his wife Janet reside in
Nobleboro. They have 2 sons and 4 grandchildren