Bioneers Conference Recognizes Biological Pioneers

Many of the 300 attendees at the recent Utah State University Bioneers conference called it a “conference of hope.” Conference coordinators recognized “Bio-neers,” biological pioneers who have worked to improve the quality of human life while protecting the environment.

 

Bioneer awards went to Crumb Brothers Artisan Bread, the city of Smithfield, the Cache Valley Gardener’s Market, the Keller family, Bridgerland Audubon Society and Network Hispano. “By raising the profile of those who act today to protect and preserve our planet tomorrow, it’s possible to stimulate local dialogue and develop a broad alliance for positive change,” conference co-chair Jack Greene said.

 

Built Environment Award – Crumb Brothers Artisan Bread

 

Crumb Brothers Artisan Bread was recognized for a sustainable “built environment.” The bakery is a wholesale/retail company based in Logan, and makes every attempt to use ingredients that are organic and locally available.

 

“The concept for this business is passion-driven by the three founding bakers:  Bill Oblock, John Reichert and Josh Archibald,” said co-owner Diane Oblock. Crumb Brothers is a family-run business; even the Oblock daughters Hannah and Alyson help out.

 

The “green” bakery maximizes use of daylighting and circulates fresh air to create a healthy, comfortable work environment. The building uses a geothermal-exchange heat pump system and a passive solar wall to reduce energy consumption. Many building materials were either reused or recycled, reducing the amount of “off gassing” and waste.

 

Reused trestle wood was harvested from the Great Salt Lake causeway. The landscaping, which extends to the nearby stream, is a butterfly-friendly field of drought-tolerant wildflowers. All of the landscaping is maintained with water-conserving irrigation systems.

 

 

“Smithfield City has shown wise judgment and leadership in creating a healthy community and quality life for citizens,” said Greene.

 

Smithfield implemented a night skies ordinance to protect its view of the stars and shield citizens from excess light pollution. City planners created Mack Nature Park, along with a hiking and biking trail that connects city parks. City administrators implemented tiered water rates to encourage water conservation, created a water-efficient, native plant demonstration garden and annexed property from Cache County to ensure appropriate land use.

 

Smithfield requires a six-month moratorium on development in order to study the impact on natural and recreational values. The city has qualified for “Tree City USA” for ten years and sponsors the community-wide Health Days gathering.

 

 

Located at Garff Wayside Gardens for the past six years, the Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market offers a venue for small, handmade, homemade and homegrown earth-based businesses. The market was formed as a response to the sustainable agriculture movement, with the goal of recreating an agricultural production system that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just and humane.

 

The Gardener’s Market is now supported by a larger entity, the Sustainable Agriculture Association of the Bear River Area (SAABRA), which is the parent organization of both the Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market and the Bear River Kitchen Incubator. SAABRA offers technical farm planning assistance and helps find funding for alternative-agriculture and small-farm projects.

 

 

 “The name ‘Keller’ kept resurfacing in every discussion of community service,” said conference planner Cindy Roberts. “The values of stewardship have passed down through the (Keller) family.”

 

After 9/11, Jack Keller helped initiate Cache Community Connections to foster community dialogue among diverse groups. He is also a member of International Development Enterprise, a group devoted to locally-based, low-cost, sustainable agriculture and irrigation.

 

Sally Keller initiated the Alternative Gift Market in 1994. Last year she started a local Ten Thousand Villages, which sells fair trade arts and crafts. Purchases provide livelihoods for families throughout the world.

 

Both Jack and Sally have been instrumental in fundraising or funding the Logan Regional Hospital, the Stokes Nature Center and the new Eccles Ice Arena.

 

Their daughter Judith, her husband, Nelson, and their three sons have been in West Africa for 12 years, where Nelson is currently the Peace Corps director in Chad. Daughter Lauren serves on the board of directors for the Stokes Nature Center, while son Jeff has helped initiate QUAC, which addresses air quality in Cache Valley.

 

Jeff’s son Ian, a member of Logan High School’s LEAF group, initiated Green Thursday, a day where students and teachers are encouraged to use means other than solo driving to get to school.

 

 

BAS has been a substantial supporter of the Stokes Nature Center. BAS purchased the national Audubon Adventures program for local schools and contributed thousands of dollars worth of educational grants over the past 10 years.

 

BAS sponsors the local Christmas Bird Count, Bird-a-Thon and Feeder Watch programs. The organization assisted Utah Power & Light with improving wildlife management at the Cutler Wetlands, and assisted Logan City with the development of a birding areas.

 

The society helped preserve greenspace and wildlife habitat, purchasing land at the Amalga Barrens and on Summit Creek in Smithfield. Audubon volunteers negotiated a highway improvement plan that preserved the integrity of Logan Canyon.

 

BAS also assisted in drafting the 1984 Utah Wilderness Bill and contributed to the development of the Bear River Basin Water Plan. The group helped develop the U.S. Forest Service land-use plan for Wasatch Cache and helped PacifiCorp develop the Wetland Maze project in Cutler Marsh.

 

 

Network Hispano is comprised of individuals, businesses and organizations, which share the vision of improving educational opportunities for Hispanics and other ethnic groups. The network embraces educational programs that promote and value differences among cultures, believing that different cultural values are assets.
 

Antonio Arce was a driving force in the creation of the Network Hispano. He contributed thousands of hours to the development and maintenance of its Web site (http://www.networkhispano.org/), and to advocacy work for the local Latino population.

 

Arce helped organize the International Food Fest in Hyrum and serves as a member of the Chamber Hispanic Business Council. He taught at Woodruff Elementary School, where he is a strong advocate for education with Hispanic youth.

 

Ernest Rendon, director of Network Hispano, has been a liaison for the Hispanic community and Logan Regional Hospital. He serves as director of the Logan Regional Hospital Foundation, and serves with the American Cancer Society and the Chamber Hispanic Business Council. He also works to promote the youth soccer program in Cache Valley.

 

The local Bioneers Conference was chaired by Utah State University professor Leona Hawks and sponsored by Campbell Scientific, the Utah State University Department of Environment and Society, the College of Natural Resources, the Provost’s Office and many local organizations, individuals and businesses.

 

The conference is among an array of efforts Utah State supports to foster discussion among local scholars and members of the community about issues involving local air, water, land and economic resources. In partnership with the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce, the university hosts the first Utah State University Cache Valley Community Benchmark Summit Oct. 29.