Each year at the National Grassland Managers Meeting, the National Grasslands Council presents Prairie Partner Awards which recognize individuals who exhibit exceptional management of our National Grasslands.  The Prairie Partner Awards are presented to external partners who have established resource stewardship, provided funding and/or other resources to projects happening on the National Grasslands, and generated innovative practices and results in land management.  These individuals have also successfully collaborated and managed National Grasslands in a manner that betters our lands. 

     The 2008 Prairie Partner Awards were presented at the National Grassland Managers Meeting, which took place on the Sheyenne National Grassland in Fargo, North Dakota on June 4, 2008.  Among this year’s recipients was Jack Chatfield, project manager of the Canadian River Riparian Restoration Project.  Nancy Walls, District Ranger for the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grassland, presented Jack his award on July 14, 2008 at the quarterly meeting of the Canadian River Riparian Restoration Project Steering Committee.  Jack has worked closely with the Forest Service on riparian restoration projects on the Canadian River in the Mills Canyon area.