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Karen Thurlow | District Administrator
Born and raised in Midland County, Karen's family were farmers in Midland County and vendors of the Midland Farmers market from 1958 to 2018. Karen has been a business manager for over 40 years. A retired farmer and a beekeeper, Karen is responsible for getting the district back to operation after closing down in December of 2012 due to lack of funding. Karen was appointed by the state as a board member in August 2014 has been serving as the Administrator since January 1, 2015. Karen helped the district "save an old barn" and turned it into The Tomlinson Barn Education Center. Karen is passionate about educating on our natural resources and youth education for conservation and agriculture. She is certified in environmental education programs, Project Learning Tree (American Forest Foundation) and Project Wild (Michigan Department of Natural Resources). Karen currently serves on the Coleman Agriscience Advisory Board and Land Lab Planning Committee, and the CISMA Steering Committee and Education and Outreach Committee. She volunteers at Midland Community Television (MCTV) helping them to record and produce shows, her favorites are local school concerts and center for the arts concerts. Loons' games are fun too! She has produced over 18 Conservation Matters Shows that air on MCTV, MCTV YouTube stations. A volunteer at Dahlia Hill, she is currently serving a two-year term as President on the board of directors. and a member of the Chemical City Garden Club. Karen also has a passion for history and historical places and after saving an "Old Barn" is also a member of the Michigan Barn Preservation Network, and member of the Midland Antique Engine Association. (MAEA) Email: [email protected] |
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Cassidy Tolf | Farm Bill Contract Manager
I have a passion for the outdoors and want to not only preserve them but also have a better understanding on how everything interacts with one another. I have a Biology Major with a concentration of Ecology and a minor of Chemistry and graduated in August 2022. I am an executive team manager, and executive media manager for Women of the Wild LLC, assisting in educational courses (trapping, gun safety, canning, etc.) and looking forward to working with the Midland community. Currently working in Midland, Bay and Isabella Counties as a Contract manager and technical assistant, getting to know our local landowners and helping our producers get their payments and help manage the contracts with USDA-NRCS. (Natural Resources Conservation Service) For more information on how NRCS helps people help the land Visit - Michigan | Natural Resources Conservation Service Email: cassidy.tolf@macd.org |