<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4d7eQP_0wM4z2G800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4d7eQP_0wM4z2G800" width="770" height="440" ></figure>The Missouri Conservation Commission and Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently awarded retired MDC employee George Seek of Meadville the prestigious Master Conservationist Award. Seek received the honor during a ceremony at Fountain Grove Conservation Area near Meadville in north-central Missouri on October 24. With more than three decades of service to MDC, Seek retired as chief of the Private Lands Division.The Master Conservationist Award, established in 1941, recognizes individuals who have made substantial, lasting contributions to Missouri’s fisheries, forestry, and wildlife resources. The award honors citizen conservationists, former MDC commissioners, and employees from conservation-focused organizations, universities, and agencies. More details can be found at this link.Seek, a graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia, earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Fish and Wildlife Ecology. He also completed military training, achieving a Master of Science in Strategic Planning from the U.S. Army War College.Joining MDC in 1972, Seek began as a research assistant working with deer and waterfowl biologists. His career advanced from serving as a wildlife area assistant at Schell-Osage Conservation Area to becoming assistant manager, then wildlife area manager in 1979 at Fountain Grove Conservation Area. In that role, he managed parts of the Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, later expanding his responsibilities to oversee Grand Pass, Franklin Island, Cooley Lake, and Bob Brown conservation areas. He supervised a 16-member staff and was promoted to wildlife district supervisor for the 10-county Grand River District in 1983, where he significantly advanced wetland development projects at Grand Pass and Fountain Grove conservation areas. By 1997, Seek had assumed the role of wildlife regional supervisor for MDC’s Northwest Region and became division chief of the newly formed Private Land Services Division in 1999 until his retirement in 2003.During his tenure, Seek was pivotal in the development of MDC’s Wetland Management Plan, sharing expertise on the complexities of wetland restoration and management. He also spearheaded MDC’s “Evaluation of Waterfowl and Waterfowl Hunting on MDC Areas” report, which contributed foundational insights for public hunting advancements. Additionally, Seek contributed to the “Waterfowl Hunting and Wetland Conservation in Missouri” publication, an authoritative work on waterfowl and wetland management in Missouri.In retirement, Seek collaborated with Ducks Unlimited to create the Confluence Focus Area near St. Louis, securing conservation easements for over 25,000 acres of waterfowl habitat. He also founded Massasauga Flats, LLC, a private 250-acre wetland habitat in north-central Missouri, which has recorded over 160 different wetland bird species and exemplifies independent wetland management without reliance on crops.Seek’s conservation commitment extended through his service as a member, vice-chair, and chair of the Wetlands and Waterfowl Resource Advisory Committee for the Conservation Federation of Missouri. In 2023, as committee chair, he delivered the welcome address at the Missouri Wetlands Summit.In addition to his conservation efforts, Seek served in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Missouri National Guard, retiring as a colonel after more than 30 years.“George Seek’s contributions to Missouri’s wildlife conservation efforts have been numerous, far-reaching, and lasting,” said MDC Director Jason Sumners. “His career of more than 30 years reflects exemplary leadership, planning, supervision, innovation, and team-building.”Conservation Commission Chair Margy Eckelkamp added, “George Seek’s nomination was strongly supported, including endorsements from three former conservation commissioners. His service to both conservation and our country is commendable, and we are pleased to honor him with this award.”</div></body>

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Missouri Department of Conservation honors George Seek with Master Conservationist Award

The Missouri Conservation Commission and Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently awarded retired MDC employee George Seek of Meadville the prestigious Master Conservationist Award. Seek received the honor during a ceremony at Fountain Grove Conservation Area near Meadville in north-central Missouri on October 24. With more than three decades of service to MDC, Seek retired as chief of the Private Lands Division.