Sue Weathers serves as the Harney Hub's Fiscal Manager (Harney Hub "provides services to seniors, disabled, low- income individuals and veterans . . .") with a dedication that extends far beyond typical job responsibilities. In her role, she manages every aspect of the organization's financial operations—from overseeing 30 to 50 grants and handling payroll to managing deposits and coordinating funding requests. "I do anything that has to do with money," she explains simply, though her responsibilities encompass much more than basic bookkeeping. READ MORE

Bird Conservation Oregon has selected Keaira Burns, a college student from Burns, Oregon, as the inaugural recipient of the Bob Sallinger Fellowship Award. The award celebrates young conservationists who embody Bob Sallinger's approach to habitat protection through science-based collaboration.

Established by Bird Conservation Oregon at the request of Bob Sallinger's family, the fellowship honors the next generation of Oregon habitat protectors. The award provides "no-strings attached" support to young conservationists early in their careers, particularly in rural areas where paid conservation opportunities are scarce.

Burns was chosen for her dedication to science-based collaborative research in Harney County's unique habitat. As a local resident and college student studying science, she demonstrates a deep sense of place and active participation in collaborative conservation projects.

Her selection coincides with the Portland premiere of "The Harney Way," a film about science-based collaboration in Oregon's high desert. Burns' name repeatedly emerged in conversations as the organization worked to bring the film to Portland. As Bob Sallinger would say, "when the decision is obvious, you just have to make it."

Burns has been working with researchers on reed canarygrass studies and collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates crucial for understanding ecosystem health. From her fellowship award Keaira graciously donated funds to purchase a microscope that will be used by the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative for years to come.

The experimental acre-plus field emerged from a collaboration between the Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative's Harney County Food Systems initiative and Owens Hay, driven by a simple but crucial question: How can Harney County grow more food locally while using less water? READ MORE