Executive Director's Address, 2026
Written by Gabe Murray, Executive Director
Bear River Land Conservancy has had an exciting but challenging year! We continue to work on protecting more private open spaces, wildlife habitat, and working lands in Cache Valley and the Bear River Watershed. Over the last few years we have been focused on increasing our organizational capacity by hiring more staff, as well as strengthening our commitment to “forever” by pursuing national accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance.
Our first major step toward addressing capacity was to bring on Jaimi Butler, our Stewardship and Outreach Director. Jaimi fills a critical gap in our organization by ensuring the easements and lands we have protected over the past few years are stewarded and protected forever. Jaimi has an infectious creative energy that has propelled our events forward this year and allowed us to engage with hundreds of community members in new and creative ways from local natural wool dying events on protected lands to a farm to table fundraising event with good music and great company.
This increased capacity has been vital to our effort to become an accredited land trust. Accreditation represents the national gold standard for land trust excellence, assuring our community of our long-term stability, public trust, and rigorous stewardship standards. With our application now having been fully reviewed, we are anxiously waiting for the national accreditation board to make their final decision in December!
Accredited land trusts currently steward and protect 84% of the conservation easements held by all land trusts.
This year has also brought growth and development to our Board of Directors. We have elected new board officers while preparing to say goodbye to our longtime Board Director Glen Busch. Glen has served BRLC dutifully for over 10 years and he will be stepping off the Board at the end of 2026 to spend more time with his family, adventuring in our beautiful watershed and beyond. Glen’s leadership as Board Chair over the past 4 years has been instrumental to our growth and development and we are forever grateful for his service.
In light of this transition, Shawn Milne, stepped up this year as the Board Vice-Chair and is now prepared to take over the reins from Glen as our new Board Chair in 2027. Shawn brings a depth and breadth of expertise in the nonprofit sector by serving on the board of several nonprofit organizations including the Cache Valley Human Society.
Our outgoing Board Chair, Glen Busch, and our incoming Board Chair, Shawn Milne
Along with new board leadership, we are working to complete many exciting projects. The projects in our pipeline will protect critical riparian corridors, wildlife corridors, and working farms. While we cannot share too many details while projects are still in progress, I can share that the projects we are working on will protect thousands of acres of critical habitat, open space, and working lands. One project in particular will protect critical migratory habitat through the Bear River Range between Cache and Rich counties. Additionally, work continues on preserving one of Cache Valley’s most recognizable working farms, Elkhorn Ranch between Logan and Nibley.
By partnering directly with private landowners, we permanently protect critical riparian corridors, key wildlife migration routes, and heritage family farms. We are helping to ensure that working landscapes remain in local hands while securing open space for the entire community forever.
Our work would not be possible without community supporters and businesses, and I want to give a special thank you to all the small businesses that supported BRLC this year including Caffe Ibis, Slide Ridge Honey and Winery, Import Auto, Hobbled Dog Cidery, and Home Range Brewing.
2026 has truly been an exciting and challenging year. As I look back on the past year, I am excited by all that we have accomplished, but I am even more grateful for all the relationships, partnerships, and friendships that make this work possible. It truly takes a community of supporters and contributors to protect our landscape, and we would not be able to protect the special parts of this beautiful valley and surrounding watershed without all of you.
-- Gabe Murray, Executive Director
