Conservationists of the year awards go to Trim Pine Farm  & the Genesee County Drain Commissioner 

Trim Pines Farm (Agricultural Award)

George Yancho and his wife started Trim Pines Farm over 30 years ago.  Trim Pines Farm is a 100-acre, family-owned business that has been selling Christmas trees and evergreens for landscaping since 1976. In a three year span, 1978-1980, George Yancho purchased and planted 60,000 trees from the District and in 1983, George purchased and planted close to another 20,000.  Mike Yancho has been running Trim Pines Farm since his father; George passed the reins to him. George remains an important part of the business by scouting trees for pests and helping to make decisions regarding integrated pest management. George was recognized as Genesee Conservation District’s Tree Farmer of the Year in 1989.  

Mike Sr. has been involved with the family farm all of his life and is currently Vice President and General Manager the three generation operation.  Trim Pines Farm has grown over the years to include wholesale and retail landscape design and plantings.  Mike is also a founding member and 5 term President of Genesee Area Landscape and Nursery Association.  He is very active with MSU Extension Council and is Second Vice President of Genesee County Farm Bureau.  Mike is proud that his children, Christina and Mike Jr. are both involved in the family business and granddaughter, Delphina, is showing a budding interest as well.         

Christina Yancho, part of the third generation to grow nursery stock, has a Bachelors degree in Horticulture and Landscape Design from MSU.  Christina currently manages the nursery, sales, and office for Trim Pines Farm.  Christina knew the preceding generations were environmentally conscious so when the opportunity to become verified in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) came along, it was a nice opportunity to set environmental stewardship as the bedrock of a sound nursery business.  Trim Pines Farm became the first nursery to be verified by the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) in the cropping and nursery system.

Mike Jr., the other part of the third generation to grow nursery stock, has a degree in Psychology and Business, is currently studying horticulture and working on his Masters in Business at  the University of Michigan.     Mike Jr. is the landscape supervisor and equipment supervisor at Trim Pines Farm. 

There is a fourth Yancho generation member that is showing interest in agriculture, Delphina.  Delphina is 7 years old and is Trim Pines Farm weed puller.  Delphina has her own vegetable and flower garden that she tends to and shares a garden with her Grandpa Mike as well.  When she isn’t tending to the garden she is a cheerleader and active in dance as well.               

Our Water Public Education Campaign (Genesee County Drain Office & the Genesee County Water Quality Consortium) (Non Agricultural Award)

The Genesee County Drain Commission has been instrumental in getting the communities of Genesee County to embrace the Phase II Storm Water Program.  They have been the facilitators behind the project.  With their guidance, a survey was developed to determine the level of understanding of the average citizen within the Flint River Watershed has of local water issues. 

With the results of this survey, the Drain Commission has helped develop programs designed to improve the quality of water in our community.  With the education of the public in mind, they have teamed up with existing programs throughout Genesee County to expand the public’s knowledge of our water systems. The Drain Commission Office has provided the administrative support to implement activities such as:

• Watershed education at the Genesee County Fair
• Storm Drain Stenciling across the county 
• Support the Flint  River Watershed Coalition’s Project Green and Creek Critter Monitoring   
• Development of a Website to educate the public about storm water runoff
• Conduct speakers’ events across the county
• Support the Genesee County Conservation District’s Education Program
• Develop various stormwater education materials    

The Drain Commission has embraced water conservation for Genesee County.  They continue to be a driving force behind public education for cleaner water in Genesee County.  With their guidance, the municipalities within Genesee County have come on-board with efforts to enhance our water quality.   

Visit their webpage at www.cleargeneseewater.org