Board & Meetings

Jack has been in Benton County since 1948, living in Richland, Kennewick, and West Richland. Jack and his wife Anne graduated from Richland High School together in 1966. He was formally educated at Washington State University. His professional work life has consisted of 30 years with the City of Kennewick Public Works Department and 7 years part-time as a consulting engineer with HDR.

Anne worked for Grant County PUD for 25 years in Hydro Engineering. They are both retired and immensely enjoy their 9 grandchildren and the newly arrived great grandchild. Jack joined the Benton Conservation Board in 2005 and currently serves as the board’s chairman. Jack’s position is by appointment from the Washington State Conservation Commission.

Dan Downs and his parents were the first family to farm in block 16 of the Columbia Basin Irrigation District. His membership in the Benton County Cattlemen’s Association stretches over 40 years, and he currently serves as the president. Dan is also chairperson of the Benton County Noxious Weed Control Board. Dan worked 37 years as a professional fire fighter for the Richland Fire Department. He has volunteered for more than 20 years with the Washington State Law Enforcement Officers & Fire Fighters (LEOFF) Education Association, using his extensive knowledge of employee retirement and disability issues in his role as president. Dan graduated from Pasco High School in 1959. He earned degrees in both Range Management and Music.

Mike has been a member of the Benton Conservation District board since 2005. He is a retired biologist and environmental specialist. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Colorado in 1983 and a Ph.D. in botany from Washington State University in 1987. He spent over 30 years performing ecological research, endangered species assessments, environmental impact assessments, and developing resource management policies for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Hanford Site, Nuclear
regulatory Commission, and other agencies. He now enjoys gardening, beekeeping, and singing.

Michael Crowder holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in natural resources and environmental sciences, as well as numerous conservation awards, including Benton County and Washington state’s “Wildlife Farmer of the Year” awards, the Washington Association of Conservation Districts’ “Young Tiger” award and the Ducks Unlimited “Wood Duck,” “Bronze Mallard” and “Silver Mallard” awards.

For eight years, Crowder taught wetland restoration, wildlife science and ecology as an adjunct professor at Washington State University Tri-Cities. He currently manages farming operations in Illinois and Washington state and is actively involved in the management of his family’s third-generation farm in Indiana.

Bridget is the fourth generation to manage their family dryland wheat operation in the Horse Heaven Hills. She earned her degree in Finance from Gonzaga University in 2017, with the intention of always coming back to the farm. She is passionate about Southeastern WA, its agriculture industry, and promoting sustainable farming practices.