Nicole with DU’s George Dunklin,
Paul Bonderson, Jr. and Dan Wrinn
Paul Bonderson, Jr. and Dan Wrinn
Rice producers have a natural affinity with the organization that was founded in 1937 and has conserved more than 12 million acres. After harvest, farmers flood their rice fields which provide an abundance of food as well as habitat for migratory waterfowl. DU has partnered with the rice industry on various conservation issues. Recently the Migratory Bird Initiative, which was a partnership with DU, NRCS and rice producers, provided flooded rice fields to temporarily replace desperately needed habitat in the Gulf Region after the BP oil spill affected habitat in that region.
My family has worked with DU on the ground in California for decades, and my father now serves DU at the National level on their Conservation Committee. We were the first rice producers in California to enter into a farmland/waterfowl conservation easement with DU that not only protected our home ranch from ever being developed, but also committed water for the wintering birds that stop here as they travel South on the Pacific Flyway.
I see the partnership that the rice and ducks and geese share each and every winter as I look across the ranch and see thousands of them enjoying their stay. Ducks Unlimited continues to grow this special partnership with rice producers throughout the nation, which is why it was so appropriate they received this very distinguished award.
Nicole Montna Van Vleck is a third generation rice farmer who farms with her parents and sister in Sutter County. Nicole is Managing Partner of Montna Farms which grows, dries and stores super premium short grain rice. Montna Farms partners with many waterfowl organizations to protect and enhance waterfowl habitat primarily on its working rice lands.
Nicole is a graduate of UCLA and The California Agricultural Leadership Program. Nicole and her husband Stan have two school-aged children.
My family has worked with DU on the ground in California for decades, and my father now serves DU at the National level on their Conservation Committee. We were the first rice producers in California to enter into a farmland/waterfowl conservation easement with DU that not only protected our home ranch from ever being developed, but also committed water for the wintering birds that stop here as they travel South on the Pacific Flyway.
I see the partnership that the rice and ducks and geese share each and every winter as I look across the ranch and see thousands of them enjoying their stay. Ducks Unlimited continues to grow this special partnership with rice producers throughout the nation, which is why it was so appropriate they received this very distinguished award.
Nicole Montna Van Vleck is a third generation rice farmer who farms with her parents and sister in Sutter County. Nicole is Managing Partner of Montna Farms which grows, dries and stores super premium short grain rice. Montna Farms partners with many waterfowl organizations to protect and enhance waterfowl habitat primarily on its working rice lands.Nicole is a graduate of UCLA and The California Agricultural Leadership Program. Nicole and her husband Stan have two school-aged children.
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