AVE 

 LINFORD 



To All My Friends in Soil & Water Conservation 

 Work and Especially to the State Soil Conserva- 

 tion Committee and the Montana Association of 

 Soil & Water Conservation Districts. 



"SWCD Supervisors, their cooperators and help- 

 ers are the best people on earth," said Bob 

 McClelland, NACD Western Program Advisor. I 

 agree with Bob. As I look forward to retiring 

 from my present position, I think how fortunate 

 I have been to have known and worked with so 

 many grand people. Then I think how unfortunate 

 for me that I will not see all of my many friends 

 very often in the future. 



VTnat's in my future is a guess, but for a 

 while at least, I'll be managing a farm and this 

 interests me very much. The land and conserving 

 it, along with the water, has been most gratify- 

 ing over the last twenty-eight years. I wish I 

 could be a SWCD cooperator, but in the absence 

 of the possibility, I'll struggle along without 

 that valuable help and try to run the "spread" 

 in the conservation way. Maybe some supervisors, 

 SCSers or others will visit me at the South 

 ^eace Stock Farm near Dat>7son Creek, British 

 Columbia, and give me some valuable guidance. 

 I'll need all the help I can get. The latch 

 string will always be out whether you help or 

 not. 



The group activities with organizations like 

 the MASWCD and SSCC will be missed greatly. 

 These two groups have had a steady growth thru 

 increasing activities and accomplishments. 



Everyone interested in resource development and 

 conservation can be mighty proud of the achieve- 

 ment of the SSCC and MASWCD. 



The fine showing made by such organizations 

 doesn't "just happen". It happens because the 

 officers and members are people of vision and 

 take action to bring about desired results. 



If I were to offer one suggestion as to how 

 these groups might make improvements, I would 

 say for each to list all tlie specific jobs that 

 should be done in the years ahead. Then, arrange 



Continued on Page Eight 



A. B. (Ave) Linf6rd, Bozeman, is the new 

 State Conservationist for the Soil Conservatich 

 Service in Montana. He replaces H. D. Hurd, 

 who retired December 22, 1965. 



Linford was born in Wyoming and worked. in N. 

 Dakota and Iowa before coming to Bozeman in June. 

 He has worked for the SCS since March 1, 19A0. 

 He graduated from the University of Wyoming at 

 Laramie with an agronomy major in 1939 and re- 

 ceived his Master's degree from the University 

 of Michigan in 1963. He served in various po- 

 sitions In N. Dakota, including Area Conserva- 

 tionist at Wahpeton and Fargo. Also, Linford 

 served in the N. Dakota State Office as Soil 

 Conservationist and as Assistant State Conservr^ 

 tionist at Bismarck. This was followed by a 

 year's study and completion of a Master's Degree 

 in Resource Management in 1963 at the University 

 of Michigan. After completion of his degree, he 

 was assigned to the position of Assistant State 

 Conservationist in Des Moines, Iowa, in July of 

 1963. He has been on the Montana staff as 

 Assistant to Mr. Hurd since June of this year. 



In his capacity of Assistant State Conserva- 

 tionist in Montana, he has had responsibility 

 for operations management, soil & water conserva- 

 tion needs inventory for the state, efficiency 

 of staff operations, rural development program 

 and the Plant Materials Center at Bridger, Which 

 develops native plants for reintroduction on 

 farms and ranches in Montana and Wyoming. 



Linford Is a westerner, born on a ranch at 

 Afton, Wyoming, and educated in Wyoming schools. 

 His background, education and experience fit him 

 particularly well for the position in Montana. 



"I am looking forward to my new assignment in 

 ''ontana with a good deal of pleasure," Linford 

 said. "Not everyone has the opportunity to be 

 employed in pleasant surroundings in such a 

 worthwhile occupation as soil and water conserva- 

 tion. The spirit of friendliness and cooperation 

 evident here among the Soil Conservation Distrl 

 Supervisors and other people I have met and 

 known over the years is another reason I am 

 happy to work in Montana." 



Next to being shot at and 

 missed, nothing is quite so 

 satisfying as an incone tax 

 refund. 



