GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – 2026 marks the Delta Conservation District’s 75th anniversary of serving the community. To celebrate, the District is planning a full summer of events and activities.
The Conservation District’s annual meeting will look a bit different this year. On August 26, the District will host a public party at Saunders Point Brewing in Gladstone. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the public is invited to enjoy drinks and sweet treats, meet local vendors, and learn about Delta Conservation District programs.
“Getting the community together is what we do,” said District Manager Taylor Shay. “We’re community servants, so being involved in the community is something that’s important to us. Making it more public and getting more people to know who we are and participate in our programs, it’ll be great.”
The celebration will coincide with an election. Two four-year terms on the District Board of Directors are up for grabs, and voting will end during the celebration at 6:30 p.m. Nominating petitions are due by June 26.
“Having new people involved, getting new perspectives, different experiences on the board is great,” Shay said. “We’re also recruiting for associate directors. They don’t have voting power because they’re not elected, but they can sit on our committees and kind of contribute to the conversation at the board meetings and into the community.”
In the meantime, the District is hosting its 2026 Native Plant Sale. A catalogue of wildflowers, sedges, and grasses is available to browse online and at the Conservation District Office now through June 10.
“All of those are great for wildlife, pollinators,” said Shay. “The grasses are great for erosion stabilization, water filtration. It’s finally spring and we’re feeling the warmer weather, so it’s a great time to get those orders in for the in-person pickup on June 26.”
Pickup for the Native Plant Sale will take place at big pavilion Van Cleve Park from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Limited quantities of additional plants will be on sale during that time.
“The plants come from one of our local plant nurseries,” said Shay. “They’re all rated for this area and do very well.”
To promote the sale, the District is hosting a native plant trivia night at Saunders Point Brewing on June 4. District staff members will also be at local farmers’ markets throughout the summer.
“A lot of the funds from the Native Plant Sale go towards our education and outreach for the community so that we can do community events, go to these farmers’ markets, and have materials, stickers for classrooms, et cetera,” Shay explained.
It is shaping up to be a busy summer for the Delta Conservation District—one centered on celebrating the past and planning for the future.
“We’ve had 75 years. What’s the next 75 years going to look like? This will be the biggest celebration that we’ve done, and it’s really a celebration of all of the work that my staff and all of their programs have done over the past 75 years for Delta County.”
The District encourages community members to fill out its conservation needs survey, which will inform the District’s next five-year plan. To do so, click here or call (906) 553-7700. The Delta Conservation District office is located at 2003 Minneapolis Avenue.
