A Letter from FarWide Conservation Trust

In loving memory of Ron Stromstad

Greetings from FarWide Conservation Trust,

As you have probably heard, the conservation community recently lost one of our most successful and accomplished leaders. Ron Stromstad passed away on July 17th at his home on Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota. Ron had a long and distinguished career in wildlife conservation. He grew up in the northwest corner of North Dakota, in the heart of some of the best waterfowl breeding habitat in North America, the origin of his passion for waterfowl and wetlands conservation. He started his career in conservation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and later he led the creation of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program at the agency. He also served as the Director of the Wildlife Division for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. His passion for ducks led to his position as the Regional Director for the Western Region of Ducks Unlimited where he was responsible for DU’s entire Pacific Flyway conservation program. He eventually moved back to the Midwest and led DU’s development program for many years.

Even in retirement he did not stop contributing to wetlands and waterfowl conservation. He enthusiastically agreed to serve on the board of a brand-new conservation entity, FarWide Conservation Trust, and provided key assistance with organizational development, fundraising and the many complexities associated with developing a new organization. He leaves a big hole in the conservation community, and he will be sorely missed by family, friends, and conservation partners.

Ron’s many friends in the conservation community have decided that his legacy of contributions to wildlife conservation needs to be properly recognized. FarWide Conservation Trust is collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the “Stromstad Waterfowl Production Area” in Divide County, North Dakota to honor his legacy.  

In fact, the property that we aim to acquire and conserve is only four miles (as the duck flies) from Ron’s childhood home. The property is adjacent to both the Rattler Lake and Lincoln Waterfowl Production Areas, two properties very familiar to Ron.  The 160-acre property we want to acquire contains 130 acres of grass enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and 30 acres of wetlands. There are no easements on the property that protect these habitats. If we don’t acquire it, the CRP acres will likely be plowed and put back into cropland production when the current contract expires, and the wetlands will be exposed to potential drainage impacts.  Nothing could be more fitting than to recognize Ron’s contributions to waterfowl conservation by establishing a new Waterfowl Production Area, protecting and enhancing these habitats, and constructing a cairn on the property, creating a permanent memorial of his lifetime contributions to conservation.

FarWide has set a goal of raising $500,000 by April 1, to apply towards the acquisition and restoration of this property. When completed, the property will be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be managed in perpetuity for the benefit of waterfowl and hundreds of other wildlife species.

Please consider helping us reach our fundraising goal. All contributions, substantial and modest, are valued, and all contributors will be recognized on the project signage. We want to create a permanent memorial to Ron, a place where Peggy and the entire Stromstad family can visit, reflect, remember, and see the names of all the people whose lives were touched by Ron and contributed to his memorial.

On behalf of Ron’s family and friends, thank you for considering this request and supporting wildlife habitat conservation.   

Steve Donovan, Executive Director