Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Hamilton.
Hi Dani, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always loved being outdoors. I grew up on land that has been in my family for generations, and we recently built our home there. We’re putting down roots for good and are committed to being good stewards of the land. My family also helped start the Springfield Township Park and Recreation Area in Kalkaska County, where I’ve volunteered since I was about nine years old and still do today.
My career path started on the business side. In high school, I attended the career tech center for business careers and landed a data entry job with a dairy distributor. Over six years there, I worked my way up to sales coordinator and earned my business degree along the way. From there, I spent seven years in customer service and service dispatch roles with two local companies, building skills I still use every day working with landowners and partners.
Through all of it, my love of nature never faded. Weekends were for hiking and exploring everything Michigan has to offer. So when I was looking for a change closer to home and a family member sent me a listing for the administrative assistant position at the Missaukee Conservation District, it felt like the perfect fit. It brought together my business background and my love of the outdoors.
I joined the district in 2022, and just a year later, when our longtime manager retired, I interviewed for the District Manager role and was chosen to lead the district.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not always. When the dairy distributor centralized its administrative positions to one location downstate, my job went with it after six years. It was a hard change, but it pushed me to grow in new roles and build skills I wouldn’t have gained otherwise.
Coming into conservation from a business background had its own learning curve. I didn’t have a science degree, so I had to learn the programs, partners, and language of conservation on the job. I leaned on our staff and partners, asked a lot of questions, and found that my business skills filled a real need for the district.
The hardest season came in 2023, when my husband was hospitalized with severe burns just before I took over as District Manager. I actually interviewed for the position from his hospital room. Starting a new leadership role while supporting him through his recovery tested me, but it also showed me how much strength comes from family, community, and a team that has your back.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Missaukee Conservation District?
The Missaukee Conservation District’s mission is to provide leadership in promoting and protecting Missaukee County’s soil, water, and other natural resources through education and technical assistance. We’re a small staff guided by a board of directors, and everything we do is voluntary and built on partnership. We’re here to listen, share expertise, and help people reach their own goals for their land.
Our services cover a wide range of conservation needs. Our conservation technician serves Missaukee, Crawford, Kalkaska, and Wexford counties, helping farmers adopt best management practices and earn environmental verification through MAEAP. Our outreach forester works with landowners to evaluate the health of their forests and plan management around their goals. Our watershed technician visits with wetland property owners, runs our stream monitoring program, and coordinates the Michigan Vernal Pool Partnership in Missaukee County. Through our close partnership with USDA-NRCS, landowners and farmers also have access to trained technicians and cost share opportunities.
Education is at the heart of what we do. Our Conservation Outreach Coordinator brings hands-on learning to adults and children through classroom programs, community workshops, festivals, and retreats. We also partner with the North Country Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area to educate the public and help property owners manage invasive species. Each spring and fall, our tree and native plant sales help families, farms, and landowners plant beneficial trees, fruits, and native plants across our community.
One project especially close to our hearts is the Jamieson Nature Education Center near McBain, a property generously donated to the district. We’re restoring native habitat there, guided by a master plan shaped by community input, and working toward opening it to the public with trails and spaces where people of all ages can learn about and enjoy the outdoors.
What’s next?
There’s a lot to look forward to, and the Jamieson Nature Education Center is high on that list. We’re continuing native habitat restoration there, and our next steps are putting in trails and a parking area. Seeing families, students, and visitors out on those trails will be a dream come true for our team.
We’re also excited about some new ideas, like a project to turn used Christmas trees into biochar, a soil amendment that helps improve soil health. And we’re always looking for ways to grow our team and expand the services we can offer to landowners and farmers.
Personally, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow as a leader and building strong partnerships. I found my place here, and this is the work I want to do for the long haul. At home, I’m learning right alongside the landowners we serve, and I want our own land to reflect the same care we encourage in others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.missaukeecd.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missaukeecd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missauk/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIG80BZRd3rqIz7qDZnuSOw
