Rick and Lotsie Holton are members of the Founder’s Conservation Society, with cumulative giving of $100,000 or more. They have pledged $5,000 for five years. Each year they are making the donation in honor of a Champion of Conservation of their choosing. Meet the fourth Champion.
2024 Champion of Conservation: Ken Babcock
Ken’s Conservation Background
- Graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in 1965.
- Graduated from Louisiana State University with a Master of Science degree in wildlife management in 1967.
- Started his career as a Waterfowl Biologist by the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission from 1967-1970.
- Came to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) in 1970 and held many positions including Research Scientist, Assistant Wildlife Division Chief and Assistant Director.
- After retiring from MDC, he worked at Ducks Unlimited as Director of Operations overseeing conservation work in 22 states.
Q&A with Ken
Why is conservation important to you?
Early in life, Ken learned from personal observation and stories from, “the greatest generation” that natural ecosystems were being negatively impacted by a growing human population to meet their needs. Wildlife populations and plant communities supporting them were declining at alarming rates. Although he spent a lot of time during his youth outdoors, he did not see white-tailed deer in the wild until his junior year of high school was in graduate school before seeing his first turkey. Ken was fortunate enough to learn that a growing number of people, including landowners, scientists, journalists and others were working to address these trends and he wanted to be a part of those efforts by establishing relationships with others to find ways that human needs and those of wildlife, fish and natural systems can be better understood so that more informed decisions can be achieved.
What is your biggest conservation achievement?
After more than a half-century of involvement in the conservation arena, Ken has been fortunate to participate in many conservation achievements, but none of these were accomplished alone. While controversial at times, he was glad to work on the conversion from lead shot to non-toxic shot for waterfowl hunting to address lead poisoning of ducks, geese, and other wetland-associated birds. This decision was a major factor leading to the recovery of the bald eagle, our national symbol.
After witnessing the loss of bottomland forests for many years, while working for DU, Ken was privileged to be a part of developing a partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture to restore more than 300,000 acres of bottomland wetlands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.
The North American Boreal Forest serves as critical habitat for a wide range of native and migratory birds and other wildlife. Ken served on a team involving DU, DU Canada, First Nations, and Pew Charitable Trust to develop and implement a program to conserve a half-billion acres of this vital ecosystem through protection and/or wise. Success is in sight.
What is your legacy in conservation?
Ken believes one’s legacy should be determined by others. However, he hopes he is seen as one who respects the opinions of others regarding conservation while serving as the voice for wildlife and natural systems. Having worked with state and federal natural resource agencies across the nation, and a wide variety of non-government organizations, he does not doubt that the priority for conservation placed by Missouri citizens is the primary ingredient for success in our state.
What is your favorite Missouri outdoor memory?
Ken’s first memory of the Missouri outdoors occurred a few years before actually living in Missouri. As he was completing his graduate degree, Ken told his major professor that he thought working for a state conservation agency was a good fit for his professional goals and asked him which state had the best program. Without hesitation, he said, “Missouri.” It took a few years, but eventually, Ken was fortunate to be selected for a wetlands/waterfowl research position in Columbia and the rest is history.
Missouri’s great outdoors has been the source of many memories involving work colleagues, friends, and family that will last a lifetime. But one that stands above all the rest involves his oldest grandson. Naturally, he was introduced to Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife resources at an early age. He loves to hunt and fish and has enjoyed great success. For his first waterfowl hunt, Ken took him to a club where he is privileged to be a member. As they poled their boats to where they planned to hunt, dawn was breaking, and the marsh was alive with ducks and geese and a myriad of other wildlife. When they reached our destination, he said, “I am going to become addicted to this.” His comment assured Ken that he understood that success involved more than birds in the bag. However, he harvests a limit more often than not! A few years later, they watched his son shoot his first duck, a beautiful mallard drake.
What is your connection to MCHF?
After retiring (again) from DU in 2013, Ken and his wife returned to Missouri which had always been the plan. They were fortunate to acquire property (with a home) in Moniteau County adjacent to a tract of land they had purchased while he was working for MDC. Ken received a call from David Erickson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MCHF asking if he was interested in serving on the Board. After doing a little research, he learned that MCHF had existed for nearly two decades, assets totaled only $2 million, half of which was dedicated to stream stewardship. Ken contacted David and advised him that he would be honored to serve if there was interest in expanding fundraising efforts to achieve the objectives of the organization. Ken served two three-year terms on the Board and continues in an advisory capacity. In the last decade, MCHF has far exceeded expectations and he has no doubt that will continue!
