Award Recipient 2019
Outstanding Weed Supervisor: Dave Bingham, Summit County
Dave is past president of the UWCA, board member of the Utah Weed Supervisors and sits on the North American Invasive Species Management Association board. Dave is a driving force in the noxious weed community. He is involved in projects large and small from backpacks to helicopters. Dave manages projects from EDRR to Sage Grouse and takes on assignments with enthusiasm.
Getting to Know Aaron Eagar, UDAF, Plant Industry, Noxious Weed Specialist Aaron Eagar recently accepted the position as Noxious Weed Specialist for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Among his many duties, Aaron will oversee the ISM program. Aaron comes from the Utah County Weed Department where he spent the past twelve years. Aaron was responsible for uniting multiple entities to accomplish weed management goals. He worked with The Utah Lake Commission, Utah Division of Wildlife, State Parks and Forestry Fire and State Lands to eradicate Pharagmites and other weeds on Utah Lake. On the east side of the county, Aaron brought Sundance Resort and its landowners together with the U.S. Forest Service to control Garlic Mustard. Aaron also served as the president to the Utah Weed Supervisors Association.
Aaron earned a degree in Chemistry, but his true passion is geology. Aaron can often be found rock hounding in his free time. Aaron also enjoys camping and travelling.
Aaron places great importance on the ISM program. He said that he took the position as Noxious Weed Specialist in order to help expand and fine tune the ISM grants.
Getting to Know Bracken Davis, UDAF, Plant Industry, Deputy Director Bracken Davis has worked for the Utah Department of Agriculture, Food and Conservation (UDAF) for nine years. He has recently taken the position of deputy director for the Division of Plant Industry. Bracken will oversee many programs including the noxious weed program for UDAF.
When Bracken was ten, he worked a summer job breeding irises. Bracken took his passion for botany to Weber State University and graduated in 2002. He worked various seasonal vegetation monitoring jobs including one that took him to Hawaii. Bracken returned to Utah and graduated with a Master’s Degree in GIS and Landscape Management in 2009 from BYU. During the summer of 2008, Bracken was recruited into UDAF to work on GIS and databases in vegetation monitoring.
Bracken is the father of two girls (ages 8 and 9). Bracken is an avid runner and enjoys trail running. When Bracken isn’t working he spends time with his girls playing laser tag, watching movies and hiking.
Bracken hopes to help grow and support all of the programs within the Division of Plant Industry. Bracken feels that he can provide a big picture view to integrate program goals. Bracken emphasized the importance of listening to program managers as a tool to continue improving UDAF’s many programs.
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