John Preston’s 50 Years of Conservation District Service Honored

The Columbia Basin Conservation District (CBCD) is proud to recognize John Preston for his remarkable 50 years of service as a conservation district board member.

John Preston and his wife, Helen Preston, at CBCD’s Building Dedication & Celebration. Photo thanks to Callie Preston.

John Preston shares a few words at CBCD’s Building Dedication and Celebration. Photo thanks to Callie Preston.

CBCD celebrated John during the district’s building dedication in September. He was joined by his wife, Helen Preston, many members of their family, and current and former board members who have served alongside him over the years.

John Preston and his family at the CBCD Building Dedication and Celebration. Photo thanks to Callie Preston.

Left to right: Mike Baden (Washington State Conservation Commission), Heather Wendt (Washington Association of Conservation Districts), John Preston (CBCD Board Member), and Kristina Ribellia (CBCD Executive Director). John holds a framed map presented to him in recognition of his 50 years of service. Photo thanks to Callie Preston.

The recognition continued in December, when John was inducted as a Creating A Legacy honoree by the Washington Conservation Society during the Washington Association of Conservation Districts annual conference in Spokane.

The Creating A Legacy award honors individuals who have had a significant and long-lasting impact on strengthening conservation practices and partnerships at the local, state, regional, and national levels.

John Preston’s decades of dedication and leadership exemplify the spirit of this honor, leaving a lasting legacy for conservation in our region.

Left to right: Dave Stadelman (CBCD Chair), John Preston (CBCD Board Member), and Dan Roseburg (CBCD Board Member). Photo thanks to Kristina Ribellia.

John Preston and his wife, Helen Preston, at the Washington Association of Conservation Districts annual conference in Spokane.

John began serving as a conservation district board member with the Warden Conservation District in 1975. His steady leadership helped guide the consolidation of several local districts into what is now known as the Columbia Basin Conservation District, where he continues to serve on the board.  John has also served for many years as the North Central Area Director for the Washington Association of Conservation Districts.

A tireless advocate for conservation and agriculture, John continues to regularly engage with legislators and agency leadership – representing conservation interests locally, in Olympia, and beyond. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Columbia Basin Development League and is a member of the Grant County Voluntary Stewardship Program.  He has also been a 4-H leader, longtime Chair of the Grant County Fair Sale Committee, and is an active member of the Grant County Cattlemen.

Together with his wife, Helen, John raised three children on their family farm near Warden. Their family values of stewardship, service, and education continue through their nine grandchildren and one great-grandson – and countless others they have impacted throughout their lives.  John’s decades of dedication reflect a true legacy of conservation leadership, agricultural advocacy, and civic commitment that has strengthened the Columbia Basin and the state of Washington. 

Map created by Deanna Elliott (CBCD GIS Coordinator) and Anna Maletzke (CBCD Communications Specialist), for John Preston, honoring his 50 years of serving our local conservation districts.