Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office
| Contacts: | Sarah Beckwith | |||
| 307/347-5207 |
BLM Lander Firefighter Wins Firefighter of the Year Award
Lander native Sally Hovendick has been awarded the Firefighter of the Year Award by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wind River/Bighorn Basin District (WR/BBD). The award recognizes a firefighter who exemplifies the qualities of leadership, motivation, work ethic, physical fitness and positive attitude.
 Hovendick uses a drip torch during a pres- cribed fire. |
 Present for the award ceremony were (from L to R): Heath Morgan, Joel Peters, Aaron Thompson, Hovendick, Chuck Russell, WR/BBD Manager Steve Dondero and Mike Coyne. |
 Hovendick received a set of spurs in recognition for her accomplishments. |
Hovendick has worked as a seasonal BLM engine crew member in Lander for three years. She is assigned to an engine that responds to wildland fires, both in Wyoming and across the nation. Hovendick and the crew also work on hazardous fuels mitigation projects throughout the Lander area. When not wielding a Pulaski or chainsaw, Hovendick is training in wildfire suppression drills and physical fitness. In fact, she was recently awarded the top physical fitness award for BLM Wyoming.
“If we could clone someone, Sally would be the one I would want to clone for the fire program,” said Fire Operations Supervisor Aaron Thompson of the BLM Lander Field Office.
Hovendick began working seasonally for the BLM after graduating from Lander Valley High School in 2009. She grew up on the family’s working cattle ranch in Lander where she still works when not employed as a firefighter. Her goal is to one day take over the ranch and continue the family tradition.
In addition to fighting fires and ranching, Hovendick’s interests include riding horses, hunting, camping and most anything that takes her into the great outdoors.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office 101 South 23rd Worland, WY 82401