< All Press Releases

Matthew Dillon, Director of the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center in Lovell, Wyo., is a 2010 recipient of the Bureau of Land Management's national "Making a Difference" award. He will be formally recognized at a May 5 ceremony in Washington, D.C. He is one of only five individual volunteers from across the country that will receive such an award this year."Matt has 'made a difference' by raising public awareness about the importance of conserving and protecting the public lands, and by building partnerships opportunities," said BLM's Billings Field Manager Jim Sparks who nominated Dillon for the award. "He volunteers countless hours tracking, documenting, and maintaining a database of every wild horse on the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. This information helps the BLM to better understand herd dynamics and band locations, and to identify missing animals."Dillon was also recognized for his role as an unofficial ambassador for the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range and the animals that live there. In an unbiased way, he routinely explains to Center visitors the need for a balance between wild horse populations and their habitat, as well as the need to manage the wild horses. Through his work at the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center and his interactions with the public, he raises the awareness about the importance of conserving and protecting the public lands.Begun in 1995, the BLM National Volunteer Awards Program acknowledges volunteers and BLM employees involved with the Volunteer Program who have made significant contributions to BLM programs, initiatives, projects, and/or events. Several factors influence the selection of award recipients, including the caliber and extent of their service and the program needs they have filled.