Questions & Answers with community faces

Jonathan Throop (36) grew up in Acme—on the northeast side of Grand Traverse County—and graduated from Traverse City Central High School in 2005. He then took an unconventional career path, working a couple of years in a cabinet shop in Traverse City while intermittently attending Northwestern Michigan College (NMC). During this time, he met his now-wife, Jennifer Ghering, who eventually encouraged Throop to re-focus on his education. 

Together, they decided to attend Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie where he graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in conservation biology; while at LSSU, Throop served as president of the university’s GIS [geographic information system] club and as a member of its sustainability club. 

Throop worked for 12 years at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Beginning in 2010 while he was still an undergraduate student, Throop became a “land steward,” a job which he continued for the next two summers and then for six years after he graduated. During this time, Throop developed the nonprofit’s asset-management system through ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS collector. Throop was also responsible for ecosystem-management, including assistance with large-scale restoration projects, invasive species removal, and preserve maintenance.

Throop then took on a leadership role when he became the site supervisor for the Huron Pines AmeriCorps members who were serving with GTRLC, meaning that he conducted the annual hiring process to select the top candidates to serve in a 10-month position, created individual and team work plans, and gave mid-service and end-of-year performance evaluations.  

Following this, from 2018 through 2022, Throop became the volunteer and events manager for the GTRLC, where he worked closely with more than 300 volunteers on preserve stewardship, invasive species removal, trail building, fundraising, office administration, and more across the five-county service area. Also in 2018, Jon and Jenni welcomed their son, Orson Throop, into the world. 

Around this time, Throop decided to go back to school in 2021: he graduated in 2023 with a Master’s degree in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership from Grand Valley State University.

All of this leadership and schooling led to a big switch: just over a year ago, Throop took over in January 2023 as executive director of the Benzie Conservation District—where Tad Peacock had been in charge for 14 years. (Peacock’s work as executive director included pioneering the first millage ever passed in Michigan to fund a conservation district back in 2008, and since then, many districts in the state have followed suit.)

With skills in volunteer and staff management, grant writing, budgeting and event coordination, Throop’s expertise with both people and the environment made him the ideal candidate for this position to amplify the mission to preserve and enhance Benzie County’s natural resources.

Moreover, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Benzie Conservation District, which was certified as a local unit of state government on June 15, 1944. It was organized by concerned landowners within Benzie County as a locally controlled resource management agency, under provisions of the Soil Conservation District Law, Act 297, P.A. 1937, as amended. (This law is now part of the State Compiled Environmental Code, Part 93, Act 451 of 1994, as amended.) 

The District’s purpose is to make available technical, financial, and educational resources for our community and to focus or coordinate these resources, so that they meet the goals of local landowners for the conservation of soil, water, and related environmental needs.. 

To these ends, the District strives to be a “gateway” to resource management information and service providers, so that citizens may manage their natural resources for a healthier Benzie County. 

District activities include implementing federal, state, and local government programs, as well as other independent programs, such as conservation awareness, farmland preservation, forestry, and wildlife habitat enhancement, to name a few. The District is supported by charitable donations, grants, and a millage, which all may be highly variable, depending on the economy and political emphasis. 

Continuing with our interview series on impactful Benzie County characters, The Betsie Current caught up with Throop as he was gearing up for the District’s annual seedling sale on Saturday, April 20.

The Betsie Current: What made you want to work in the environmental conservation field? 

Jon Throop: It sounds cliche, but I don’t think I could do anything else! I was very fortunate to grow up with thousands of acres of state land within a stone’s throw from my home. I spent my youth hiking, biking, canoeing, and camping in the incredible places that we get to experience in Northern Michigan. I didn’t realize it then, but spending time outdoors gave me so many benefits and formed who I am today. For me, there’s nothing more rewarding than safeguarding these precious places for their own right to exist and for future generations to enjoy.

Current: Tell us a bit about the annual seedling sale. 

Throop: Our seedling sale is a longstanding community event in which the Conservation District sources a wide variety of Michigan’s native species for local residents and visitors to use on their private land. A recent Google search highlights that more than 70 percent of land in Michigan is privately owned, highlighting the importance of everyone doing their part in taking care of our natural areas and providing critical habitat for a variety of species. Likewise, the District sells grass and pollinator seed mixes year-round to support pollinator and prairie habitats on private land. More than a simple fundraiser, our seedling sales are an opportunity for conservation-minded people to reconnect each spring and learn what’s new at the Conservation District. This year, our district forester, Ellie Johnson, had a bright idea to connect people together to get more trees planted across Benzie County. As such, we were excited to launch the “Neighbor Network,” a volunteer program designed to support people who may not be able to plant trees on their own property or who simply want to plant more trees than they are able to alone. Volunteers will then enjoy participating in the beloved tradition of planting trees, knowing they are helping our environment and their neighbors through their good work. This year is the program’s inaugural year, and we already have a few groups of people helping each other out this spring through the connections they made at our event. 

Current: What does a typical day of work look like for you? 

Throop: First, I’m incredibly lucky to work with some of the most dedicated, good-natured, funny, and supporting humans and conservationists I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. John [Ransom], Jane [Perrino], Jodi [Monteith], Jessica [Barnard], and Kyla [Robinson] not only put up with me, but they also encourage me to bring my dog, Cruz, into the office most days of the week. Having said that, my work is engaging and ever-changing at the Conservation District. While I primarily work in the Beulah office, I spend my time helping others to make a positive impact on our natural world in ways that are important to them. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities, and no two days are alike—I may be coordinating a meeting of partners in our Benzie Watersheds Coalition, working with staff on a new conservation program, or building new partnerships with local entities to deliver environmental education. While I can’t detail a typical day, I typically get to talk with passionate people and advance conservation, in some way, daily. 

Current: How have you seen your work grow and change? How do you hope that it will continue to grow? What is next?

Throop: It has been incredibly fulfilling to see how the Benzie Conservation District—an 80-year-old organization—can grow and adapt to new challenges facing our environment. In 2022, we sent out our “Natural Resources Assessment” that asks Benzie County residents and visitors about how they use our natural resources, what they are concerned about, and what they would like the Benzie Conservation District to do about it. The community was loud and clear in their desire for us to continue our water-quality work and to increase our efforts in providing environmental education and to help with sustainable land use. As a result, the Conservation District is launching several fundraising campaigns to work with our community to deliver these impactful programs. We have formed a Water Smart Land Use committee as part of our Benzie Watersheds Coalition, and we are actively working with local educators to deliver place-based environmental education to school-aged kids, as well as adults. We are excited to work with new and existing donors and volunteers on these important opportunities. We exist to serve our communities in Benzie County, and we can only do this work with your support.

Current: What kinds of things do you do for fun, when you are not working? What other things are you involved with? How did you get involved with them, and why are you passionate about these causes? 

Throop: I have more hobbies than I have time for—I enjoy cycling, hiking, camping, playing Dungeons and Dragons, attending concerts, reading science fiction, and more. These days, I enjoy chasing my five-year-old around in the woods and riding bikes with him on the TART trail and the incredible mountain bike trails we have here. I also serve on two boards; the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network and Grow Benzie, which are passions close to my heart. These organizations are addressing deep-rooted, systemic issues facing our world, and I am humbled to get to help in their missions. 

Current: How have you seen Northern Michigan change since you grew up here? What are your hopes for the area in the future? 

Throop: Having spent my childhood in Northern Michigan, I have seen growth over the past three decades—and the more recent rapid expansion of seasonal residents and rental units. While these trends are alarming, I have also seen a 180-degree pivot away from the “brain drain,” in which our best and brightest young people were moving away to bigger cities. Fast-forward to now with Benzie County being a place for young families to break away from the big cities, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people came to “escape” and ended up staying. Maybe they can work remotely for a large organization, or maybe they are choosing to homestead on a small patch of land, but, in my experience, they tend to be bright, motivated, and community-minded. We have serious environmental challenges to face as we continue to welcome these people to Benzie County, but I have tremendous hope and confidence that we will surmount these challenges together.

Current: What are the biggest challenges and rewards of living/working in Benzie County, and in Northern Michigan, in general? What is the best or most rewarding part of your job?

Throop: The challenges and rewards seem intertwined. I absolutely love our rural county with its healthy water, intact forests, and abundant open land for people and wildlife. Every day, I turn down Prospect Avenue in Beulah as I head into the office, and I am greeted by a spectacular view of Crystal Lake. Sometimes the lake is sunny and picturesque, while others, it’s stormy and dangerous—but it is always awe-inspiring. In my experience, most of the people who live in Benzie County care about our natural resources deeply, which makes my work both easier and more rewarding. On the other hand, we have relatively fewer people to fill the many paid and volunteer positions we need across our communities. Like other sectors, the Conservation District and our local partner organizations have experienced a significant decline in the number of applicants we receive for open positions, with some roles going unfilled. Likewise, Northern Michigan has a strong culture around volunteerism and giving back to the community, but there are simply more volunteer roles, board member positions, and committee appointments to fill than we have people for. I encourage everyone to volunteer for a cause they believe in, or to thank a volunteer, or to donate funds, if you don’t have extra time to give.

Current: What could Northern Michigan do to attract more and/or retain talented people in this area? What else does Benzie County/Northern Michigan need?

Throop: I may be biased—I am—but protecting our natural resources is the best way to attract and retain talented people in our region. To me, our incredible rivers, lakes, forests, and dunes make Benzie County unique; nothing we do will surpass the splendor of our natural resources, but if we are not good stewards of these resources, we can lose them forever. 

Current: What are your favorite local events and activities? Any favorite dining, recreation, hiking spots?

Throop: Oh, there are too many to list! Trivia night at Five Shores Brewing, Tuesday night car shows in Lake Ann, the spring ephemeral wildflower hikes put on by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy—there are limitless opportunities to experience other good-natured folks showing up to participate in community. These days, my wife, Jenni, and I pick the spots where our son, Orson, will have fun and places with Kraft mac and cheese on the kids menu.

Current: What does your perfect spring day look like in Benzie County? How would you spend it?

Throop: A perfect spring day involves time outdoors with family; a long bike ride, where maybe I get lost for a while; and we eat our meals outside, either quietly at home with the spring peepers calling in the background or maybe watching live music at a local venue. There is a warm breeze, and the forest is coming alive with new buds on the trees, spring wildflowers are in bloom, and birds are chirping. Importantly, this day will not include any chores or lawn maintenance—specifically avoiding any mowing or raking, in order to give our native insects a home. 

The Benzie Conservation District is located at 280 S. Benzie Boulevard in downtown Beulah, next to East Shore Market. For more information about the Benzie Conservation District, visit BenzieCD.org online or check out “Benzie Conservation District” on Facebook or @BenzieCD on Instagram. Contact the District directly by emailing info@benziecd.org or calling 231-882-4391.

The District is administered by a board of directors, who are elected by local residents for four-year terms. Elections occur at the District’s annual meeting in November.  Board meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month, except July, and the public is always welcome to attend.

Additionally, the Benzie Conservation District is currently seeking a summer intern to assist in a wide variety of tasks and programs. The position will provide an opportunity to learn about natural resource conservation and gain insight into how the District enacts its mission to preserve and enhance the natural resources of Benzie County. Start date is  May/June 2024. Apply by May 1, 2024. Position open until filled.