Shelly Masterson named as Conservation Board member

MT. PLEASANT - One of Shelly Masterson's favorite things to do is sit in her yard in the evening and watch deer approach the acre-long food plot on her property.

Most recently, a mother and twin fawn have been regular visitors. The younger deer often run in behind their mother to snack on clovers.

'I see them about twice a week when I'm sitting out on the patio. It's pretty neat,” she said.

Masterson became the newest member of the county's Conservation Board last week after being appointed by the Board of Supervisors to an open position.

The branch manager of Five Star Credit Union in Mt. Pleasant became involved with local conservation after being asked by a neighbor to help volunteer at the Oakland Mills Nature Center last fall.

'I fell in love with it. I just think it's a great program down there,” she said.

Masterson said she never expected to become so involved. Before her volunteering, she had never been in the center.

'It's really nice down there. I just knew they needed help, and I wanted to help,” she said.

Her neighbor, Tony Brown, a current member of the board, later asked Masterson to consider applying for the position when he learned of the opening. He said Masterson was one of several people he approached because he felt she would have the time and be interested in the volunteer position.

'I follow her a bit on Facebook, and she's involved in community events, the runs and walks - that kind of stuff,” he said.

Brown added he knows Masterson has demonstrated a passion for nature and conservation.

'She lives out in the country, and I know she has a commitment to conservation and preserving what we have. She loves being in the outdoors and thought it would be a good fit for her,” he said.

Masterson, who grew up spending a majority of her time outside and around animals, hopes to do her part to preserve outdoor spaces for others to experience what she has while enjoying the outdoors.

'We need to make sure we still have those small little farms and places where people can get that fresh air and go for their walks and put in their gardens and things like that,” she said.

Masterson added she believes the parks and trails of Henry County are a 'jewel” that have been underutilized by residents of the county.

'We have beautiful trails and parks. It's free, and it's in Henry County. Everyone should go out for a walk and check them out,” she said.

As a board member, Masterson said she's focused on bringing 'a lot of summer to conservation” in the county, including the educational programs at the nature center.

'I want to continue to help as a volunteer and do what I can to support them. I love watching kids learn new and exciting nature things,” she added.

Masterson added she's excited to learn more about the role of the conservation board and to do her part in preserving the natural environment locally.

'Conservation in general seems to be disappearing from the county. The land where you can look out and see nature and see animals, it's neat. It gives me inner peace and I would hope that it would give other people inner peace,” she said.