Sue Aiken felt a connection to the Bayfield community even before moving there nearly 13 years ago. When visiting a friend who had relocated from the Twin Cities, Sue was taken aback by the landscape’s beauty and drawn in by a deep sense of community she knew she wanted to be a part of.
Shortly after making Bayfield her new home, she hiked at Houghton Falls and came across the name of the local land trust, Bayfield Regional Conservancy (BRC). She contacted BRC and after meeting with local leaders, asked to join the Board of Directors. “As a public health nurse — maybe that’s odd — but all my adult life I’ve always had a passion for wildlife, ecology, and protecting the land,” Sue stated. She continued, “Being in the woods and attuned to nature is essential to help the environment and create healthy spaces for everyone.” Serving on the Board of BRC and now Landmark Conservancy has fulfilled this desire to help steward the natural beauty she so deeply appreciates.
As a board member of Landmark Conservancy and a volunteer with Bayfield Area Trails, Sue enjoys helping build and maintain area trails. She stated, “I think it’s important to take care of our natural resources and historical trails such as the Brownstone. Having trails close to the community gets people interested in the outdoors, which is vital to creating a sense of care. Being a steward of these trails helps reinforce our sense of community.”
Sue Aiken at Cornucopia Beach Cleanup in 2022.
Whether she’s hiking or volunteering on the Brownstone, she enjoys being able to share details about the restoration timeline and the ‘behind the scenes’ work of the Landmark staff and board that goes into the project.
“We appreciate Sue’s commitment to helping educate the community about the value of the Brownstone Trail and Landmark’s efforts to secure funding for long-term restoration,” said Advancement Director Kristin Thompson.
Sue further reflected, “I don’t think a lot of people understand how complex or time-consuming a project like this is. The Brownstone is not just Landmark’s project, but the community’s project and it’s important to get people to see the bigger picture at hand about the importance of land protection.” She continues, “The Brownstone Trail is a gateway to the larger recreation and protection that Landmark prioritizes.”
Thank you Sue A for your always ready to help attitude.