Conservation Profiles

Harry Stokes

By Gayle Green

 Finding just one thing that sets County Commissioner Harry Stokes apart from others in the field of conservation is a difficult task because there are so many things that immediately come to mind.

Commissioner Stokes’ passion for appropriate land use and natural resource management is deeply rooted. Harry explained that as a child, his home was in Lake County, Florida and it was destroyed by Walt Disney because the farmland was not protected from urban sprawl. He said "my family lost it’s farm – it’s birthright because of poor planning and lack of resource management." This experience is one that had a profound impact on his future. In 1974 he received his Master’s Degree from Duke University in forestry. In 1974 Harry became an Industrial Forester and since 1979 he has been an Associate Consultant for Stokes Consulting Group, specializing in environmental solutions, alternate energies including renewable and transport fuels, resource recovery and solid waste management. It is obvious from his history that this is not just a passing interest for Stokes’ but rather, a lifelong passion.

A discussion about Harry Stokes would not be complete unless his role as County Commissioner and his dedication to the Adams County Conservation District (ACCD) were addressed. Harry was elected as Adams County Commissioner in 1991 and it is a position that he takes very seriously. Stokes said, "I have a profound belief that in local government we have to manage our resources. Our natural resource budget (the natural resources that we use each year) is much bigger and more important than our fiscal budget."

In 1991 he was also appointed to the ACCD Board of Directors where he remains to this day. Harry believes that "conservation districts are the greatest tool in local government" and that "there is enormous potential if counties and municipalities utilize conservation districts." Stokes has an amazing way of effectively balancing conservation issues with county activities to obtain the maximum benefits for both. He is able to carry the concerns and issues of the conservation district to the Commissioners keeping them abreast of local, regional and national environmental issues while also being able to provide the county with feedback from the community. For example, Stokes’ work with sustainable community development has brought this important issue to the forefront in the city and state because of Harry’s dedication to both the district and the local government.

Those who know Harry Stokes know that he is quite an asset in the fight for resource conservation. In the words of Laurence Martick, ACCD District Manager, "Stokes recognizes the importance of maintaining a strong agricultural economy and land base in Adams County. He recognizes the importance of the relationship among the strong county offices that provide the financial, technical, and educational assistance to Adams County’s farm community, from the Conservation District, Adams County Cooperative Extension, and the Adams County Farm Land Preservation Program." Martick goes on to say, "I am fortunate to have the benefit and reward of working with such a strong leader and friend as Harry Stokes. Harry has always supported building the conservation district to its highest level of achievement. He understands that building the District’s capacity is critical to protecting and conserving the county’s precious resources." And that is how Commissioner Harry Stokes is described – as a passionate and dedicated protector of our precious, fragile natural resources.