2026 Lake County Conservation District Scholarship

Elsie Detert is the recipient of the 2026 Lake County Conservation District Scholarship. Detert was born in Alaska and grew up fishing and hiking in The Last Frontier until her family moved to  Montana when she was nine-years-old to help her grandparents on their ranch in Mission. 

In high school, Detert ran cross country and track and took every choir class available to her. Outside of school, she spent most of her time outdoors, hiking, fishing, hunting and floating the river, which is only a mile away from her home. She also spent a lot of her time surrounded by animals, working on neighboring ranches and being heavily involved in the local 4-H chapter for the past 11 years. 

Detert says she has come to the realization that she shows the most projects in Lake County at the local fair. She said she is the first one to interview and the last to leave. Her projects this year include showing dogs, poultry, horses, and a steer, as well as a visual arts project and baking. 

Detert is planning on attending the University of Montana in the fall of 2026 where she hopes to earn a degree in Wildlife Biology. She would like to become a Park Ranger or a Game Warden with her degree and continue spending most of her time outdoors, working to develop strategies that ensure habitat preservation and actively protect nature. 

Going to college, Detert is most excited about the variety of classes she will get to explore. She is glad to attend UM close to her home, family and many animals. Every spring Lake County Conservation District awards $1,000 to local, graduating high school seniors who demonstrate a strong interest in conservation, natural resources, or agriculture. They are pleased to extend this award to Elsie Detert and are confident she will have a bright future ahead of her.