LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Travis O'Dell upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of a Young Professionals Award by the SULLIVAN
COUNTY DEMOCRAT

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those young adults within the great Empire State who have
made strong contributions to their communities and who serve as role
models for their peers; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Travis O'Dell upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a
Young Professionals Award by the SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT; and
WHEREAS, Travis O'Dell, Resource Specialist of Upper Delaware Council
and Sales Associate of Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties, was
selected for this esteemed recognition for being hardworking, ambitious,
and creative; and
WHEREAS, Travis O'Dell is the sixth generation of his family to run
the Milk Homestead, a 100-acre farm built in the 1850s, sitting astride
a Catskills ridge just north of Long Eddy, New York; now raising his own
family within the same house, the 30-year-old is extremely invested in
the land and local community; and
WHEREAS, Guiding the family farm into the 21st Century, Travis O'Dell
has expanded beyond Icelandic lamb production into grass-fed beef and
pastured poultry; his wife and daughters share in the healthy food he's
now marketing to direct consumers; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Roscoe Central School, Travis O'Dell earned a
Bachelor of Technology degree in Wildlife Management from SUNY Cobles-
kill; and
WHEREAS, Over the years Travis O'Dell has served as a Waterbird Field
Technician for the Bird Observatory in Colorado, spending much of his
time in South Dakota conducting surveys to develop a waterbird manage-
ment program there; he also studied wetland and waterfowl in both Chan-
tilly, Virginia, and Nanuet, New York, and served as a Park Ranger for
the New York Department of Environmental Conservation; and
WHEREAS, For four years, Travis O'Dell took up carpentry prior to
joining the Upper Delaware Council, where he currently holds the
esteemed position of Resource Specialist; and
WHEREAS, As a Resource Specialist of the Upper Delaware Council,
Travis O'Dell's primary duties and responsibilities include preparing
technical reports, helping with the public, and maintaining the company
website; for more than two years, he has become a trusted resource on
land use, zoning, and planning issues in the Upper Delaware River
Valley, not only with the Upper Delaware Council but also with community
members, businesses, and local, state, and federal governments; and
WHEREAS, Travis O'Dell has been instrumental in balancing, coordinat-
ing studies and grants to acquire the involved groups of local towns and
agencies to collaborate on sensitive issues; guiding him is the River
Management Plan, created when the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational
River designation came into effect three decades ago, which the Upper
Delaware Council administers; and
WHEREAS, Through his strong partnerships with member towns, Travis
O'Dell's projects move forward in ways that complement economic develop-
ment and protect the unique resources in the Upper Delaware; he contin-
ues to protect the Delaware's beauty and resources while accommodating
much-valued local jurisdiction and development; and

WHEREAS, An avid outdoorsman, Travis O'Dell harvests sustainably
managed hardwoods for custom orders on his sawmill as part of the family
business; and
WHEREAS, Utilizing his vast skillset, Travis O'Dell has launched
himself into real estate, representing properties through the Catskill
Mountains with Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties; and
WHEREAS, A farmer, real estate salesperson, land use expert, and more,
Travis O'Dell spends his time and energies volunteering as President of
the Basket Historical Society in Long Eddy, and has become a vital part
of the nonprofit, including its popular newsletter, THE ECHO; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Travis O'Dell upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
a Young Professionals Award by the SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Travis O'Dell.