Congratulations to Environmental Biologist Ben Campbell for being selected for the September People Powers Award! Ben was nominated by Supervisor, Grants & Compliance Caleb Hefti for Leading by Example.

Caleb shared that environmental approvals for transmission lines related to the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) grant are different than typical timelines. Due to grant requirements, environmental approvals had to be completed by Sept. 30, 2026 - before transmission design was even finalized - or Dairyland would be at risk of losing millions of dollars of grant funds.

"Ben coordinated with the project team and multiple business partners across 10 different projects to ensure all appropriate documentation was handed in to (the Rural Utility Service) in a timely manner," Hefti said. “Ben was an integral part in meeting this deadline. He guided everyone on the team to get the data needed to submit to RUS and kept those around him and above him in the know as to the progress.”

Thank you, Ben, for your efforts to ensure our transmission projects are completed in compliance with our environmental and grant requirements!