Awarded to IATA member volunteers who display dedication to the mission and goals of the IATA and a willingness to roll up their sleeves on behalf of the Ice Age Trail. An In the Mud recipient:

• Consistently shows up at workdays and dives into the dirty work
• Makes significant efforts to establish the Ice Age Trail
• Epitomizes the bedrock volunteer spirit responsible for building trail

Nomination
Chapter leaders request nominations from chapter members toward the end of each year. At-large members and chapter members being nominated for work outside of their chapter may be nominated by any volunteer, staff member or board member. Trailwide nominations are due by February 1st.

Selection
Chapter winners will be selected by chapter vote at year-end chapter meetings, with a maximum of two recipients per chapter per year. Chapter leaders then forward an "In the Mud" selection form to staff by February 1st. Staff selects statewide-affiliated nominees by majority vote.

You can download a list of all "In the Mud" award recipients.

Longevity of active volunteer service is awarded at 10-, 20- and 30-year milestones.

Selection
IATA staff members and chapter leaders work to establish "active volunteer since..." dates for all volunteers. These dates are reviewed each year to determine eligibility for Years of Service awards.

Presentation
Presented at the IATA annual membership conference. If the award winner cannot attend the conference, the award is delivered via mail.

Recipients
You can download a list of all recipients of 10, 20 and 30 Years of Service awards.

As the highest honor given by the IATA, the Ray Zillmer Award recognizes individuals whose work exemplifies the long-range, big-picture ideals that inspired and continue to inspire the establishment of the Ice Age Trail. Nominees have performed at least two of the following actions:

• Served the Ice Age Trail for many years
• Markedly elevated public awareness of the Trail
• Secured significant funding
• Significantly advanced the Trail in some other way

Nomination
Written nominations are submitted to any staff member or member of the Board of Directors via a nomination form. Nominations will be directed to the Executive Director, for additional input, then to the Board President for distribution to the ad hoc Award Selection Committee.

Selection
Prior to the nomination deadline, an ad hoc Award Selection Committee will be determined and the selection meeting date scheduled to occur within a few weeks after the close of nominations.

Presentation
Presented publicly by the Executive Director and the Board President at a statewide Trail event, celebration, public event or media event.

Recipients
2001: David Obey

The prestigious Henry S. Reuss Award recognizes work performed by individuals through government channels on behalf of the Trail at multiple levels. It emphasizes the recipient's ability to:

• Affect influential parties to take an active role in the mission of the IATA
• Maintain an ongoing public relationship as a Friend of the Trail
• Bring about significant change for Trail mission advancement
• Change the political climate to benefit the Trail

Nomination
Written nominations are submitted to any staff member or member of the Board of Directors via a nomination form. Nominations will be directed to the Executive Director, for additional input, then to the Board President for distribution to the ad hoc Award Selection Committee.

Selection
Prior to the nomination deadline, an ad hoc Award Selection Committee will be determined and the selection meeting date scheduled to occur within a few weeks after the close of nominations.

Presentation
Presented publicly by the Executive Director and the President of the Board of Directors at a statewide Trail event or celebration, public event, media event or a gathering of the recipient's peers.

Recipients
2001: Kevin Shibilski
2004: Tammy Baldwin

The recipient of the Ice Age Trail Alliance's Public Partner award:

• Is an individual rather than a body of government
• Works for a public, governmental agency
• Has provided dedicated, ongoing service for the Trail, above and beyond regular duties

Nomination
Written nominations are submitted to any staff member or member of the Board of Directors via a nomination form. Nominations will be directed to the Executive Director, for additional input, then to the Board President for distribution to the ad hoc Award Selection Committee.

Selection
Prior to the nomination deadline, an ad hoc Award Selection Committee will be determined and the selection meeting date scheduled to occur within a few weeks after the close of nominations.

Presentation
This award will be presented at a gathering of the recipient's peers.

Recipients
1997: Janet Beach Hanson
2004: John Wald
2008: Tom Gilbert
2008: Tom Presny
2010: Brigit Brown
2011: Terry Jensen