JANUARY 30, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Office of Public Affairs
FORT HALL – Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Member, Preston Buckskin, was hired as Land Use Department Director on December 2, 2024.
“I am excited to continue to learn and grow within the Land Use Department and help
protect and preserve our lands and resources so our future generations will have the privilege to
continue calling the Fort Hall Reservation their permanent home.”
The Land Use Department administers and enforces the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Land Use Policy Ordinances. Their oversight of programs includes Agricultural Resource Management, Range, Air Quality, Environmental Waste Management, Building Inspections and Compliance, Livestock Compliance, Tribal GIS, and Tribal Broadband Development.
Buckskin’s career began with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in 2001 as a Fisheries Technician for the Resident Fisheries Program under the Fish & Wildlife Department. In 2004 he was hired as a Senior Technician, and in 2013 he was appointed Wetlands/Nursery Manager. He began working with the Land Use Department in 2017 as the Agricultural Resource Management (ARM) Program Manager and in 2018 took on Range Program Manager duties added to ARM.
His specific area of study is Natural Resources in Aquaculture. He completed a six-week Aquaculture course at Hagerman National Fish Hatchery in 2009 and received his AAS-Aquaculture degree from the College of Southern Idaho in 2013. He plans to enroll at Idaho State University in the fall of 2025, to receive his BS-Workplace Training Leadership.
In his nearly 25 years of experience, some of his memorable achievements with Fish & Wildlife and Land Use ARM include the 404 application with the Army Corp of Engineers for the Spring Creek Car Removal Restoration Project; several EQIP projects through the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) such as 2014-2015 North buffalo pasture fence along Clear Creek, 2017-2018-3 row windbreak near Indoor Arena, 2024 application approved for Russian Olive Tree Removal Project along Portneuf River. Also, ARM Program – Management of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), CRP Grasslands, and Conservation Stewardship (CSP) Contracts throughout the reservation.
Preston enjoys spending time with his sons, hunting and fishing, and taking road trips to see family in his spare time. He’s always looking forward to taking road trips on his Harley.