Ken Smith Receives the Ranger’s Coin March 2022

[Janet says: This news item is tardy by only three years (!), but it is still worthy of some attention.]

      On March 31, 2022, the Ozark Society Highlands Chapter and the Ozark Society Sugar Creek Chapter hosted a celebration called “Buffalo River … and Beyond” at Mt. Sequoyah Center in Fayetteville to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the creation of the Buffalo National River. During the event Mark Foust, the National Park Service Buffalo National River Superintendent at the time, presented Ken Smith with a Ranger’s Coin. Foust recently described more about the Ranger’s Coin to me.

     The Ranger’s Coin project, which started 20 years ago, is not an official National Park Service coin, as it is done by folks in their private capacities. Every year rangers nominate parks to be considered, so Mark nominated the Buffalo National River for 2022. The coin is produced in recognition of excellence in “rangering.” The ranger duties listed around the edge of the coin bring attention to the wide variety of work rangers do in, and on behalf of, national parks. The coin can be purchased to collect or distribute.   Mark thought it fitting to present a Buffalo River Ranger’s Coin to Ken Smith.  Others at the event agreed with Mark!