Dennis Stowell, who served in the Utah State Senate and chaired the Senate Natural Resources Committee, was described as a model public servant, who served selflessly, devotedly and intelligently.

“Dennis knew and understood rural Utah as well as anyone, and he was the ultimate defender and protector of conservation, our rural lands and way of life,” said former Utah Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell. “Dennis not only fought for and was a voice for conservation measures, but he also practiced conservation in all aspects of his life – in his agriculture business and throughout his public service.”

On land that had been damaged by overgrazing in the past, Dennis embraced the process of improving it through reseeding existing pastures, fencing them and making each pasture self sufficient by piping water to it. His dedication to wildlife habitat and management of all natural resources was lauded by those who knew him.

Dennis was tireless in his pursuit of farming innovation leading to his development of a patented real-time hay moisture tester that is now an industry standard in modern equipment. He effectively utilized conservation management ideas enabling him to enlarge the size of his herds and increase productivity with pasture and crops. He appreciated, supported and lived an agricultural way of life and loved to see rural communities prosper and thrive.