San Juan County, UT
The Utah Cultural Site Stewardship (UCSS) Team is excited to introduce Michael Wingert as the Regional Coordinator for San Juan County. Michael will assist the UCSS Program with outreach, events, and steward placements in south east Utah, helping our program expand in more ways than one.
Michael has lived in Utah for 30 years. He was born and raised in the San Luis Valley, near Great Sand Dunes National Park, in Colorado. Michael still considers Colorado his home because of his family who still live there, and the memories that shaped him into the person he is today.
Michael spent the better part of his working life employed in the field of law enforcement, both on a state and at the federal level. He had the opportunity to work in many parts of the country, and felt privileged to have worked alongside many good people and diverse communities, both within and outside of law enforcement. Michael describes his time in law enforcement as “sometimes frustrating, other times heartbreaking, many times rewarding,” but he would do it all over again.
One of the great pleasures of life that Michael has experienced while working and living in Utah has been discovering the diverse landscapes, the rich cultures, and the people who call this one-of-a-kind place on this earth, home.
“Those who explored, endured, and mapped what is now Utah are of great interest to me. From the Native cultures who have occupied these lands seemingly since the beginning of time, to Franciscan Friars and explorers Silvestre de Escalante and Francisco Dominguez, to the Mormon settlers, the miners, cattlemen, railroad barons, and every other human before and after- they all left their stories and sometimes marks on the landscape. It all makes for interesting reading, even better exploring, and then letting one’s mind wander, a sense of wonder about an era and a people we may never fully understand.”
-Michael Wingert
About 20 years ago, Michael had the good fortune to meet some incredible people who introduced him to a volunteer group that assisted the BLM by helping them monitor at-risk archeological sites. This was the site steward organization, sponsored by Edge of the Cedars State Park. In 2020, Michael was involved in transitioning the Edge of the Cedars stewardship organization into the state’s new centralized site stewardship program.
Michael has brought his experience, passion and knowledge for stewardship to the UCSS Program and we are stoked to have him on our team. If you have not met Michael already, we hope you get to soon. You could grab a bite with him at his favorite restaurant, Twin Rocks Café, in Bluff Utah, maybe meet him in San Juan to discuss some of his favorite authors like David Baldacci, James Patterson, or Madeline Miller, or get some book recommendations.
“In my years of involvement with the site steward program, I have had the great fortune of meeting many different people who shared a joint fascination with me of the Pueblo Culture, and a commitment to help preserve that culture by assisting the BLM with the monitoring and protection of those sites. To me, this has been the greatest satisfaction of all- working with diverse, unique, and passionate people who share a deep respect for past peoples, and who are committed to doing what they can to protect the memory of those who came before us. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to assist in the transition to UCSS.”
-Michael Wingert
For now, Michael would like to leave you with a thank you message. “Thank you to all who volunteer their time to help protect these culturally important sites in Utah, and in particular the stewards of San Juan County. I’d like nothing more than to come around the bend of a canyon and find you being serenaded by a Canyon Wren. I’ll take the seat next to you.”
