Billy Izzard to be Recognized at Grizzly Game

The Governor’s Office of Community Service will recognize Billy Izzard, founder of the Milltown Garden Patch, as the “Volunteer of the Game” during Saturday’s UM Grizzly home game.

“Billy Izzard’s commitment to creating a community garden in Milltown is extraordinary,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer.

“Montana has a long tradition of neighbors helping neighbors. Those who volunteer are truly unsung heroes and it is their hard work and dedication that helps make our state great.”

Billy Izzard had an idea for a garden in Milltown in the winter of 2009. Now the Milltown Garden Patch just wrapped up its second successful growing season. The community garden is on land provided by Milltown Water Users Association and provides garden space for the residents of Milltown, Bonner, Riverside, and East Missoula. This year over 300 pounds of produce from the garden were donated to the Missoula Food Bank and local churches.

Billy Izzard believes that the Milltown Garden Patch serves as a place to not only grow food but to also bring together families and communities. He hopes to develop an annual pumpkin sale that will provide scholarship for local students attend college. This year the sale raised over $600 for local education programs. The garden also served as a summer site for students from the AWARE program at Bonner Elementary. Students tended their patch weekly while learning match and science skills in the garden.

The Governor’s Office of Community Service is recognizing community volunteers at home games throughout the 2011 Grizzly’s football season.

Story by Jayson O'Neill