CASBA
Awards & Recognition
We salute all our winners! (including the many from years past that we do not have pictured here)
Traveling Straw Dog Award“In recognition of services above and beyond the call of duty in furthering straw building in California.” |
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2022 Jenna Yu, architect For her many years of service as our prior CASBA Workshop Coordinator. |
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2019 Massey Burke, Natural materials specialist In recognition of her talents as a natural builder, artist, and educator, and her ability to articulate her passion about the environmental challenges all species on earth face and to illustrate carbon neutral building as a part of the solution. |
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2018 Michele Landegger, Contractor For being an early adopter of straw bale building and an inspiration for many as a woman who pioneered being a general contractor and natural builder. |
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2017 Rebecca Tasker & Mike Long, Contractors For exemplifying bale construction as a service to community: not only building good buildings, but nurturing the community that builds them as well. |
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2016 Bob Theis, Architect In recognition of all his work that, since the beginning of CASBA, has done so much for advancing straw bale building. |
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2015 Straw Bale Code Team (Martin Hammer, Mark Aschheim, Kevin Donahue, Dan Smith, David Eisenberg, Et al) To recognize and thank the team for their extraordinary efforts over the years, and to celebrate the official adoption of Appendix S into the IRC! |
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2014Claudine (CJ) Cavet, Owner-builderFor her work on the Advisory Board, coordinating CASBA workshops for many years, and also spearheading a major website overhaul. Right: 2013 recipient David Arkin presents the 2014 award to CJ Cavet. View the video! |
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2013Anni Tilt and David Arkin, ArchitectsFor excellence in designing and in promoting straw bale building. Arkin Tilt Architects won Fine Homebuilding's 2012 award for best new home. Right: Anni Tilt & David Arkin (left) accept the Award from Jim Reiland |
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2012Jim Reiland & Joy Rogalla, Owner-buildersFor their dedicated volunteerism. Jim & Joy have been enthusiastic supporters of many, many aspects of CASBA. Jim is managing editor of CASBA's Detail Book update (published in 2019 as "Straw Bale Building Details - An Illustrated Guide for Design and Construction") |
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2011Darcey Donovan, Engineer For her post-disaster straw building work in earthquake-ravaged Pakistan and her impressive seismic testing. Right: Darcey marking cracks during one of the Pakistan Straw Bale and Appropriate Building (PAKSBAB) seismic research project wall tests at the University of Reno, Nevada. See the July 2011 issue of the CASBA Journal for an article on Darcey and her work with PAKSBAB. |
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2010 Dan Smith, Architect |
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2009Athena & Bill Steen, Straw Bale pioneers and educatorsFor their pioneering work and education in the field of straw bale building and earth plaster. Right: Athena & Bill Steen (left) receive the 2009 Traveling Straw Dog Award from 2008 recipients Turko Semmes & Greg McMillan. |
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2008Greg McMillan & Turko Semmes, ContractorsFor being the instigators behind the founding of CASBA and it's community, and pioneers in the field of straw bale building. Right: Turko Semmes & Greg McMillan accepting the Traveling Straw Dog award, Cambria, CA, March, 2008 |
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2007 Bruce King, PE |
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2006 Martin Hammer, Architect |
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2005 Tim Kennedy, Contractor |
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2004 Bob Bolles, Consultant For his early work in straw bale building prior to CASBA, for being a founding member of CASBA, and for sowing the seeds of straw bale building throughout the southern counties of California. |
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2003 Maurice & Joy Bennett, CASBA directors and owner- builders For taking on leadership of CASBA, building community, and representing CASBA so well, everywhere they can. |
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Big Heart Award"for excellence in developing the feeling of ecological building." |
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2022 Massey Burke For being such an inspiration for so many years to so many people entering a natural building career path, and for continuing to inspire others. Right: Massey Burke accepts the Big Heart Award from James Henderson. |
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2019 James Henderson For his skill as a plasterer, the work he does on social media to educate and encourage, and his recent formation of the Natural Plasterer's Guild. |
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2018 Rebecca Tasker & Mike Long, Contractors |
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2017 Jim Furness, Contractor For his years of cheerful support and dedication to CASBA: helping with workshops and events, serving on the advisory board, and for keeping us laughing all the while. |
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2016 Lesley Christiana |
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2015 Kerstin Sjoquist For her work on the Advisory Board, and for masterminding an upgrade of the CASBA website to help us stay in touch with our members & followers better . |
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2014Martin Hammer, Architect For leading the straw bale code effort and being instrumental in getting straw bale building into the international residential code (IRC). View the video of Ray Sheehy's presentation and Martin's acceptance speech. |
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2013Ray SheehyFor his generous spirit, invaluable help with workshops, and his work on the Advisory Board. |
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2012 Jim Reiland & Joy Rogalla |
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2011 Claudine (CJ) Cavet |
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2010 Kathy Gregor |
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2009 Bob Theis |
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2008 John Swearingen |
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2007 Dan Smith & Associates |
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2006 David Arkin & Anni Tilt |
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