Association will recognize eight conservation and state park advocates

– The Central Coast State Parks Association will celebrate its 50th anniversary during the seventh annual Butterfly Ball from 4 to 8 p.m. Sept. 12 at The Octagon Barn in San Luis Obispo.

The event will recognize the association’s five decades of work supporting 10 state park units, 60 miles of coastline, and six campgrounds across San Luis Obispo County.

Organizers invite guests to wear monarch-inspired attire. The evening will include live music, appetizers, dinner, presentations, awards, dancing, and a silent auction.

A welcome hour with live music, appetizers, wine pouring, and a first drink will run from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Organizers will serve dinner at 6 p.m., followed by presentations, awards, and information about the association’s work from 6 to 7 p.m. Dancing and the silent auction checkout will take place from 7 to 8 p.m.

The association will present three awards recognizing work involving California state parks and conservation. State park interpreters will share stories, and the association will show its latest promotional film.

Former U.S. Rep. Sam Farr will receive the John Laird Lifetime Achievement Award. Farr’s nearly five-decade career in public service included authoring legislation that established Pinnacles National Park, leading efforts to designate the California Coastal National Monument, and helping create the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Farr and his father, former state Sen. Fred Farr, helped establish eight state parks and two federal monument designations during their combined careers.

Richard Simpson will receive the Metamorphosis Award for his contributions to western monarch butterfly conservation. Simpson has worked and volunteered for California State Parks for 50 years.

The association will present its Young Leaders in Conservation Award to five people younger than 30 for their contributions to environmental education and conservation in San Luis Obispo County.

Recipients include Bre Brown, an interpreter with the San Luis Obispo Coast District; Obadiah Wheeler, a lifeguard with the Oceano Dunes District; Amy Ormiston, a conservation technician with the Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District; Brooklyn Shaffer, a tribal member of the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe; and Emma Rhoads, public relations and stewardship manager for Experience Pismo Beach.

Proceeds will support western monarch butterfly conservation, environmental education for local students, volunteer programs, museum exhibits, and park signage in the region’s state parks.

“Fifty years ago, a small group of passionate community members worked with legislators to fund the Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History,” association Executive Director Sierra Emrick said. “50 years later that group of people has grown into an organization that now supports all 10 State Parks in San Luis Obispo County. This Ball is our chance to say thank you, and to invite everyone to be part of the next fifty years!”

Tickets are available at centralcoastparks.org/2026-butterfly-ball.