The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has named Claire Burch as the new conservation agent serving Ray County. A native of Lee’s Summit, Burch has lifelong experience in the outdoors, and since college, she has worked in the conservation field. “I grew up fishing in farm ponds and exploring the creek banks and woods on my grandparents’ farm in southern Missouri,” Burch said. “In college, I majored in biology, where I learned about plant biology and animal behavior. After college, I worked as a trail crew member restoring trails out west for the Montana Conservation Corps. I also spent a summer working in Yellowstone National Park at Old Faithful as an interpretation park ranger. “I enjoy fishing, hunting, hiking, wildlife photography and any other activity spent outside.” Burch graduated in October from MDC’s Conservation Agent Training Academy in Jefferson City. The new agents received more than 1,200 hours of training in criminal investigations, defensive tactics,…