NRCS NAMES NATIONAL EARTH TEAM AWARD WINNERS

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 11, 2003—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recognized Earth Team volunteerism with national awards for volunteers and employees at the National Association of Conservation District’s 57th annual conference.

“My personal thanks to those dedicated volunteers and employees for their tremendous efforts in conservation,” said NRCS Chief Bruce Knight. “Volunteers bring their time and talent to various activities, including conservation planning and implementation and conservation education. The Earth Team reflects the Administration’s commitment to the USA Freedom Corps.”

The Earth Team—NRCS’s volunteer program—is for individuals interested in making a difference by conserving the nation’s natural resources. Earth Team volunteers help NRCS conservationists provide conservation technical assistance to landowners and teach others about conservation.

In fiscal year 2002, more than 38,000 Earth Team volunteers donated more than one million hours to conservation. Their contributions were valued at more than $17 million.

During an awards luncheon, Knight presented the Fremont Conservation District in Canon City, Colo., with the national Earth Team Award for demonstrated, shared leadership among conservation district officials, NRCS employees and Earth Team volunteers. In addition, he presented Wisconsin NRCS State Conservationist Pat Leavenworth with the Earth Team National Volunteer Service Award, or Chief’s Cup, for creative use of volunteers to meet the agency’s mission.

Fremont Conservation District Earth Team volunteers logged 975 hours during fiscal year 2002. Seventy-seven of those volunteers worked on fire rehabilitation efforts at the Iron Mountain Fire Site near Canon City, where more than 4,000 acres of land burned. They also completed several conservation education and information activities, including a weed identification tour and an alfalfa workshop.

In Wisconsin, NRCS employees used creative methods to recruit and retain youth and minority volunteers. Under Leavenworth’s leadership, the state worked with other organizations to develop a scholarship program where college students volunteered with the Earth Team Program and, in turn, became eligible to apply for a scholarship. The program allows a college student to apply for tuition reimbursement through the Earth Team program if the student, college and local NRCS field office cooperated on a project.

Charles Adams, NRCS regional conservationist, Southeast Region, Atlanta, Ga., received special recognition for his long-standing commitment to the Earth Team program since its inception in 1982. He served on the first volunteer steering committee and continues to support Earth Team volunteers in offices in his region

Additional information on the Earth Team Volunteer Program is available online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/volunteers or by calling (toll-free) 888-LANDCARE. Information on the President’s USA Freedom Corps initiative can be found at http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/.

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