Rangeland Conservationist of the Year – Homer Sanchez

Homer Sanchez was recently recognized for his selection as the NRCS Range Conservationist of the Year at the Society for Range Management annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Presenting the award for the agency was Dennis Thompson, National Range and Grazing Lands Ecologist.

Homer began his NRCS career in 1978 at Jayton, Texas, working in several field offices, zone offices, as the State Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Coordinator, and the State Range Management Specialist for Texas. He is currently a range management specialist on the Grazing Lands Technology Development team, located at the Central National Technology Support Center at Fort Worth.

In the past three years, Homer has revised the standards for eight conservation practices dealing with rangelands for the Texas field office technical guide. All of these revisions reflected a coordinated effort with internal and external rangeland management specialists. He has also conducted numerous field observations to document conservation trials and research to update the Field Office Technical Guide.

Additionally, Homer has worked with the Lady Bird Johnson National Wildflower Center in Austin to host a partnership conference on the development of Ecological Site Descriptions, served as technical liaison to the Coastal Prairies Conservation Initiative to fostered innovative range conservation work, and provided technical training in a variety of rangeland-related practices to both NRCS employees and partners.

Homer is very active in the National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS Employees and a leader in his church and the community.
Your contact is Dennis Thompson, NRCS National Range and Grazing Land Ecologist, at 202-720-5010.