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Oklahoma Team Receives Secretary’s Honor Award

left) NRCS Chief Lancaster presnts the Honor award to Phoukham Vongkhamdy (NRCS photo — click to enlarge)

(above left) NRCS Chief Lancaster presents the Honor award to Phoukham Vongkhamdy (NRCS photo — click to enlarge)

attending the award presentations on behalf of the team were (from left) Michael D. Bryan, Kenneth R. Risenhoover, R. Brent Pannell, Phoukham Vongkhamdy, Nichole Norris (holding award with Bill Wilson, President, National Association of Conservation Districts), and J. Thomas Neumeyer (NRCS photo — click to enlarge)

attending the award presentations on behalf of the team were (from left) Michael D. Bryan, Kenneth R. Risenhoover, R. Brent Pannell, Phoukham Vongkhamdy, Nichole Norris (holding award with Bill Wilson, President, National Association of Conservation Districts), and J. Thomas Neumeyer (NRCS photo — click to enlarge)

Oklahoma’s Poteau River Watershed Conservation Security Program (CSP) Team has received the Secretary’s 2006 Department of Agriculture Honor Award for Supporting the President’s Management Agenda and Civil Rights.  The award was presented in Washington D.C. to the team at the 59th Secretary of Agriculture's Annual Honor Awards for outstanding outreach to CSP Native American, Asian, and limited resource customers in the Poteau River Watershed in Oklahoma.  The Team’s hard work and tireless efforts resulted in 412 contracts being awarded, representing the most contracts accepted in the nation for a CSP Watershed.

NRCS personnel evaluating EKG range monitoring system on an intensive grazing system in Oklahoma

Learn more about NRCS in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma NRCS Assistant State Conservationist (Field Operations) Phoukham "Pooh" Vongkhamdy was presented the award by NRCS Chief Arlen Lancaster.  Pooh is also the team leader for the Poteau River Watershed Team.  His communication skills paved the way for some limited English speaking Laotian producers in the watershed to participate in the CSP.  According to Pooh, the success of the CSP in the watershed can be attributed to the effective conservation partnership that exists in Oklahoma between NRCS, Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. “The partnership working together was the key that made it all work,” said Mr. Vongkhamdy.

The Poteau River Watershed contains 1,559 farms and is located in east central Oklahoma and western Arkansas.  Major agricultural enterprises include livestock grazing, hay production, poultry and swine operations, and crop production.
Your contact is Jasper T. Parker, acting NRCS public affairs specialist, at 405-742-1243.