NRCS Texas FWP recognizes employees during National Hispanic Heritage Month:
Originally from Eagle Pass, Texas, Paloma Garcia-Zuazua grew up with a passion for agriculture and farming from helping her grandpa work on their family’s farm and ranch. At the age of 10, Paloma knew she wanted to pursue a career with NRCS.
By D’Andrea Escobar-Garza, NRCS Texas Zone 3 Federal Women’s Program Representative
Originally from Eagle Pass, Texas, Paloma Garcia-Zuazua grew up with a passion for agriculture and farming from helping her grandpa work on their family’s farm and ranch.
At the age of 10, Paloma knew she wanted to pursue a career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
She became familiar with the agency when its field staff assisted her family with conservation techniques. Seeing how NRCS helped turned her grandfather’s dreams into a reality, Paloma said she knew this was what she wanted to do; she wanted to help farmers and ranchers achieve their dreams for their land.
While in high school, Paloma’s interests in agriculture grew as she was a member and served as an officer in FFA. Following high school, Paloma attended Angelo State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management -- a degree in which she would immediately use in her first duty station of Hebbronville, Texas.
Paloma served the Hebbronville community for three months before relocating to her current position in the NRCS Rio Grande City Field Office in Texas as a rangeland management specialist.
Paloma said she aspires to become a resource team leader to give back and serve the community who instilled the want to have a career within NRCS.
There are numerous aspects of working for NRCS Paloma admires and feels passionate about.
She said she takes things back to the origin, as she is passionate about the agency’s motto of, “Helping People Help the Land.”
She said it gives her great joy when she can provide advice to a producer, and she gets to see that “Aha!” expression on their face -- the moment when they get to see said advice be successful.
Being of Hispanic descent, Paloma said she feels most accomplished and truly touched when she can cross the language barrier that some producers have encountered their entire lives while making them feel comfortable coming and asking for help or advice.
Outside of work, Paloma enjoys spending time with her husband, Israel Castillo, and their two dogs, Twinkie, a Blue Heeler, and Lily, Doberman Pinscher, on hikes in the great outdoors.
On days when it is too hot to be outside, Paloma spends her time enjoying her indoor hobby – reading thriller books.
Her role as a rangeland management specialist extends beyond work hours to her own family’s properties.
On their farm and ranch, Paloma is able to provide not only manual labor, but knowledge and experience to help implement conservation practices and make improvements. Paloma has been able to help those in the Rio Grande Valley as well as her friends and family with understanding that nunca dejas de soñar, de los sueños está hecha la vida, “Never stop dreaming, dreams are what life is made of.”