NRCS Celebrates our Engineers - Pi Day, March 14th, 2023
Engineers Week was founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in 1951 to raise awareness of the importance of a technical education, promote technical literacy, and inspire students to pursue a career in engineering.
NRCS Engineers help communities implement effective solutions to some of the toughest conservation engineering challenges of today.
Collectively the interdisciplinary NRCS workforce delivers conservation engineering technical assistance that tackles the major resource concerns of our time. Through the implementation of sound conservation engineering practices and principles, NRCS helps our customers and partners develop solutions that address water resource concerns, nutrient management, structural design challenges, energy conservation, disaster recovery, drought resiliency, technology development, environmental protection, geotechnical concerns and so much more.
Engineers and engineer techs of all disciplines work with farmers, producers, community leaders, partners, scientists, environmentalists, and field professionals, to advance agriculture, enhance the farm-to-table food supply, and safeguard our lands and watershed infrastructures. The USDA NRCS offers unparalleled longevity, an opportunity to serve the nation, and a diverse career path that leads to a high level of job satisfaction. No two days are alike!
Join us in celebrating our engineering change makers.
Project Spotlights - Feats of Engineering
Click on a collage below to learn how NRCS staff embarked on a career in conservation engineering.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Clockwise from upper left:
Allison Malone, Jason Roper, Rachel Schlais, and John Mathews
Allison Malone, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Delaware
"I wanted to become an engineer, because I wanted to make a positive impact on the environment and to help young women see that we can have a career and a voice in engineering."
Jason Roper, State Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Utah
"My interest of conservation and engineering started early in my life. My grandfather and father both worked for SCS/NRCS. My father would share the experiences he was having at work and the various types of projects he was working on. For a couple of summers, I went to the field with him. He would teach me how the surveying rod and level worked and explain the reason he was working on the project. This started my interest in conservation and engineering, and I got to where I was a pretty good rodman for him. "
Rachel Schlais, Agricultural Engineer, USDA NRCS Oklahoma
"I chose engineering to help farmers, ranchers, and landowners create a sustainable system that allows them to use the resources on their land to their advantage. Working for NRCS means we work for a lot of people addressing different concerns - no two days are alike. It's great to see the finished product on the ground that will benefit the community for years to come."
John Mathews, Assistant Director of Engineering, USDA NRCS Pacific Islands
“From an early age I always liked being outdoors and building things. Legos and playing in the dirt like any kid. As I got older I discovered a real skill for math and science and worked on farms and the local hardware store through high school. I originally enrolled in college to be a teacher but quickly realized that was not for me. Engineering was the next obvious choice. I really enjoy the problem solving aspect of the job. As I neared graduation from college my dad, a NRCS District Conservationist at the time, sent me NRCS job announcements. Through those announcements I was hired on to NRCS through the career intern program. Engineering for NRCS does not have the glamor of working on an important bridge or a big building but we can see the positive impacts our work has on our clients and the environment.”

Clockwise from upper left:
Javier Flores, Aimee Rohner, Mathew Lyons, and Rachel Whilden
Javier Flores, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS California
"I became an engineer working in conservation out of chance. Now that Im here i believe im genuinely doing my part in trying to make this world better and helping us farmers/ranchers in need."
Aimee Rohner, State Design Engineer, USDA NRCS Utah
"I have always loved all things 'outdoors'. In college I discovered that engineering allowed me to fix problems and do good. I then sought out a job that allowed me to combine both by working directly to improve natural resources. I also enjoy being able to take projects from start to finish, or inventory to construction certification. Seeing the projects on the ground and functioning is always satisfying!"
Mathew Lyons, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS Virginia
"I had an interest in water resources and flood protection and I also enjoyed construction with earth and concrete. I started working for SCS because I found the work interesting and I was able to use my construction experience. SCS was actively involved in building earthen dams and it was a good fit for me. I had an interest in water resources and flood protection and I also enjoyed construction with earth and concrete.
Rachel Wilden, Design Engineer, USDA NRCS Texas
"I studied Agricultural Engineering in college and started working for NRCS immediately after. I got into agricultural engineering because it sounded interesting, and people need to eat! The more I learned in my studies, the more excited I was to have discovered this career path! Being able to assist in conservation efforts by applying what I learned about natural resources in school is such a dream job. When people come together and share our knowledge and background experiences to solve a problem, it is such a rewarding experience. The NRCS motto "helping people help the land" is being played out every day and I'm honored to get to be a part of it. As a field engineer, I was able to teach landowners and participants about soil and water, help them see the natural world in a new way, and help implement conservation practices that benefit all parties. Now as a design engineer, I'll be able to assist the states on larger conservation projects. It has been a thrilling journey so far and I really do love what NRCS stands for and does on a daily basis."

Clockwise from upper left:
James Reedy, Jordan Luciano, Molly Dawson, and Louis Olguy
James Reedy, State Technology Engineer, USDA NRCS Nebraska
"I knew at an early age that I wanted to be an engineer, and actually started pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. But it wasn't until I took a summer job working for my local conservation district that I realized conservation engineering was my calling. I grew up on a ranch in western SD and always loved the outdoors working cattle horseback, putting up hay, hunting, fishing, camping, you name it. That summer as a district employee I had the privilege to work outdoors with some really great NRCS technicians staking conservation practices and I was hooked. I applied for a student career opportunities (now called Pathways) position while still in college and the rest (31 years now) is history. I've been a trainee, a field engineer, a water quality team leader, an area engineer, and now a technology engineer responsible for working with and teaching others about all the amazing technology our conservationists, engineers and technicians now use to perform our work. It's been a wonderful ride with some truly talented people - the people and the opportunities we have with NRCS are the "why" for me!"
Jordan Luciano, Agricultural Engineer, USDA NRCS Kentucky
"One of the main reasons I chose NRCS as a career is because it encompassed my passions. As a Catholic Christian, I value caring for people, creation, & understanding the intricacies of how natural systems work together. In my experience, good faith & good science never contradict, so it has been fascinating to watch them come together in this agency – sound engineering working with nature to produce resulting practices that not only conserve natural resources, but also teach landowners how use their land most efficiently to receive the best yields, have sustainable operations, & take care of their families as well as loving on the earth in the process. They deserve to live life in abundance & this career is just one way I can contribute to sharing that message with customers & be part of making it happen."
Molly Dawson, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS Oregon
"I studied Biological Engineering at the University of Georgia. Upon graduation I was not sure what I wanted to do for a career so decided to see what the PNW had to offer, so I moved to Washington State. I landed in Port Angeles, WA and got a job working for the local Conservation District. While working for the Clallam CD I met and worked with the local NRCS staff. When an engineering position with NRCS became open I was able to apply for it under the Recent Graduates program. I spent 12 years as a field/area engineer in Western Washington, before moving to the Georgia NRCS State office. After spending 4 years with Georgia NRCS my family and I decided to move back to the PNW for the Oregon State Conservation Engineer position.
Why conservation engineering? Why NRCS? I love the NRCS mission of helping people help the land. I love being able to see the long-term impacts that NRCS has on the landscape, and I love knowing that I get to play a small part in helping to protect our natural resources while helping farmers and ranchers be successful in producing food and fiber. "
Louis Olguy, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS Mississippi
"I grew up farming and always loved solving problems..."

Clockwise from upper left:
Jon Fripp, Rodney Clark, Paula Morse, and Valerie Glasgow
Jon Fripp, Co-Director, USDA NRCS NDCSMC Texas
"I believe that the engineering profession chose me. My mother has told me that she knew I would be some sort of a civil engineer from when I was very young. She observed that I was drawn to playing with wooden blocks, assembling Lego structures, driving tonka trucks in a sandbox, and mucking around in a backyard creek since I was old enough to express an interest in independent play. I have been fortunate to have a career where I could get paid to do what I have always loved. I spend a few years in the private sector but then started my federal career with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) after attending graduate school. After a great decade in the USACE, I moved to the NRCS as a Stream Mechanics Civil Engineer on the NDCSMC staff in 2000. I am now honored to serve as the Co-Director for the NDCSMC."
Rodney Clark, Area Engineer, USDA NRCS Colorado
"I'm from a rural farming community and worked one summer during high school with the local Conservation District. Then in college, my roommate's father worked for the Soil Conservation Service as a District Conservationist and he introduced us to the State's HR person. From there I was hired as a Student Trainee and I became interested in the type of work. Some of my college courses utilized references authored by SCS and it made such an impression on me that I decided to start my career with such a well renown agency."
Paula Morse, Civil Agricultural Engineers, USDA NRCS New York
"I grew up on an organic dairy farm and have always enjoyed working with farmers. I fell in love with helping people and feeling like your job is making a difference."
Valerie Glasgow, Design Engineer, USDA NRCS Oklahoma
"I’m originally from Houston, TX and now live in Stillwater, OK. I earned my BS at Texas A&M in Bioenvironmental Science and my MS from Oklahoma State University in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. I chose engineering because I enjoyed learning about the environment, especially water quality and wanted to be able to help solve environmental problems. As an NRCS engineer, I’ve worked in an area office and state office. My work at the state office as both a design and planning engineer has focused on watersheds. As a design engineer I developed designs for our watershed structures to meet our high hazard criteria. As a planning engineer I help develop the alternatives for our watershed sites. My time spent working with watersheds will help our aging infrastructure and future generations."

Clockwise from upper left:
Candace Gilpatric, Matt Brown, Jerry Lewis, and Nanette Torres Monta
Candace (Benwitz) Gilpatric, Agricultural Engineer, USDA NRCS Southern Maine
“I was raised as a farm kid. I loved the outdoors and animals. I also scored well in mechanical functions on the aptitude test. This made agricultural engineering an obvious fit for me. I started with NRCS (then SCS) while in college as a work study since they were housed on campus. After graduation I came on full time. I have worked for USDA-SCS/NRCS for 34 years. I have the distinguished honor of being the first female engineer hired on in Maine for the agency. Engineering is my passion. I enjoy being able to look at a problem and try to figure out a few solutions to fix it. No two projects are alike. There are different needs by producer, different restrictions by soils, topography, and other conditions. It is a fun challenge to find a fix that falls within all parameters. I have also enjoyed educating others on engineering principles. I have taught NRCS courses as well as some at the local university. In years past, to celebrate Engineer’s Week, I have introduced elementary kids to STEM activities. There is nothing better than watching young minds ponder and create.”
Matt Brown, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS New Hampshire
"I've always felt that although food is necessary for everyone, pollution from agriculture is not. Engineers are a vital part of the team that can bring us closer to those goals."
Jerry Lewis, Area Engineer, USDA NRCS New York
"I got into conservation engineering as that was available to me at the time- -my surveying background lead to this path."
Nanette Torres Monta, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Puerto Rico
"As a civil engineering student, my biggest goal was always to help my island thrive. When I was selected as a Pathways Student in the NRCS, I quickly learned that the agency shared a mission similar to mine: Helping People Help the Land. Now I graduated, and I'm proud to say I'm officially part of the Caribbean Area Conservation Engineering Division, and I'm looking forward to making positive impacts throughout my career!"

Clockwise from upper left:
Ann Baldwin, Dan Strangeland, Parker Belgium, and Maria Hrebik
Ann Baldwin, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS Delaware
"An opportunity was offered to Ag Engineering students at the University of DE to intern with the Soil Conservation Service and that was my first exposure to the agency, beyond references in the hydrology and hydraulics textbooks. I soon realized it was a unique opportunity in engineering to get to work outside a good part of the time, work on many different types of projects and with a variety of customers and feel good about the work we do. After a short time, it was very obvious that I was part of a close network of coworkers throughout the country who support each other and their work, and the job would provide numerous opportunities for career growth and development. I have never regretted this choice in a career in the 39 years I have worked for the agency."
Dan Strangeland, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Kentucky
"After serving in United States Navy for 9 plus years, my wife and I chose to complete my education at University of Kentucky in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering department. I was introduced to NRCS through one of my professors who recommended NRCS especially with my military time. Additionally, during my Senior project one of the groups worked on a project with an NRCS engineer. It was through that networking I was able to find out more what NRCS did. I grew up in the dairy industry so working with farmers and being able to utilize my engineering degree appealed to me. Therefore, I started looking into and applying for positions with NRCS."
Parker Belgium, Field Engineer, USDA NRCS Nebraska
"I originally started college pursuing a degree in Architectural Engineering, there were a number of things that started to deter me from Architectural Engineering. I thought there has to be and engineering degree that keeps me outdoors and in the farming and ranching world, because that is what I grew up around. I then switched to Agricultural Engineering with and emphasis in soil and water resources. I learned about the Pathways program and sounded like a perfect fit for what I wanted to do. It stuck instantly. I saw the ability to help farmers and ranchers see real improvement on their land, animals, and lives. It was a feeling that I don't think I could have got anywhere else."
Maria Hrebik, Wetland Hydraulic Engineer, USDA NRCS CNTSC
"It was by accident, honestly, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Having the opportunity to start my career as a field engineer, being outdoors and assisting farmers and ranchers was more enjoyable than any other entry level engineering position I could have ever obtained. Seventeen years later, the ride is still as enjoyable!"

Clockwise from upper left:
Hayes Durbin, Gabriel Roman, Samantha Gorbet, and Blake Arthur
Hayes Durbin, Civil Engineering Technician, USDA NRCS Iowa
"Being an engineer with the Iowa NRCS allows me to use my science-based skills to solve natural resource concerns with private landowners. Specifically, my role allows me to explore the crossroads of innovative technology and the natural world."
Gabriel Roman, Field Engineer, USDA NRCS Caribbean Area
"Since high school I knew I wanted to work in something related to the environment. This mostly came from multiple camping trips to Puerto Rico's rivers, forests and beaches as part of a local camping association which me and my mother were part of. During these years surfing also influenced me towards the power and magnificence of water. When I went on to college, I chose civil engineering because it was the engineering major in UPRM which had the option of specializing in environmental/water resources engineering. During these years I went on to marvel even more with kayaking trips, inner tubing in the Tanama River and other experiences that increased my interest on protecting the environment. During my last undergraduate years, I started working as researcher in the university in the environmental engineering lab and my first research was in an oxidation pond for a coffee processing facility. After this I went to an internship evaluating the effectiveness of a vegetative swale in retaining nutrients and sediments from a cattle farm. This connected me to an agricultural engineering professor in UPRM which gave me the opportunity and funding to do a master's degree in water resources engineering. This was mainly oriented in hydrologic and nutrient cycling modelling on agricultural lands and secondary forests. Here I also learned that NRCS had field offices in the island and NRCS's mission in conservation. I was thrilled and before finishing my master's I was working as a soil conservation technician. After finishing my master's degree and almost 5 years as a SCT I moved to work with other agencies as FEMA and Forest Service as a Civil Engineer. This didn't last long as new engineering positions emerged in NRCS Caribbean area and I was able to return to NRCS as an engineer and do what I love more, helping the people help the land."
Samantha Gorbet, Civil/Agricultural Engineer, USDA NRCS Iowa
"I grew up in a family rooted in the outdoors and conservation. At a young age I had decided that I wanted to become an Engineer when I grew up. In college I chose to study Agricultural Engineering because I wanted to have a career focused on implementing innovative solutions for the many challenges facing modern agriculture, such as improving crop yields, reducing the environmental impact of farming, and increasing the efficiency of agricultural systems. I have found a fulfilling career as an Engineer with the NRCS and feel that I am making a difference in the lives of farmers, rural communities, and the environment."
Blake Arthur, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS Ohio
"Most of my career has been in coal and oil and gas, but I have had a passion for conservation. When the opportunity came up for a job with NRCS, I was excited to pursue my interests professionally and pay for my sins!"

Clockwise from upper left:
Desideria Ramirez, Connor Pearson, Michelle Burke, and Elias Gnann
Desideria Ramirez, Area Engineer, USDA NRCS California
"I learned about working at NRCS from my college classmates who were NRCS summer interns and current field office engineers."
Connor Pearson, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Minnesota
"I've always loved problem solving and knew growing up that I wanted to find a way to utilize my problem solving skills to improve the world around me. I learned of the NRCS and all of the exciting ways that the Agency protects our natural resources and knew right away that this was the place for me. Now I get to engineer solutions to resource concerns that many people outside of agriculture don't even think about. "
Michelle Burke, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, USDA NRCS South Dakota
"The Soil Conservation Service was interested in filling a student trainee position in engineering, and my college advisor put me in contact. I started working for SCS as a Cooperative Education student trainee and saw a great fit between my Agricultural Engineering major, my background growing up on a farm, and the ability to use that education to assist farmers in their stewardship of private land. I experienced a lot of satisfaction with helping others to conserve natural resources for future generations."
Elias Gnann, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS New Mexico
" I came into the workforce when it was difficult to find open engineering positions in both the private or public sector. I applied for an engineering position with NRCS not knowing anything about Agriculture and little about the agency. I enjoyed my position and have been with agency now for 13 years."

Clockwise from upper left:
Paula Bagley, Michael Robison, Samuel West, and Jessica Watkins
Paula Bagley, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS New York
"I wanted to become an engineer working in conservation after a summer job working at the local SWCD as a soil sampler. The mission of the agency to "help the people help the land" is a mission I am proud to be part of implementing. Actively assisting the public, private landowners and decision makers with their mission to conserve our natural resources through design of structural and non-structural measures is fulfilling and inspiring to experience. "
Michael Robison, EWP Program Manager, USDA NRCS Texas
"Climate change adaptation and mitigation have been the focus of my career since my first job out of college back in 2004. I like that my position blends the analytical rigor of engineering and the complexities of policy implementation."
Samuel West, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Ohio
"After serving in the Army as an engineer and several years in the private sector, I wanted an engineering position that was stable, challenging, and rewarding. Serving the public as a NRCS civil engineer meets all those requirements and more. Also wanted to work with and learn from more experienced civil engineers who, in my eyes, were modern-day pioneers in the flood control dam and streambank stabilization arenas."
Jessica Watkins, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Mississippi
"I began in the summer of 1999 as student trainee. I hired on full time after graduating from MSU in Civil Engineering in December 2004."

Clockwise from upper left:
Yilia BaucageBou, Mitchell Grove, Theresa Guss, and Matt Robert
Yilia BaucageBou, State Engineer, USDA NRCS Caribbean Area
"After 15 years working as an Infrastructure Consultant in Engineering; I decided to look for opportunities on public service. I was fortunate to be selected in 2019 for the position of State Engineer with the Natural Resource Conservation Services in the Caribbean. Since then, I have been working with an excellent local team applying engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems in support to farmers and ranchers in Puerto Rico and the USVI and protecting watershed systems for water sourcing and flood protection in the Islands. I can attest that the level of technical expertise and tools NRCS Engineering Division manages is above industry standards."
Mitchell Grove, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Iowa
"My family has been rooted in Agriculture and conservation for many years. I found my passion of Agriculture at a young age through 4-H and FFA programs by showing market lambs and breeding sheep. When I paired agriculture with my favorite subject in school as math, I found the major of Agricultural Engineering. Through this degree and my internships with USDA NRCS I found that helping farmers and landowners solve their problems with soil loss and water quality was exactly what I wanted to do!"
Theresa Guss, Agricultural Engineer, USDA NRCS Illinois
"In high school I didn’t really know what engineering was, but I thought it seemed like a fit degree for me to pursue because I really liked math, science, and solving problems. To me, engineering combined those elements I enjoyed in high school. Throughout my college experience, I learned so much about solving problems and critical thinking by using concepts in math and science. It was hard, but it was also fulfilling to say that I did it when others may have doubted me. At NRCS, I get to experience the feeling of fulfillment almost every day by constantly working on challenging projects."
Matt Robert, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS Illinois
"I always wanted to be an engineer and was fascinated about the design of structures. But I realized that I wanted to be a conservation engineer when I started working with livestock producers. I started my career as a consultant and Technical Service Provider (TSP) where I created Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) and did environmental assessments for livestock producers.
When I would be out on the site determining the resource concerns, I was also seeing how I was a problem solver for my customer and these resource concerns. I also realized that solving these problems for producers took time, which included multiple trips to the site and conversations with the customer. After the completion of my first project, from finding the resource concern to construction of the practices to solving the problem, I realized that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my career. Helping farmers solve the resource concerns on their land is one of the most rewarding experiences in my career."

Clockwise from upper left:
Brett Nelson, Carlos Osorio Gomez, Rachel Rohrer, and Katie Gisi
Brett Nelson, State Conservation Engineer, USDA NRCS Alaska
"My plan through much of high school was to be an engineer with chemical or mechanical engineering being my preferred choices. Then I spent a summer working on a survey and construction inspection crew for a civil engineering consulting firm and I immediately realized I wanted a career that involved significant amounts of time working outside and not stuck in an office. Growing up in North Dakota I also had a strong preference for being able to live and work in smaller rural communities rather than large cities or urban areas. These preferences led me to apply for a student career experience job with Soil Conservation Service and the rest is history. I have been especially fortunate and fond of the many varied and unique opportunities this career has provided me in Alaska."
Carlos Osorio Gomez, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Puerto Rico
"I was looking for an opportunity like this (a job add was posted in USA Jobs), and I was selected for the position."
Rachel Rohrer, Engineer, USDA NRCS Illinois
"I was very lucky to grow up going hiking and visiting national parks with my family. In school, I took to natural science subjects as those classes made me feel more connected to the time I spent exploring as a child. Though, a singular focus didn’t emerge.
I entered the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky but spent my first year undecided within the college. While researching different engineering disciplines, I saw UK offered a degree called Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering. I didn’t grow up in an ag setting, but the department seemed dedicated to working with and preserving natural resources in all forms. This brought me back to all the places I got to see when I was young. Despite not completely knowing what I was jumping into, I gave it a chance. I was immediately struck by the incredible work the department does and the incredible people doing it.
I graduated in 2021 not knowing where I wanted to end up. I decided to take another chance on the unfamiliar and began working with NRCS. I’m so grateful to have made that leap. Conservation engineering has been a great experience only outshined by the people I get to work with every day."
Katie Gisi, Engineer, USDA NRCS Illinois
"Ever since I was young, I have loved learning about math and science. Growing up on a farm got me involved with agriculture as well. When doing chores around the farm, my sister and I would come up with ways to make them easier (with varying success). That led to an interest in creating and designing solutions to problems. I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do by the time I was a senior in high school though. I spent a lot of time browsing through lists of available majors to see if anything would catch my eye. I noticed a major called Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering (ABEN) in the catalog for North Dakota State University. That sounded like a good blend of all my interests, so I decided it was worth a shot. I knew that it was the career for me just after day one of the Intro to ABEN class!
A couple years later, an opportunity came up to be an NRCS Pathways Engineer Intern. I was familiar with the agency because my parents had worked with them to implement conservation practices on the family farm. I accepted the offer and spent the next two summers interning with NRCS. After graduating in 2017, I accepted a full-time position as an Agricultural Engineer with NRCS and have been enjoying the wonderful world of conservation engineering since then."

Clockwise from upper left:
Clarence Prestwich, Ethan Scholl, Jamie Weikel, and Jace Walther
Clarence Prestwich, National Agricultural Engineer, USDA NRCS Washington D.C.
"I like farming but thought there was little chance of getting a farm. I also liked math. When I learned about agricultural engineering, I thought score now that's something I can get behind. I joined the SCS (now NRCS) and never looked back."
Ethan Scholl, Agricultural Engineers, USDA NRCS Illinois
"I’ve always had a passion for problem solving and implementation of ideas. This comes along with an interest and aptitude for math and science. Growing up as the fourth generation on a family farm also gave me a large interest in crop production and agriculture as a whole. On top of this, my uncle is an engineer, and my dad is an agronomist. Being around these two furthered my interest in both fields.
Given my interests, strengths, and family background, I decided to attend the University of Illinois to study Agricultural Engineering. I graduated in May 2020 and was hired on with NRCS in August 2020 in the Edwards, IL, field office, just 25 minutes from the family farm."
Jamie Weikel, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Indiana
"Inspired by my mom, who was an engineer and project manager that contributed to the construction of nuclear power plants, I set out to pursue a career in engineering. I was interested in finding a career path that used engineering principles to conservation natural resources— and I later came to find out that one government agency, USDA-NRCS, does just that! The pathways internship program got my foot in the door to pursue a career as an engineer with the agency. So far, I’ve had a great year-and-a-half “helping people help the land” and am looking forward to what the future brings within the NRCS."
Jace Walther, Field Engineer, USDA NRCS Nebraska
"I grew up in a small community in southwest Nebraska that was surrounded by agriculture. Being around farmers and ranchers, whether it was working or just having a conversation, I learned the importance of maintaining the ground we work on. While I was looking into college, a family friend recommended I look into the NRCS more to see what their mission was and what opportunities they had for an engineer. The more I looked into it, the more it seemed like the right fit for me so I applied for an internship when the time was right and was accepted into the Pathways Program. Through this I was able to learn everything I wanted to know about conservation and all the great things that are part of being an NRCS engineer. After getting my bachelors in agricultural engineering I was hired on full time as a field engineer. Now I can happily provide engineering support to landowners when they need it and know that I am making a positive impact on the land and those who depend on it."

Clockwise from upper left:
Scott Wagner, Aaron Pryer, Michael Ash, and Adam Cattrell
Scott Wagner, Agricultural Engineer, USDA NRCS Indiana
"I grew up on a Dairy Farm in west-central Indiana. I didn’t want to be a dairy farmer my whole life, so I attended Purdue University majoring in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. While at Purdue I attended a course on conservation engineering. This course fascinated me with how we should be taking care of our environment. During this course, the NRCS State Conservation Engineer presented on NRCS, which later resulted in being given the opportunity to intern with NRCS. As an intern, I learned all the wonderful opportunities as an engineering with NRCS. My path forward as an engineer with NRCS has been limitless.”
Aaron Pryer, Assistant State Engineer, USDA NRCS Illinois
"I got into engineering because I was always interested in how every-day items worked. Specifically, I have always been intrigued by water systems; everything from stormwater management to wastewater treatment. I attended Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering in 2012. After graduation, I served the next seven years in the Army as an Engineer officer.
Along the way, I was able to earn my MS from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2018. In 2020, just before the Covid shutdowns started, I made the career change to join NRCS as a field engineer in the Illinois Area 3 office in Charleston. That position introduced me to the agricultural side of engineering, which was new to me.
Some of the projects I got to work on there were designing a denitrifying bioreactor, grade stabilization structures, and serving as a COR for wetland restoration projects. After serving on a four-month detail in the Champaign state office as the Assistant State Conservation Engineer, I received a fulltime promotion to that position in March of 2022. In this position, I work alongside our watersheds program, managing some of our systems like DamWatch and GeoObserver, learning programs like SITES and HEC-RAS, as well as projects such as a saturated buffer, drainage water management plans, and serving as a COR for a watershed feasibility report."
Michael Ash, Civil Engineer, USDA NRCS Texas
"I was born and raised into farming and construction. Working on old equipment, wood framing, pouring concrete, and welding was the way of life. Without knowing, this upbringing taught me about materials and principles that I would later study in college. As a college freshman, I enrolled at the University of Missouri majoring in Agricultural Engineering. This seemed like a good fit as I appreciate agriculture and mathematics. . After a couple years, I decided to add a second major – Civil Engineering. I enjoyed classes such as strength of materials, structural analysis, soil mechanics, and reinforcing concrete design. These classes taught material properties as well as how materials act when force is applied.
In 2019, I joined NRCS. I was looking for a new challenge. At NRCS, I have assisted with the planning, design, and construction of reservoirs as well as streambank repairs, wetland restorations, stream crossings, concrete design, and sediment removal projects. This work has been refreshing and I could not ask for better coworkers. These projects provide conservation benefits such as flood prevention, reduced soil erosion, and water quality. These projects also have a direct impact on food production and drinking water supply. NRCS is a great fit for me as the projects have purpose and collaborating with my coworkers is enjoyable."
Adam Cattrell, State Engineer, USDA NRCS Maine
“From an early age I always liked being outdoors and building things. Legos and playing in the dirt like any kid. As I got older I discovered a real skill for math and science and worked on farms and the local hardware store through high school. I originally enrolled in college to be a teacher but quickly realized that was not for me. Engineering was the next obvious choice. I really enjoy the problem solving aspect of the job. As I neared graduation from college my dad, a NRCS District Conservationist at the time, sent me NRCS job announcements. Through those announcements I was hired on to NRCS through the career intern program. Engineering for NRCS does not have the glamor of working on an important bridge or a big building but we can see the positive impacts our work has on our clients and the environment.”