NRCS-WA Outreach and Communication Team Earns 2024 Chief’s Conservation Stewardship Award

SPOKANE, Wash. – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - Washington, Outreach and Communication Team (OCT) earned the highest honor for their efforts in 2024.

The team won the 2024 Chief’s Conservation Stewardship Award for Outreach and Communication, which is a testament to the value the team brings to working in stride with field staff to enhance partnerships with producers. 

The following NRCS-WA staff earned this year’s award: Tracy Hanger, Snake River Team District Conservationist, Kristoffer Mills, State Outreach Coordinator, Macayla Leyden, Administrative Assistant, Keith Griswold, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, Nick Vira, Partnership Liaison, and Nate Gallahan, State Public Affairs Specialist.

“I am so proud of our Outreach and Communications Team!” said Roylene Comes At Night, NRCS-WA State Conservationist. “They have spent the past few years building capacity to assist our field offices in helping people help the land. I am very proud of all the outreach and communications happening across the state. GREAT job!"

The team focused on creating a system of strategic alignment with field staff that utilizes the four pillars of public affairs (organizational communication, outreach, media relations, and crisis communication). The services provided by the team has empowered field staff to create more avenues of communication with current and potential producer partners. 

“A combination of printed material, digital material and good old-fashioned boots on the ground and eye-to-eye communications have been key to spreading the word about the good we have to offer,” said Hanger. “Working to build relationships with other entities, farmer groups, schools and communities have offered the opportunities for outreach which has been a key factor to success. Encouraging staff to attend events and having energetic hard-working employees that also care about our mission is really the secret ingredient.” 

 One of the primary factors in earning this award was how the team helped field staff to more than double applications by developing and deploying a comprehensive and synchronized strategy that aligned outreach and communications capabilities, that culminated in 191 outreach events during the year. Having NRCS staff attend such a high number of outreach events allowed producers to become more acquainted with NRCS’s mission and tools the agency provides to help them achieve their mission of helping people help the land. 

“The Washington State team’s strategic effort in utilizing the four pillars in conjunction with field staff, and outreach events engagement, has provided additional avenues for new customers to not only hear about the available technical and financial assistance, but also gain a clearer understanding of what our programs can offer,” said Astor Boozer, NRCS, West Regional Conservationist. “This outstanding effort has led to a doubling of overall applications and more contracts to first time, or new customers. I commend everyone involved for their hard work and dedication to helping the people help the land.”