By Jocelyn Benjamin, Farm Production and Conservation, Public Affairs Specialist 

Happy 40th anniversary to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Earth Team volunteer program. This year marks four decades that Earth Team volunteers have helped NRCS and America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners achieve their natural resources goals.

Earth Team volunteers help NRCS advance its conservation goals and create change for local communities, on a large-scale. From on-farm technical assistance to administrative duties back at the office, Earth Team volunteers from different walks of life, work alongside USDA employees in every state, to perform mission-driven work, every day. Each Earth Team volunteer hour is estimated nationally at $33.49 per hour, which is a value that could never demonstrate their true worth.  However, it shows the enormous value these volunteers provide. It requires a great network of people working together to get the job done, and that is the culture of the NRCS Earth Team volunteer program. 

This week, we also celebrate Volunteer Week with the theme - Connecting Communities. Today, we honor our Earth Team volunteers’ devotion, expertise and enthusiasm in coming together to fulfill a commitment to protecting and conserving our nation’s natural resources, for the good of their local communities, by highlighting the important work they’ve done throughout the nation.  

Read more to find out about just a few of our Earth Team volunteers. 

Allison Broom, Alabama  

Allison Broom is a college student, majoring in Biosystems Engineering with a concentration in Ecological Sciences at Auburn University. As a volunteer, she has joined engineering staff on site visits to help with a variety of tasks, like creating layouts or assessing surface drainage on cropland involving terraces and underground tile outlets. The Earth Team not only stretches available resources but helps students like Allison gain real-world experiences and expand their professional networks within their field of study.  

Josue Flores, California 

Josue Flores, a California State University Monterey Bay student in their Agricultural and Plant Sciences Program, chose to contribute his expertise as an Earth Team Volunteer for the Capitola, California office and the local Rural Conservation District by going on site visits helping with conservation planning and technical assistance. His vast experience in animal agriculture and irrigation infrastructure lent themselves well to the mission of helping farmers, ranchers, and forest land managers with their questions and concerns.   
  

Natalia Cristina Marques Orriola, Caribbean Area  

Our next volunteer is Natalia Cristina Marques Orriola. When she’s not busy at her and her moms' pet accessory and treats business, Natalia volunteers to hold down the fort at the Arecibo Field Office. She provides office support by helping with clerical tasks, with exceptional attention to detail, ensuring seamless office management. Because of Natalia’s commitment, NRCS is able to provide more resources and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers.    

Linda Johnson, Florida  

Meet Florida’s longest serving Earth Team volunteer, Linda Johnson. Linda started volunteering at the Crestview Field Office in 1992 as an Information and Education Specialist. She commits her time to conservation projects, varying from writing annual reports to helping students plant for beach dune habitat.  
 

D'Zariyah Willis, Mississippi  

D'Zariyah Willis is a Brooklyn Agriculture High School freshman who upholds a family tradition of volunteering—her great-grandmother, her father, aunts, uncles and cousins were all Earth Team volunteers. During her spring break last year, D'Zariyah donated her time representing NRCS for Pollinator Day at the Natural Science Museum, raising awareness and fostering appreciation for the work of pollinators.   

Want to learn more about the Earth Team volunteer program in your state? Visit the volunteer opportunities with the Earth Team  page to get started.