Hello Team Texas,

We have completed the end of fiscal year 2021. As we tie up loose ends and close out what has been a very productive year, I ask that each of us – employees, volunteers and partners – reflect upon our accomplishments. With each fiscal year we protect, enhance and sustain our natural resources, which benefit more and more acres, and more and more people. Under the current Farm Bill (2018), more than 6 million acres are benefiting from conservation practices that have been planned and placed on the ground in Texas. That is a tremendous accomplishment. For the coming year, I ask that we not only maintain our current level of dedication toward natural resources conservation and delivery of conservation programs and initiatives, but we also think creatively. Let’s move forward by thinking outside the box. Let us continue to look at new and innovative technologies, approaches and methods to implement conservation practices. We are going to provide our field staff and partners with even greater support, and take time to hear suggestions and ideas from those folks on how to improve delivery and operations of our technical and financial assistance. We are a vast and diverse group of individuals who each hold a talent that is vital in this growing cooperative conservation partnership. Each of us is a key player in the future of natural resources conservation. We depend upon each other to achieve our goals and to reach beyond our objectives. In the new fiscal year, I see great accomplishment ahead of us. Hopefully, I can assist and discuss current goals and objectives as well as discuss future ones, and this can also be said of the NRCS Texas Principal Staff. Again, thank you for all that you do, and I look forward to an exciting year ahead.

“There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country.”

-Teddy Roosevelt

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In August of 2020, Alexandra “Alex” Smith returned to her hometown NRCS Field Office, in Abilene, Texas to work as a Soil Conservationist.

As a student at Abilene Christian University, she worked as a summer intern in the Abilene Field Office in 2009. Following 10 years of working in other areas of the state, she is happy to finally be back home. In college, she was part of the Agriculture and Environmental Science Club, where she found a printout for an NRCS internship opportunity and applied.

Alex said, “Developing relationships within the community and seeing the results of conservation on the land has always been the reward of the job.”

She enjoys spending time with family and looks forward to travel and seeing new things with her husband, Jeremiah. Together they share a wide variety of interest.

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Deanna Alpert is a new hire in the Caldwell office as a soil conservationist. She graduated this last May from Stephen F. Austin State University with her bachelor’s in environmental science. Through college she learned about the NRCS and what we do, which led her to want to work for the agency. She has a cat named Thomas, who just turned eight over the summer.

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Clent Bryan is a Soil Conservationist in the Sweetwater Field Office. Clent was born and raised in Winters working in agriculture. Clent graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Angelo State University in 2015. During his time at ASU, Clent was a member in Delta Tau Alpha Honor Society and Block and Bridle Agriculture Club. Clent chose to pursue a career with the NRCS because of his passion to help conserve the Earth’s natural resources as well as to educate and help the public to become better stewards of the land.

Clent enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and friends in his spare time. He is married to his wife of five years, Stephanie Bryan who serves as a Care Transition Coordinator for Encompass Home Health. Clent and Stephanie also stay busy raising their beautiful daughter, Charlotte.

“The most enjoyable part about working for the NRCS is being able to go out into the field and providing the public with technical conservation resources,” Clent said.

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What you like the most so far about working for the NRCS or What has been your favorite experience so far. (I like using this as a direct quote)? I feel like NRCS so far has let me continue to perfect my natural resource skills and has been a great outlet to share my passion for conservation.

Clint Smith is a new Soil Conservationist in the Robert Lee field office. He grew up in Marble Falls and left for San Angelo to attend college at Angelo State University (ASU). There he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Animal Science with a concentration in Range and Wildlife Management.

Growing up in the Hill Country, Clint spent most of time outside as a kid and continues but just a little differently hunting but noticing all the plants and trying to name them. He has a deep passion and devotion for conservation and native plants.

“I am the first generation in my family to go to college. I wanted to excel past the normal by obtaining my bachelors and master’s degrees,” explained Clint. “I feel like the NRCS so far has let me continue to perfect my natural resource skills and has been a great outlet to share my passion for conservation.”

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Hanna Louderman is the newest addition to the Ozona Field Office in Zone 2. She grew up in Mineola, Texas. She attended Tarleton State University and received her B.S. in Wildlife, Sustainability, and Ecosystem Sciences. Hanna has always enjoyed working outdoors. She is excited for this new opportunity with NRCS to increase her skills in Natural Resources Management.

“My favorite part of the job is being able to go out in the field and work with landowners to meet their goals for their property,” explained Hanna.

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Michael A. Hernandez Jr. is new field engineer in Rio Grande City. He is recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in May 2021. Michael was born and raised in McAllen and interned with SAMES Inc. in McAllen in the summer of 2020, where he gained valuable survey experience. Michael found out about NRCS through some research he did for Geo-Environmental Engineering in his final semester and shortly after graduating the professor emailed about the job opening in Rio Grande City. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and playing golf in his free time. Michael is very excited to be working with the NRCS and to also be a part of "Helping People Help the Land."

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Hunter Kelly is the new soil conservationist in Giddings. Hunter found out about NRCS when attending Texas A&M University. Since graduation in 2017, he had been looking for ways to make positive impacts into environmental sustainability, and NRCS does exactly that.  His degree is in Renewable Natural Resources with a focus on ecosystem management. Some of his outside hobbies include golf coaching, fishing, and local church/community events. Hunter is excited to start his career with NRCS and looks forward to working with everyone.

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Juan Galvan Rodriguez is a new Field Engineer located at the San Angelo Field Office. Juan grew up in El Paso. He attended to El Paso Community College where he graduated with three Associate degrees: Industrial Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, and Civil Engineer. Then, he transferred to the University of Texas at El Paso where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Coming from a farming family, working as field engineer with the soil and water conservation district in different NRCS projects allowed him to decide to work for the NRCS. The opportunities of learning about different engineering practices and obtaining more knowledge to help a farmers and ranchers to have a better tomorrow took an important role on his decision to work for the NRCS.

The feeling of satisfaction after a practice is correctly installed is what Juan like the most about working for the NRCS because it not only benefits the producer but animals and plants.

“Producers being thankful for a well-designed practice is my favorite experience and motivates me to continue to work hard installing sound conservation projects through my education and experience,” said Juan.

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Scott Statham joined the NRCS in 2021 in the Childress Field Office serving as a field engineer.  Scott is a native of Childress where he spent most of his life around farming and ranching.  Following high school, he attended Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls where he earned his degree in mechanical engineering in 2012.  After college, Scott worked for The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) from 2012 – 2020.  During his work at TXDOT, Scott earned his professional engineering license in 2017.  Scott said he really likes helping people and he feels like the NRCS is a good place for him to do this.

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Kaden Kennedy is the new Soil conservationist in the Sterling City field office. Kaden grew up in Stanton and received his degree from Angelo State University. While at Angelo State University, he was active on the Rams clay target team as well as Block and Bridle. Kaden really enjoys hunting and shooting clays. 

“I chose the NRCS to further my knowledge of conservation and keep the land for the future generations,” said Kaden. “The best part about NRCS is it’s not just a job, it’s a family where everyone is there to help you every step of the way.”

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Linden Eli is the newest Soil Conservationist at the Uvalde field office. Born and raised in San Antonio, Linden attended Texas A&M University Kingsville, attaining his BS in Range and Wildlife Management back in 2017.

While at school, Linden was active for years in both the philosophy club as well as the soil judging team. After bouncing between jobs and grad school for several years, Linden has begun his career with NRCS which is the opportunity to get back to working in the sunshine and helping people face to face was a welcome refresher.  

Linden is married to his wonderful wife, Hannah, he keeps busy with fishing, painting, soap making, hunting, and reading when she lets him.

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Olivia Jones was raised as the daughter of 4^th generation cotton farmer on the South Plains of Texas. There her passion for agriculture was founded through 4-H, FFA, and her childhood at Hammonds Family Farms. She graduated from Tahoka High School in 2017 and went on to complete her Bachelor of Science degree in Plant and Environmental Soil Science with a Crops Emphasis at Texas A&M University, where she was also an officer for the TAMU Agronomy Society. During her time at TAMU, she met her now husband, Garrett Jones who was raised in Hondo, and the two were married January of 2021. She is currently attending Murray State University (Murray, KY) online full-time, as she pursues her Master of Agriculture degree in Agribusiness and Economics.

Olivia started with NRCS in mid-September as an Agronomist with the Hondo field office.

Olivia says, “NRCS allows me to interact with local growers and ranchers where I can establish myself in the community and truly make a difference. I hope beginning my career in such a diverse area of Texas, will allow me to gain a broad knowledge to share with others for years to come!” She is thrilled to begin her career path with a strongly rooted agency, and with a location that works diligently with their landowners to better their community, their relationships, their lands, and themselves.

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While not a brand-new employee, Raquel Millett is a Field Engineer at the Abilene Field Office for almost two years. Raquel grew up in Reno Nevada and went to the University of Nevada in Reno, also known as “THE University of Nevada. She earned a Geological Engineering degree and was active in the Society of Mining Engineers, Geological Society of Nevada, and the UNR Mining Team.

Raquel’s original majors in College were Animal Science and Rangeland Management, so she has always had an interest in agriculture and rangeland ecology.  The NRCS gave her the opportunity to combine her interests with her educational background.

Raquel enjoys riding and showing horses but especially cutting horse. Four years ago, Raquel and her husband moved from Idaho to Texas. One of the main factors for Raquel and her husband moving to Texas from Idaho was the opportunity to pursue showing cutting horses more consistently. They haven’t regretted the move since and enjoy Texas!

“I really have enjoyed opportunity to work with a wonderful group of people and having the ability to work both in the office and in the field,” said Raquel.

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Taylor Daily is a Coordinating Wildlife Biologist for Pheasants/Quail Forever and is based out of the Fredericksburg field office. He grew up in Lubbock, Texas where he received a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Texas Tech University in 2017.

Afterwards, Taylor attended Sul Ross State University in Alpine where he received a M.S. in Range and Wildlife Management in 2020. Taylor partners closely with the NRCS and he enjoys the diversity of co-workers and landowners he gets to meet on a day to day basis.

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Planning for the worst means being ready in the event that disaster strikes. This Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network–Northeast publication by Daniel Prial explains disaster declarations and briefly discusses federal disaster-assistance programs. It describes how recordkeeping, risk management, and insurance can help farmers be prepared for disasters, and it explores how environmental, social, and financial resilience can help agricultural producers mitigate and survive disasters.

Meghan Killen, administrative assistant with the NRCS Public Affairs Team, will begin October 1^st as the State Earth Team Coordinator as a collateral duty for three years. Killen who has been with the public affairs team for more than two years, served in both the Army and Navy and was very active as a volunteer manager. During her military career, she received numerous awards and recognition for her volunteer coordination efforts.

Killen will be working with the Temple state office coordinator, Yolonda Cannon; Zone 1 coordinator; Terra Fannin, Zone 2 coordinator, Jason Minear; Zone 3 coordinator Elizabeth Ornelas; Zone 4 Adele Swearingen and Zone 5, John Callahan Jr. to increase ideas and hours for volunteers to work virtually as well as when we return to the office.

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Jason “Chris” Morris, who worked with Texas NRCS for fifteen years as a Rangeland Management Specialist, took his knowledge and experience of working on conservation issues with farmers and ranchers back to school at Iowa State University to obtain his PhD degree in Rural Sociology and Sustainable Agriculture. His research focuses on factors that affect farmer decision-making and investigating ways to improve the conservation delivery system. Morris recently served on the Conservation Practitioner Poll (CPP) planning team as a graduate research assistant in a partnership between Iowa State University and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. This inaugural poll asked conservation professionals to share their perspectives about various aspects of their jobs and their work with farmers. 

Results from New Poll Offer Boots-on-the-Ground Insight on Improving the Nation’s Conservation Delivery System

Morris and his supervisor, Dr. J. Arbuckle also recently published an article in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation examining the relationship between a farmer having an NRCS conservation plan and the likelihood the farmer will apply conservation practices on the ground. A major finding suggests that it is not the plan itself, but rather the sustained interaction with natural resource professionals over time, that makes a difference in the use of conservation practices.

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The theme of this year’s World's Rivers Day is once again “waterways in our communities” with a special emphasis on the need to protect and restore urban waterways which are often under great pressure. https://pr.com/press-release/843200

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Starting an urban farm comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. NRCS can help with the challenges of conservation, and support urban farmers in their efforts to achieve local, healthy, sustainable food for their communities. https://nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/landuse/urbanagriculture/

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