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Dear Partners in Conservation,
It’s with a heavy heart that I announce my upcoming retirement from NRCS at the end of August 2023. After working more than 31 years in conservation, it is a hard decision to make, and I certainly don’t make it lightly. There is always more to accomplish together and more conversations to be had but my heart is telling me it is time.
Retirement will allow me to spend time with my family and friends and work on my farm in Forest Grove. I’ve had a wonderful run working all these years in the world of conservation and am eternally grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to work with every one of you to advance our shared conservation goals.
As you may know, I started my career in conservation as an SCS student trainee in 1993. It didn’t take long for me to realize I would make it a career and thank goodness I did. Since then, I've had the pleasure and honor of working throughout the country from New Mexico, Arizona and Oregon to New York and Washington D.C. No offense to my home state, but Oregon is still my favorite. 😊
The time is never “right”. I leave NRCS Oregon thinking of the opportunities we have before us to grow our partnerships and communities. I’m particularly grateful that NRCS Oregon’s Strategic Approach to Conservation business model is sound and resilient—largely because of our strong partnerships, relationships, hard work and dedication to supporting shared conservation values and missions. While it’s still hard, making this decision is much easier knowing that my NRCS Oregon team is accomplished and steadfast. I may be leaving but our commitment to conservation remains. Our customers and partnerships are in good hands.
Thank you for the invaluable partnerships and relationships we have built together over the last three decades. We all know it to be true: “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Our work together has exponential effects across Oregon’s landscape and helps us better serve our customers and communities across farms, ranches and forests of all shapes and sizes. I look forward to watching conservation successes continue to unfold thanks to the partnerships we have built, now from the other side of the fence post-retirement.
I will talk to many of you in the coming months but if we don't have a chance to connect in person, please know that I am grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with you over the last three decades. As I move on to the next chapter of my life, I hope our paths cross someday while I’m out and about traveling across our beautiful state.
Sincerely -
Ron Alvarado
NRCS Oregon State Conservationist
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