Indiana Earth Team Volunteers Help NRCS Accomplish its Mission
 During National Volunteer Week, April 16-22, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would like to thank its Earth Team volunteers for their dedicated efforts to conservation.
The Earth Team program is NRCS’ volunteer workforce. It allows NRCS to stretch available resources by partnering volunteers with employees to provide a wide range of services to private landowners and the public. These activities can include conservation technical assistance, office support and generating awareness about conservation through community projects. This past fiscal year, 624 Indiana residents donated 3,223 hours of service to NRCS. Volunteers worked alongside agency staff to provide resources to farmers and forestland owners to aid them with conservation – a service value of more than $91,000*.
“Volunteers work closely with our staff and play an important role in our state’s conservation work,” said Acting State Conservationist, David Doctorian. “NRCS’ mission to Help the People Help the Land is strengthened by the passion Earth Team volunteers bring to the important conservation work they do every day.”
NRCS is excited to announce Eliza Whiteside as this year’s Indiana Earth Team Volunteer of the Year award recipient for her commitment to educating her community about invasive species, the impacts they have on the environment and the benefits of invasive species control. Eliza was able to accomplish this lofty goal by working alongside Blazing Stars, the local cooperative invasive species management group, and holding the first ever Bartholomew County Weed Wrangle 5K Marathon event. Eliza spent several hours helping to plan the 5K event which included researching invasive species and creating signs to place along the race path for participants to learn about the effects these plants have on their community and how community members can eradicate them. Over 70 people showed up to participate in the 5K and Blazing Stars plans for this to be a yearly event.
Earth Team was created in 1985 and offers many opportunities to individuals 14 and older who are interested in volunteering to improve the nation’s natural resources. Our volunteers are invaluable as they expand NRCS’ efforts to help protect and conserve the nation’s natural resources. Learn more about the Earth Team Volunteer Program and how you can participate by contacting your local USDA service center: Contact Us | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov)
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