**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:**

Tammi Schone - (605) 352-1102

# NANCY CLARKE RECOGNIZED FOR 15 YEARS OF FEDERAL SERVICE *[Influencing Others in a Positive Way]{.underline}*

**(Sturgis, South Dakota -- July 3, 2007)** "One can only hope that the
work they do influences others in a positive manner. I believe that
working with the agency has provided me with the opportunity to be part
of positive things happening in rural communities and for the folks that
live there," stated Nancy Clarke, Rural Development Manager of the
Sturgis Office. "To me Rural Development serves the residents and
communities of rural America like no other agency can! One of the strong
points of the agency is the fact that it can build a community from the
'ground up'."

State Director Mike Jaspers recently recognized Nancy with a certificate
of appreciation for her fifteen years of federal service. "Nancy has
been a valued asset to the Rural Development management team. She
possesses great confidence and has the innate ability to assist others
amicably," said State Director Mike Jaspers. "Her knowledge and
expertise are sought often by her coworkers."

Clarke began her government career in August of 1991 at the Bradford
County, Towanda Pennsylvania office as an Assistant County Supervisor
with the Farmers Home Administration (now known as USDA Rural
Development). In 2003, she transferred to USDA Forest Service, Medicine
Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland out of
Laramie, Wyoming. Just prior to moving to her most recent position as
Rural Development Manager in Sturgis, she was the Assistant
Administrator for Wyoming Employment Services in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Clarke is extremely proud of the role she played in securing Empowerment
Zone/ Enterprise Community funding for two projects located in
Pennsylvania that have been widely successful with their designations
and nationally recognized for their accomplishments.

Nancy is a recent graduate of the Northern Hills Court Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA) Volunteer program and is presently working on her first
CASA case. The Northern Hills CASA Program seeks to promote and protect
the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in court
proceedings through the advocacy efforts of trained volunteers.

Nancy and her husband Brad live near Sturgis and are avid Harley
enthusiasts! He owns a Road Glide and she owns a Road King. Both plan to
participate in the widely recognized and well

**Continued:**

attended yearly Sturgis Bike Rally which will be held in 2007 the week
of August 5^th^. Brad is a gunsmith by trade and an avid shooter. Both
enjoy spending time at the range, hunting prairie dogs, participating in
pheasant hunting as well as spending time with their horses.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that
will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of
life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development
provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in
homeownership, business development, and critical community and
technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is
available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's
web site at [http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/).

**- USDA -**