Fall 2007

675 U. S. Courthouse

Nashville, Tennessee 37203

615/277-2531

www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov

Message from the State Conservationist

Inside This Issue....

Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Page

Current

We’re only a month into the new fiscal year, but I think it is an appropriate time to look back at 

our accomplishments and successes from FY 2007. It was a tough year for NRCS-Tennessee 

employees. You worked under a tight, cost-cutting budget but managed to do your jobs 

successfully and with professionalism—even as you lost one State Conservationist, gained 

another, and worked well with an Acting STC in between. 

Through the budget crunch and the change in leadership, you 

•	 Ensured that 97-percent of Tennessee contracts were current

•	 Made nearly 2,500 Protracts payments

•	 Implemented over 47,000 conservation practices

•	 Accepted 3,331 EQIP applications

•	 Provided $14.3 million in Farm Bill funding and $21.1 million in technical assistance 

to Tennessee landowners. 

And that is just a small number of your accomplishments. Together, we also have implemented 

22-percent of FY07 EQIP contracts—surpassing the national average of 15-percent. You 

wrote 5,107 conservation plans for nearly a half million acres, and you applied 4,573 of those 

plans to about 375,000 acres. I could keep going, but you get the picture: I am proud of the 

work you have accomplished in FY 2007, and you should be, too. 

As FY 2008 gets into full gear, we find ourselves working under a Continuing Resolution until 

a new budget is passed by Congress and approved by the President. The new Farm Bill is still 

being worked out in the Senate, and its final approval could well take until after the first of the 

calendar year. I will keep you updated.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to another very successful year in Tennessee. That’s 

one of the reasons I’m excited about our upcoming All Employees Meeting November 7-8 at 

Fall Creek Falls State Park. It will give us an opportunity to get better acquainted, share ideas, 

and benefit from one another’s experience. I am looking forward to seeing all of you there.

Again, I appreciate the job you did in FY07 and look forward to an outstanding FY08. Thanks.

Kevin Brown

State Conservationist

American Indian Heritage Poster 5

Associate Chief Dana York Receives

 2007 Presidential Rank Award 2 

Billy Frank Smith 8

David Willis Receives Woodmen

 of the World Conservationist Award 5

MOU Between NRCS/Clinch-Powell 5

NRCS Successes & Achievements for

 FY 2007 8

Retirements 3

RC&D Annual Meeting 6-7

SARE Sponsors Photo Contest 5

SWCS Fall Meeting 4

TCDEA Fall Meeting 4

Tennessee Team Ranks First

 in Nation in Soils at Envirothon 2
Photo above (l to r): NRCS Associate Chief Dana York and 

NRCS Chief Arlen Lancaster.

NRCS Associate Chief Dana York Receives 2007 Presidential Rank 

Award

Tennessee Native Is “Example of the Very Best in Public Service”

E

ach year, the 

President recognizes 

and celebrates 

a small group of career 

Senior Executives with the 

President’s Rank Award 

for exceptional long-term 

accomplishments. Winners 

of this prestigious award are 

strong leaders who achieve 

results and consistently 

demonstrate strength, 

integrity, industry, and a 

relentless commitment to 

excellence in public service.

I am pleased to announce that 

NRCS Associate Chief Dana 

D. York was recognized for 

her exemplary efforts with a 

Fiscal Year 2007 distinguished 

Presidential Rank Award.

All NRCS employees can be 

proud of this accomplishment. 

Dana is to be commended for 

her outstanding professional 

achievement, dedication 

to public service, and 

commitment to NRCS. Hers is 

an example of the very best in 

public service and one we can all aspire to.

Dana began her career with the Soil Conservation Service as a student trainee while 

attending Tennessee Technological University. She has held various positions with NRCS in 

Tennessee and Ohio, including soil conservationist, district conservationist and deputy state 

conservationist. She joined National Headquarters staff in 1999 as a Special Assistant to the 

Chief. From 2001 to 2004, Dana served as director of Operations Management and Oversight 

Division and directed our efforts on quality assurance, oversight and evaluation.

Throughout her years of service and especially since becoming Associate Chief in 2004, Dana 

has consistently represented NRCS and public service with vision, leadership, results, and 

unquestioned integrity.

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement Dana. Well done! Thank you for your 

continued service to NRCS and the Nation.

Arlen Lancaster

Chief, NRCS 2 Helping People Help the Land

Current Developments

Tennessee Team Ranks First In 

Nation In Soils At Envirothon

The Envirothon team from Coffee County, Tennessee ranked first in the nation in 

the soils category of the Canon Envirothon 

during the contest held July 29-August 4, 

2007. The team ranked 17th overall with 

scores combined from Soils, Forestry, 

Aquatics, Wildlife, Renewable Energy and 

an oral presentation. 53 teams competed 

in the contest that was held in Geneva, New 

York on the campus of Hobart & William 

Smith College. 

The Envirothon is North America’s largest 

Environmental High School competition. The 

2007 Envirothon marks the 20th anniversary 

of the event. Participating teams included 

Envirothon teams from 45 states and eight 

Canadian provinces. The contest was 

sponsored by Canon USA, Inc. 

Team members Jeremy Mills, Daniel 

Sherrouse, Andrew Russell, Jordan Kelly 

and Jonathan Mills were accompanied by 

advisors Steve Harris of the University of 

Tennessee Agriculture Extension Service 

and Sara Steelman of the Coffee County 

Soil Conservation District. The week-long 

event included training at Savannah Dhu 

Wildlife Refuge, the contest at Finger Lakes 

College, a trip to Niagara Falls and the 

awards banquet. 

The trip would not have been possible 

without the dedication of the following 

sponsors: Tennessee Department of 

Agriculture, Tennessee RC&D Council, Quail 

Unlimited, Duck River Electric Cooperative, 

Five Rivers RC&D, Southern Middle TN 

RC&D, Pete Sain, Middle TN District 

Employees Association, Coffee County 

Soil Conservation District and the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service. 

For more information regarding the 

national Envirothon, visit their website at 

www.envirothon.org. 
3

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Retirement of James F. (Chip) Ramsey, NRCS

Barbara Swindell Retires 

Barbara Swindell, Budget Analyst 

on the State Office 

Administrative Staff 

is retiring November 

3 with 33 years of 

federal service. 

Barbara moved to 

Nashville from Bryan, 

TX in 1969. She 

worked in private 

industry including 

Hayes Garment Co., 

Bellsouth, National 

Life Insurance Co., 

and Meharry Medical 

College. She left the 

workforce to become 

a stay at home 

Mom for a short 

time. She then returned to the workforce working at Vanderbilt, the 

State of TN Disability Determination Section and the Social Security 

Administration before she finally found her home with the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service.

Barbara plans to spend time with her six grandchildren and her three 

sons and their families. Two of her sons live in Atlanta and one in 

Nashville. One son owns his own business so she may work in the 

family business from time to time. Barbara and her husband plan 

to travel some and she plans to do more work with her missionary 

circle at church and help with the Room in the Inn Ministry. However, 

Barbara says she is taking the first month as R&R. 

Retirement of Bob Peters

Bob Peters has retired after 27 

years with NRCS. He 

stepped down from 

his job as Southeast 

Tennessee’s RC&D 

Coordinator in 

September. Bob, a 

native of Hohenwald, 

TN, began his career 

as a student trainee 

in Lawrenceburg in 

1964. He worked 

for two years as a 

Soil Conservationist 

in North Carolina 

before joining the US 

Air Force. After his 

military service, he 

worked for a decade 

as an agriculture chemical sales representative while maintaining his 

hog farm in Hohenwald. 

In 1982, Bob returned to NRCS as a Soil Conservationist in Bolivar, 

TN. Later, he served as District Conservationist in both Spencer and 

Savannah before being named Southeast TN RC&D Coordinator 

in 1992. In that position, he served in Chattanooga, Cleveland, and 

Athens. 

Bob has been married 43 years to Carol “Susie” Hicks from 

Sweetwater, TN. Bob and Susie plan to travel, visit old friends, take 

a cruise, do some woodworking, refurbish Bob’s John Deere tractor 

and get his UT Big Orange and White “Willy” jeep running. 

by Beverly Treadaway

Chip started work on June 7, 1965 as a student trainee in Meridian, Mississippi. He worked in four other locations in Mississippi prior to transferring to Tennessee in 1974 

as a DC in Dayton. He served as DC in three field offices in Tennessee before transferring 

to Kentucky as an AC in 1980. He was DC in Blountville and Memphis and moved to Knox 

County in 1982. Chip served as DC in Knoxville for 20 years prior to accepting a job in 

National Head Quarters in 2002. His effective date of retirement was September 2, 2007. He 

has worked 42 years with NRCS. 

Chip grew up and attended high school in Greenback, Tennessee, and went to college at 

Tennessee Tech and the University of Tennessee. He married the former Betty Cline of 

Lenoir City and they have one son, Al, who still lives in Knoxville. 

Chip’s future plans are to build a house, enjoy time with Tennessee friends and family 

(especially three grandchildren), UT Football, some traveling, and perhaps help his son start 

a landscaping business. Chip and Betty are building their house off Highway 321S in Loudon 

County about 1.5 miles south of the Blount County line. Chip says that all of their NRCS 

friends are welcome to visit anytime, just call ahead to be sure they are home. 
- 4 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

T

he Tennessee Conservation District Employees Association (TCDEA) recently held 

their fall workshop at Paris Landing State Park in Buchanan, TN. On Monday, after 

being welcomed to Henry County by Jennifer Wheat from the Chamber of Commerce, 

speakers were J. Kevin Brown, NRCS State Conservationist and John McClurkan, TDA 

Water Resources Administrator. After dinner the district employees watched the movie “An 

Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore.

Tuesday speakers included Dr. Karen Vail, UT Knoxville. She spoke to the group on 

“Managing Fire Ants at Home and in Neighborhoods.” Joetta White, TN AgrAbility, spoke 

to us about programs that are available to assist landowners who have diverse disabilities. 

Jim Nance, TDA Program Manager and Paul Ivy, TDA Resource Administrator went over the 

paperwork for the AG Resources Conservation Fund. 

After lunch, the District Employees boarded a bus and were taken to several different sites of 

Best Management Practices in Henry County. Ron Harrison, NRCS District Conservationist 

and Curt McDaniel, NRCS Soil Conservationist led the tour showing structures such as 

Sediment Basin, Terraces, Grade Stabilization Structure, and Waterways. Because of the 

diversity of crops in Henry County the group was able to tour cotton fields, and see tobacco, 

soybeans, corn, hay, and milo being grown. Dr. James Byford, UT-Martin, gave us the up-todate information on the production of biofuels and ending a very busy and informative day 

Clayton Ferrell, US Fish and Wildlife Refuge talked about programs that the USFWS have 

available and activities that they hold for area residents. 

Wednesday the group was given an update on TDA by Jim Nance. After the business session, 

the meeting was adjourned. 

These workshops are funded through a grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, 

allowing district employees to attend at no cost from their districts or themselves. There are 

two workshops a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. 

T

he Soil and Water Conservation 

Society fall meeting will be held 

at Cumberland Mountain State 

Park on Wednesday October 31, 2007. 

The bi-annual meeting will be paired up 

with a Water Permitting Workshop. The 

Workshop will include speakers from 

Tennessee Department of Environment 

and Conservation, Tennessee Valley 

Authority and the Army Corps of 

Engineers. The event is open to anyone 

wishing to attend. 

Five hours of Professional Development 

Units (PDU’s) are available. 

For more information contact 

Assistant State Conservationist for 

Water Resources Charles Roberts at 

615.277.2575.

Soil and Water 

Conservation Society Fall 

Meeting Scheduled for 

October 31, 2007

TCDEA Hold Fall Workshop

Photo above: TCDEA employees and guests at fall workshop.

by Pat Glover
- 5 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

Photographers take note! In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, 

SARE is sponsoring the New American Farm Photo Contest. SARE 

is looking for photos from all corners of the nation that depict groundbreaking innovations, people, and partnerships advancing the frontier 

of sustainable agriculture in America. The top four photos, one from 

each of SARE’s regions in the United States, will receive grand prizes 

of free attendance and accommodations at SARE’s 20th Anniversary 

conference, to be held March 25-27, 2008 in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Deadline for submissions is October 31, 2007.

Categories to be judged in the contest are 1) The Diverse Sustainable 

Agriculture Community; 2) Land and Water Stewardship; 3) Energy and 

Climate Change; and, 4) Communities and Markets. Visit http://www.

sare.org/2008Conference/photo_contest.htm for official rules and 

details. 

David Willis receives the Woodmen of the World 

Conservationist of the Year Award

2007 American Indian Heritage Month Poster

The 2007 American Indian Heritage Poster was painted by artist 

LaDon Smith of Boswell, Oklahoma. LaDon stated “I am proud to 

be of Choctaw descent and happy to be part of a poster contest that 

reflects a subject very important to me and has meaning to all of us. 

There must be a combined effort by all to help preserve and protect 

our natural resources for others who will follow us. I am concerned 

about pollution of our earth and water. There cannot be enough done 

to make others aware of this need.” 

State Conservationist Kevin Brown and Clinch-Powell RC&D Chairman 

Cherry Acuff at the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding 

between NRCS and Clinch-Powell RC&D.

The Henderson County annual W.O.W. awards banquet was held 

in Lexington High School Cafeteria. Winning the Conservationist of 

the Year Award was Soil Conservationist Technician David Willis, 

Lexington Field Office. The award acknowledged all the successful 

projects David has assisted landowners in getting on the ground. 

These projects included alternative watering facilities, consisting of a 

tank and trough design, heavy use area, and grade control structures. 

David has a very good working relationship with the landowners. He 

helps explain the programs and rules that go along with them. Being a 

farmer himself, he understands being on both ends of these projects. 

“It was a great honor to receive this award. Sometimes we think our 

work goes unnoticed. But I’ve noticed if you work hard enough at 

your job and do the best of your ability it will pay off for you in the long 

run”.

MOU between NRCS & Clinch-Powell RC&D

SARE Sponsors the New American Farm Photo 
Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land -6 - 

TN RC&D Council Annual Meeting

 by Roy Settle

T

he Appalachian RC&D Council and the Town of Jonesborough 

hosted a record setting annual meeting for the TN RC&D 

Council on August 2-3, 2007.

Attendees from across the state gathered in Tennessee’s Oldest 

Town for “The Economics of Sustainable Tourism”. Tours on 

AgriTourism and Historic Preservation attracted both RC&D Council 

members and Tourism officials from across the state seeking ideas to 

take home to their communities.

TN Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey opened the session on 

Thursday followed by a presentation on an innovative approach 

to litter control led by the Black Diamond RC&D Council from 

nearby Southwest Virginia. Commissioner Susan Whitaker - TN 

Dept. of Tourist Development and Dan Strasser from the TN Dept. 

of Agriculture spoke on funding for tourism projects. Other topics 

included Downtown Festivals, Nature Based Tourism and the Iron 

Furnace and Overmountain Victory National Historic Trails.

Mark your calendars for the Hull-York Lakeland RC&D Council hosted 

TN RC&D Annual Meeting at beautiful Fall Creek Falls State Park on 

August 7-8, 2008.

Other awards presented at this year’s meeting included: 

Allen Persinger - Outstanding RC&D Coordinator

Smith County Youth Board - Outstanding Youth Involvement

Southeast Tennessee - Outstanding RC&D Council

Rex Moses - RC&D Hall of Fame 

Outstanding Project - LocalGoods.org Project by Appalachian RC&D

Dimple Geesling received the 

Outstanding RC&D Program Assistant 

Award.

Dolores Angelini received the 

Outstanding RC&D Council Member 

Award.
-7 -

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

From registration until the last tour was finished, attendees at the 2007 Annual RC&D meeting had an opportunity learn about sustainable 

tourism and visited several agritourism businesses. 

RC&D - The Economics of Sustainable Tourism
F

ormer NRCS-Tennessee employee Billy 

Frank Smith of Clarksville died August 

11, 2007 at Gateway Medical Center. 

The 81-year old Rhea Springs native served 

as a District Conservationist in Montgomery 

County for many 

years before retiring 

from NRCS. After 

retirement, he was 

an active member 

of the Clarksville 

Rotary Club, the 

Governors Club, 

and the First 

Baptist Church of 

Clarksville. He also 

served as a board 

member of BiCounty Solid Waste.

Mr. Smith is 

survived by 

his wife, Mary 

Margaret McWhirter 

Smith, along with two sons, one daughter, 

three step-sons, two step-daughters, 18 

grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

- 8 - 

Current Developments

Helping People Help the Land

In his message for this issue of Current Developments, State Conservationist 

Kevin Brown spoke of several key accomplishments achieved by NRCSTennessee employees during FY 2007. Here is a more exhaustive list of our 

successes and achievements during the past fiscal year.

• 11 CR Compliance Reviews completed

• 13 Field Office Reviews completed

• 179 Continuous CRP Determinations completed

• 97% of TN contracts are current 

• 22% of FY07 EQIP contracts implemented (national avg. 15%)

• 2,492 Protracts payments made

• 3,213 Cultural Resources reviews completed

• 1,500 T&E Reviews completed (approximately)

• 5,107 Conservation Plans written on 452,992 acres

• 4,573 Conservation Plans applied on 374,733 acres

• 47,410 Practices implemented

• 91, 071 Practices planned

• 830 FSA Compliance Reviews completed

• 125 RC&D Projects completed

• $486,347 TSP obligations – exceeded goal of $469,400 by 3.6% ($16,928) 

• 1.04% reduction in overhead and indirect costs compared to 2001-2005 average

• 3% reduction in rent costs since FY 2006

• 12 new and/or amended contribution agreements with Districts

• 42,000 Customers assisted

• $15.7 million of non-NRCS contributions benefiting NRCS programs in TN

• 17 WRP applications – 4 commitments

• 3,331 EQIP applications – 1105 contracts

• 52 CNMPs planned for TSPs in EQIP contracts

• 267 EQIP Beginning Farmer/Limited Resource Farmer applications – 94 contracts

• 48 EQIP Limited Resource Producer contracts 

• 218 WHIP applications – 89 contracts

• 42 GRP applications – 42 contracts

• Approved female and minority contracts are equal to or higher than that of nonminorities

• 150 NRCS, District and TDA employees received Engineering training

• 14 State training initiatives conducted

• $14.3 million in Farm Bill funding provided to TN landowners

• $ 21.1 million in Technical Assistance 

• 19,700 hours (6% of our time, approx. 10 FTE) on state cost-share program

• Implemented a new Quality Assurance Plan and a new field office review 

 guide

NRCS Successes & Achievements for FY 2007 Billy Frank Smith

1926 -2007