Message from the State Conservationist

Inside This Issue.... Page

Spring Issue - May 2011

2011 Conservation Planning Course 2

Arbor Day at Dillon Park Kicks 3 

Off Riparian Project

Area 4 Receives Volunteer Trophy 9

Bedford County 2010 Cons. Farmer of 7

 the Year Award presented to Curl Family

Brown Recognized as TTU 6

 2010 Outstanding Alumni

Civil Rights 2010 Award Recipient 10

 is Southeast TN RC&D Council

Civil Rights Committee Spotlight 7 

Employee Yi Kum

Community Fdn of Middle TN Provides 9

 Hull-York Lakeland RC&D Grant 

Community Gardens in Columbia 6

Earth Team News 8, 12 

Gilliam Retires 5

Brown Receives Patriotic Employer Award 11

 

Mike Richardson Remembrance 4

My.tnrcs.org Has More to Offer 5 

NRCS Employees Donate $'s 4

TDA Ag Resources Conservation 9 

Grant Funds Dibble Bars

Web Page Training Scheduled 12

Webb Flowers, Grazing Specialist 3

 

We’ve had a lot on our plates the past few months with the budget 

issues that threatened to shut down the federal government and 

losing the RC&D and watershed programs. It would be easy to get 

discouraged but the best way to deal with this is to remain focused on doing 

our job and getting conservation on the ground.

These times of uncertainty can be very challenging, and there are more 

uncertainties ahead. After working most of this fiscal year under a Continuing 

Resolution, it is possible we will have to do so again starting in October if 

Congress is unable to approve the 2012 budget. If that’s the case, we will 

continue to do our jobs and provide the best customer service possible. 

Another big issue in 2012 is the passage of a new Farm Bill. It’s hard to say 

just yet what it will look like, but I will keep you updated.

I am proud of the work you do and your dedication to the agency and our 

customers. Your dedication was never more obvious than when the Chief 

announced that Tennessee was one of the 5 states in the country that exceeded 

their program obligation goals. We can be proud of our accomplishments, 

what our agency does and the role we play in protecting and conserving 

our natural resources. We do make a difference in the lives of Tennessee 

landowners and I thank each of you for doing your part.

Kevin Brown

State Conservationist

 Success stories are now posted on the webpage at:

 http://www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov/news/SuccessStories/index.html

 Submit success stories to Jeanne Eastham at jeanne.eastham@tn.usda.gov
Current Developments

- 2 - Helping People Help the Land

2011 Conservation Planning Course

For the second year in a row, NRCS 

held a Conservation Planning 

Course at Tennessee Technological 

University in Cookeville. For two 

weeks in early January, thirty-eight 

students from Tennessee, Kentucky, 

South Carolina, and Alabama 

learned to apply the NRCS nine-step 

planning process 

to assist clients 

in developing 

complete and 

comprehensive 

plans.

The attendees 

represented Soil 

Conservation 

Districts, County 

Governments, AmeriCorps, NRCS, 

and Technical Service Providers. 

Training took place in the field and 

classroom on Conservation Planning, 

Wildlife, Threatened & Endangered 

Species, Cultural Resources, Grazing, 

Water Quality, Soils, Forestry, and 

Human considerations in planning. 

Presentations from District 

Conservationists Phillip Dixon & 

Mike McElroy provided the group 

with a field level perspective. 

Students learned how to use & 

interpret various 

evaluation tools and 

worked in groups 

with mock producers 

to develop a plan 

on one of the TTU 

farms. Finally, the 

students presented 

their plan and 

how they used the 

planning process to 

arrive at their decisions to Resource 

Specialists. 

The Instructors and Resource 

Specialists along with Kathy 

Daugherty & the Hull-York 

Lakeland RC&D Council did an 

exceptional job organizing and 

presenting the course. One attendee 

commented on their evaluation that 

this was “honestly the best NRCS 

training I have been to!” The group 

from Kentucky enjoyed the course 

so much that they presented a signed 

University of Kentucky flag to 

Tennessee NRCS.

When asked about the 2011 course 

State Resource Conservationist, John 

Rissler said, “This year’s course was 

a great success and reemphasized 

my belief that we are bringing the 

best and the brightest into the field 

of conservation. In a workplace of 

deadlines and dollars, we showed the 

newer employees the true heart of the 

agency. Good conservation planning 

is the first ingredient to getting 

conservation implementation.”

"This year’s course was a great 

success and reemphasized my 

belief that we are bringing the 

best and the brightest into the 

field of conservation." 

 John Rissler, SRC

by Lacey Gaw, Resource Conservationist

Photo below: 2011 Conservation Planning Course 

participates.
Current Developments

- 3 - Helping People Help the Land

Arbor Day at Dillon Park Kicks 

Off Riparian Project

Over 50 students, Boy Scouts, 

volunteers, and members of the 

public joined together on Thursday, 

March 3rd, to make a positive impact 

on the environment and celebrate 

Arbor Day. Tennessee was one of 

the first states to adopt this special 

day in 1875 to create “a better 

understanding of nature and the 

importance of protecting wildlife, 

planting and cultivating flowers, and 

setting and protecting trees”.

The Dillon Park Riparian Project 

began with tree and shrub planting 

utilizing native and local grown 

plantings. Almost 900 bare root and 

potted trees and shrubs were planted 

in a 50’ wide riparian zone along 

1500’ of Stones River in Dillon Park 

during this phase of the Project.

The increased width of the riparian 

zone will provide multiple benefits 

of water filtration, wildlife habitat, 

and decreased water temperatures. 

Besides increasing the number of 

native trees and shrubs, additional 

phases of the Project will work to 

decrease the non-native species in the 

riparian zone.

This project is sponsored by 

the Hull-York Lakeland RC&D 

Council through a grant from the 

TN Department of Agriculture’s 

Agricultural Resources Conservation 

Fund with partnership assistance 

from the Stones River Watershed 

Association, Cannon County 

High School, TN Division of 

Forestry, USDA-Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, and the 

Cannon County Soil Conservation 

District.

by Kathy Daugherty, Hull-York Lakeland RC&D 

Coordinator

Photo above: Soil Conservationist Dustin Graham and TDA Forestry Division Employee volunteers are 

shown with students from Cannon County High Schools Horticulture Class who assisted in planting the 

900 trees and shrubs for the Dillon Park Riparian Project. The students will be involved in future phases 

of the Project such as eliminating the non-native species and continuing to propagate and plant native 

wildlife species in the riparian zone.

Welcome Charles W. (Webb) 

Flowers, a Grazing Specialist hired 

through a contribution agreement 

with the Clinch-Powell RC&D 

Council. Webb has extensive farm 

experience in beef, dairy, pork, 

soybean, corn, forage and timber 

production, as well as management 

and marketing. He received a 

Bachelor of Science degree in Animal 

Science from Mississippi State 

University and is currently working 

on a Master of Science degree 

in Food Safety at Virginia Tech 

University. 

Webb has previous work experience 

as an Agriculture and Natural 

Resources Extension Agent in 

Virginia and as a Beef and Dairy 

Project Assistant at Mississippi State 

University Extension with focus areas 

in Integrated Resource Management, 

Dairy Herd Improvement 

Association, Forage Quality Analysis, 

Animal Identification Systems and 

Youth Livestock Programs.

Webb is located in the Knoxville 

Area Office. He publishes the 

Tennessee Grazing Coalition 

Weekly E-News which is available 

at http://clinchpowell.net/aginit/

news.php

Webb Flowers, Grazing Specialist

Photo above: Webb Flowers, Grazing Specialist
Current Developments

- 4 - Helping People Help the Land

In Remembrance of Mike Richardson 

Mike Richardson, age 61, passed 

away Saturday, April 9, 2011. 

Mike, a retired NRCS District 

Conservationist, had remained devoted to 

NRCS, conservation and his community.

Everyone knew Mike had a passion for this 

nation, and a commitment to the environment 

and teaching. His life centered around his 

family and friends. And it was well known 

that “he never met a stranger.” 

He was in the Navy from 1967 to 1971, 

and served in Vietnam. He was in the Navy 

reserves until retiring in 1994, and was 

proud of his service in the US Navy. He 

was also a member of the Citizens Police 

Academy in Cookeville.

Mike graduated from Tennessee Tech University in 1975 and began his career 

with the NRCS as a soil conservationist. He worked for NRCS until he 

retired in 2004. 

He was an advocate for conservation throughout his career, and beyond. 

Mike signed up as an Earth Team Volunteer his last day of work. Throughout 

his retirement years, he continued to promote conservation by serving as an 

Earth Team Volunteer, working with the Clean Commission, doing school 

programs, and helping with Envirothon.

While Mike enjoyed retirement, he also remained passionate about teaching 

and sharing knowledge. A fourth degree black belt, he instructed countless 

students in karate. He also loved to teach people about horseback riding and 

responsible gun ownership (he was a lifetime member of the NRA). He was 

a founding member of the Garland Family Research Association and at the 

time of his passing was serving as its president. 

Mike and his wife Linda, had two children--John and Laurel, and four 

grandchildren—Jade, Alexus, Alana, and Evan who loved their “Papa Mike.”

The NRCS family mourn his loss. 

TN-NRCS Employees Donation 

to Charity

The Tennessee Natural Resources Conservation Service employees 

recently donated $570.41 from 

NRCS employees to the Wounded 

Warriors Project charity. 

The All Employees Meeting Planning 

Committee contacted the State Office 

Employees Association for their 

assistance in distributing the surplus 

funds collected from the Social Night 

during the All Employees Meeting. 

The AEM committee recommended 

several charities, including the 

Wounded Warriors Project. 

Donating to the Wounded Warriors 

Project is a great way to express our 

appreciation to our military families 

for their service! Thank you for 

making this possible! 

Photo above: Mike Richardson, retired 

District Conservationist and Earth Team 

Volunteer.
Current Developments

- 5 - Helping People Help the Land

Intranet for TN Employees

by Carter Harris, Webmaster

NRCS Employees now have access to a more robust “intranet” 

site at http://my.tnrcs.org. The site includes content that was 

previously posted on the public site at http://www.tn.nrcs.usda.

gov/ as well as new content that was not previously available. 

The site is secured by passwords and limited to NRCS 

Employees.

New content includes a document library, calendars, employee 

benefits, media and a section for green articles. Other content 

is provided through modules that render quotes randomly and 

provide reminders of upcoming events.“My.tnrcs.org is much 

more community orientated,” according to Jeanne Eastham, 

Public Affairs Specialist. “It provides information that could not 

be placed on a public site such as internal communications and 

it permits our employees to participate by contributing content."

The site is built on the Joomla!® open source content management application but has been enhanced with a number of 

extensions that provide additional functionality for the site. To contribute content for your area, contact Carter Harris.

J

ames Gilliam, Engineering 

Technician, retired from NRCS 

with more than 32 years of 

service. He began working for the 

Soil Conservation Service as a 

W.A.E. in Weakley County in 1978. 

“I have been privileged to work for 

and with the very best people that 

this country has to offer for 32-plus 

years, and stay close to my home,” 

said James. “It didn’t take long 

for me to realize that working for 

NRCS was a chance to work with 

various people for the common good 

of all people. I have been blessed 

to work for a government agency 

that promotes teamwork, diversity, 

works directly with people (clients 

and employees) performing services 

they want, need and appreciate while 

feeling a sense of satisfaction during 

the process of helping those who 

deserves it and protects our valuable 

natural resources.”

“James touched the lives of many, 

many people during his career,” said 

Richard West, Area Conservationist. 

“His commitment and work ethic 

were exemplary. He helped a lot of 

people during his career and everyone 

who worked with him considered him 

a friend. Not only did he give 100% 

but he did it with a good attitude and 

a smile. We will miss him in West 

Tennessee.” 

Photo above: Richard West and James Gilliam. Below (l to r): James Gilliam, Kevin Brown, and Will Pinson.

Gilliam Retires

My.tnrcs.org Has More to Offer

by Carter Harris, Program Analyst (Webmaster)

by Carolyn Bartee, Office Assistant, Jackson Area Office
Current Developments

- 6 - Helping People Help the Land

Tennessee Tech University recognized Kevin Brown as 

Outstanding Alumni for 2010. Brown received his Bachelor 

of Science Degree in Agricultural Science and Engineering 

from Tennessee Technological University. He also received 

the 2009 TTU Outstanding Alumnus Award for the College 

of Agriculture and Human Sciences. 

When notified about the award, Brown stated “I am deeply 

moved by this award and very proud to be a recipient. I 

know most of the past winners and to be included in this 

group is a great personal honor for me.” 

Brown was recognized for his support of Tennessee Tech 

University School of Agriculture through the years. TTU 

noted that he has returned to Tennessee Tech on numerous 

occasions to talk to student and groups on career opportunities in agriculture, has done an excellent job recruiting and 

is personally responsible for many individuals attending the 

School of Agriculture at Tennessee Tech. 

Brown recognized as TTU 2010 Outstanding Alumni

The residents of the five developments at Columbia Housing and Redevelopment Corporation 

(CHRC) in Columbia, have two 

community gardens this year thanks 

to a partnership with CHRC, Advent 

Community Development Corporation, 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the 

Tennessee Farm Bureau, and the U.T. 

Agricultural Extension Service. A local 

Boy Scout, Zack Neely, constructed 

and placed twelve raised beds for the 

senior citizens and disabled residents, to 

complete his Eagle Scout project.

Clint Bain, Maury County Executive 

Director, USDA-Farm Service Agency 

and Debbie Brasfield, Soil Scientist, 

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation 

Service advised the gardeners and 

obtained soil samples. 

The U.T. Agricultural Extension Service is providing a series of gardening workshops for both the adult and youth gardeners 

throughout the growing season. Food preservation and nutrition will also be covered in these workshops.

The Southern Middle Tennessee RC&D is planning to host a rain barrel workshop for the gardeners.

Columbia Housing and Redevelopment Corporation provides housing for low income residents in Columbia. Elderly and 

single-parent family residents are particularly affected by high prices for fresh foods and inadequate nutrition. CHRC feels 

the community gardens will help residents reduce the cost of food and be more self-sufficient. 

Community Gardens in Columbia

Photo above: HUD Assistant Secretary Sandra Henriquez recently toured the Northridge Community 

Garden in Columbia.

Photo above: Kevin Brown Receives TTU 2010 Outstanding Alumni Award.
Current Developments

- 7 - Helping People Help the Land

The 2010 Conservation Farmer of the Year Award was 

not an individual, but a whole family – the Curl family of 

Curl Family Farms. The Curl family makes a significant 

impact on Bedford County agriculture.

The American family farm has been the backbone of this 

country since its inception and the Curl family exemplifies the American farm family. Don and Claudia Curl, 

along with sons Joey and Greg, make up Curl Family 

Farms, and also own and operate Hawkins Equipment 

and Curl Construction. Curl Construction has also 

installed numerous conservation practices for other farmers. Last year they dug practice pits on their land for the 

county high school soil judging teams.

In the past couple of years the Curl’s have installed or 

are in the process of installing 13 water troughs, 2 miles 

of cross-fencing, 10,000 feet of pipeline, over a mile of 

fence to exclude cattle from 48 acres of woodland and 

stream corridors, 19 acres of cropland conversion, 2 acres 

of forest openings for wildlife, 2 spring developments, 

2 pumping plants, and 36 acres of pasture and hayland 

plantings. 

The Bedford County Soil Conservation District Board 

of Supervisors presented Curl Family Farms the Bedford 

County 2010 Conservation Farmer of the Year award 

for their dedication to reducing soil erosion, protecting 

water quality and improving wildlife habitat in Bedford 

County.

Bedford County 2010 Conservation Farmer of the 

Year Award presented to Curl Family Farms

Photo above left to right; Front row - Claudia, Maria, and Lisa; Back Row - 

Don, Joey, and Greg Curl.

Yi Kum works in Financial Management 

at the State Office and is the State Vendor 

Coordinator for ProTracts vendors along with 

other assignments. She came to TN NRCS in December 

2010. She previously worked with NRCS in Kansas as a 

Cartographic Tech for SSURGO project. 

She graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University with 

a MBA degree in 2007. She is an active member of the 

Asian Pacific Islander Organization with NRCS.

Yi grew up in Seoul, Korea and came to the United States 

in 1989 with her husband Sung to join their family in 

Kansas. Soon after moving to Kansas, Yi had twin boys 

who are now attending college at Creighton University in 

Omaha, Nebraska.

Yi enjoys reading books, especially books about the 

history of East Asia. She also loves to watch Chinese 

movies because most involve historical events. 

Gardening is her hobby. She is at peace while planting 

and watching flowers bloom.

Welcome Yi Kum to the TN NRCS family.

Civil Rights Committee Spotlight Employee Yi Kum

by Pam Hoskins, District Conservationist, Woodbury Field Office

Photo above: Yi Kum, NRCS State Vendor Coordinator in Financial 

Management.
Current Developments

- 8 - Helping People Help the Land

Earth Team volunteers play a significant role in carrying out the conservation 

programs across Tennessee. State Conservationist Kevin Brown presented awards 

to five Earth Team Award Winners, one of which was also a regional award winner, 

at the 67th Annual TACD Convention. Earth Team Award winners include:

Shirley Pendley, Hull-York Lakeland RC&D - NRCS Earth Team Individual Award 

Winner

Matthew Denton - NRCS Earth Team Employee Award Winner 

Chris Hancock, Area 3 Volunteer Coordinator - Earth Team Volunteer Coordinator 

Award Winner & East Regional Volunteer Coordinator Award Winner

Dr. Warren Anderson, Middle TN State University - NRCS Partnership Award 

Winner

Smoky Mountain RC&D Council - NRCS RC&D Earth Team Award Winner

Earth Team Award Winners

Photo above l to r: Matthew Denton, recipient of the TN Earth Team Individual Award; Kevin Brown, 

State Conservationist; and Chris Hancock, recipient of the TN Earth Team Volunteer Coordinator Award 

and the NRCS East Regional Volunteer Coordinator Award. 

Photo at left (l to r): Smoky Mountain RC&D 

Council members Chairman Russel Harris, Knox 

County representative Broadus Hubbs, Sevier 

County representative Beverly Treadway, and 

Treasurer Amy Mann accept the NRCS RC&D 

Earth Team Award.

Photo above: Shirley Pendley, Hull-York 

Lakeland RC&D, received the TN Earth Team 

Individual Award.

Photo above: Dr. Warren Anderson, MTSU, 

Rutherford County, was the recipient of the Earth 

Team Partnership Award.
Current Developments

- 9 - Helping People Help the Land

Area 4 Receives Volunteer Trophy

The first ever Tennessee Earth Team Volunteer "Traveling 

Trophy" was presented to Area 4 for contributing 8,399 

volunteer hours in fiscal year 2010. The Earth Team 

Traveling Trophy is an annual award to promote the 

volunteer program across Tennessee. 

It will be presented each year to the Area that has the 

most volunteer hours. The winning Area's name will be 

engraved on the trophy and that area will host the trophy 

for the year. 

Photo above: Dave White, NRCS Chief; Terrance Rudolph, Area 

Conservationist; Natalie Freeman, Area 4 Volunteer Coordinator; and Kevin 

Brown, State Conservationist.

by Dimple Geesling, State Volunteer Coordinator

The Community Foundation of Middle TN awarded the 

Hull-York Lakeland RC&D Council $15,000 in grant 

funding from the TN Emergency Response Fund. The 

funds were used by the EWP sponsoring entities to 

supplement their match in Clay, Jackson, and Macon 

Counties. In addition tot he 1,500 flood event of May 

2010, Jackson and Clay Counties had three 100 year flood 

events in May, July, and August of 2010.

Communitiy Foundation of Middle Tennessee 

Provides Hull-York Lakeland RC&D Grant Funding 

for EWP

Photo above: Shown at the Blackburn Creek site in Jackson County, from left, 

are Acting District Conservationist Darrell Beason, Cookeville Area Conservationist 

Jenny Adkins, HYL RC&D Director Dolores Angelini, Jackson County Mayor John 

Cason, State Representative Kelly Keisling, State Senator Charlotte Burks, Soil 

Conservation Technician Phillip Brown, and Civil Engineering Technician Josh 

Gipson. Several other middle Tennessee RC&D Councils were, also, able to utilize 

the CFMT funding to assist their counties ravaged by the May 2010 flooding event.

by Kathy Daugherty, Hull-York Lakeland RC&D Coordinator

Photo at right: Hull-York Lakeland RC&D recently 

distributed tree-planting dibble bars with the assistance 

of STC Kevin Brown, Cookeville Area Conservationist 

Jenny Adkins, RC&D Coordinator Kathy Daugherty, and 

TN Dept of Agriculture’s Mark Hudson. DC’s available 

for the presentation were Phillip Dixon, Darrell Beason, 

Pam Hoskins, and Dwight Dickson.

TDA Ag Resources Conservation Grant Provides Funding for Dibble Bars

The Hull-York Lakeland purchased 

dibble bars with funding from TDA’s 

Ag Resources Conservation Fund.

District Conservationist's in the 

14-county HYL RC&D Council area 

will be caretaker of a dibble bar for 

the county(s) they represent. The bars 

will be utilized in demonstrations, 

at Trees Days, or Field Days, and 

loaned or rented out by the Soil 

Conservation Districts.

by Kathy Daugherty, Hull-York Lakeland RC&D Coordinator
Current Developments

- 10 - Helping People Help the Land

The 2010 NRCS-TN Civil Rights Award recipient 

was Southeast Tennessee RC&D Council and Frank 

Sagona, Southeast Tennessee RC&D Coordinator. 

The Special Emphasis Program Managers (SEPMs) in 

conjunction with the CR Committee initiated an annual 

award for outstanding Civil Rights efforts in TN with the 

first award given in 2010. 

The criteria for the award was work in natural resources 

conservation and/or agriculture that also advanced the 

cause of Civil Rights in Tennessee. Nominations were 

open to NRCS-Tennessee employees; Soil Conservation 

District employees; Earth Team volunteers; RC&D 

Council Members; and any other Tennessee individual 

or organization working to advance Civil Rights through 

NRCS-related work. Nominations were based on Outreach 

efforts, customers served, volunteers recruited, programs 

implemented, Education/awareness efforts or other related 

actions. 

The Southeast 

Tennessee RC&D 

partnered with the 

Cherokee National 

Forest on “Kids 

in the Woods” a 

snorkeling project 

on the Conasauga 

River in Polk 

County and Citico 

Creek in Monroe 

County. The 

Cherokee National 

Forest began the 

project for school 

kids (ages 12-16). 

The project was so 

popular it soon grew beyond the capability of the national 

forest. Furthermore, SETN RC&D had the opportunity to 

assist with scholarships for underserved youth who were 

primarily from Title 1 schools. 

Many students cannot afford to pay the $20 fee which 

covers wet suit maintenance and the cost of retired 

biologists to conduct the program. The national forest does 

not provide the program on a free basis, except for the forest 

biologist staff that manages the program. 

The RC&D Council expected to provide scholarships for 

200 students from principally Title 1 schools by the end of 

the 2010 snorkeling season. 

The Conasauga River has 30 species of native fish, with 

some listed as endangered, that students can see up close 

with the snorkeling equipment. At the same time the 

children are taught about the bio-diversity of the national 

forest and the value of clean water. An example of the 

participating groups are the Madisonville Boys and Girls 

Club, Polk County Boys and Girls Club, Bradley County 

Boys and Girls Club, Bradley County Youth Leadership, and 

Hamilton County City Schools. The youth from the Boys 

and Girls Clubs are generally underprivileged children and 

the Hamilton County school students have been principally 

African American and Hispanic children who have never 

had the opportunity to visit the forest and the river.

The Southeast Tennessee RC&D funding has come from 

two grants – The World Wildlife Fund and Volunteer Electric 

Cooperative. The RC&D’s immediate goal is to continue 

providing assistance through 2012. 

The 2010 award was presented by Kevin Brown at the AEM 

in November 2010 and at the TACD Convention in January 

2011. The 2011 Award Announcement has been posted to 

the my.tnrcs.org website. Information headlines on the front 

page...just follow the link for information on applying. It 

is also listed at the top of the list of SEPM articles at Civil 

Rights --> SEPM. 

If you have any questions about submitting an award 

nomination, contact Lori Pittman at lori.pittman@tn.usda.

gov or 615-893-9295, ext. 113.

S

Photo above (l to r): Frank Sagona, RC&D Coordinator, Joyce Green, 

Council Member; Audrey Burton, Secretary, Southeast TN RC&D Council; 

and Lewis Kearney, Vice-President, Southeast TN RC&D Council.

Civil Rights Award Recipient for 2010 is Southeast TN RC&D Council by Lori Pittman, GIS Specialist/ Asian American/Pacific Islander SEPM, Murfreesboro Area Office

Photo above: Students enjoy snorkeling in the 

Conasauga River thanks to the "Kids in the 

Woods" project sponsored by the SE TN RC&D 

council and the Cherokee National Forest.
Current Developments

- 11 Helping People Help the Land

Numerous thoughts are on the 

minds of the military service 

members of the National 

Guard or Reserves when they are 

called to active duty. Separation 

from their families is usually at the 

top of the list. Following closely 

behind are worries about being away 

from their civilian job for a year or 

more.

The Uniformed Services 

Employment and Reemployment 

Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) 

guarantees soldiers can return 

to their civilian jobs when they 

return from deployment, but for 

some soldiers the process is not 

always smooth. However, Natural 

Resources Conservation Service 

(NRCS) District Conservationist 

Darrell Beason describes his 

transition back to work as “flawless.” 

Beason, who spent a year in 

Afghanistan as a Chief Warrant 

Officer for Tennessee National 

Guard’s 278th Armored Calvary 

Regiment, was able to step back 

into his job easily when he returned 

home in August 2010. He credits 

Tennessee State Conservationist 

Kevin Brown for making sure it all 

went off without a hitch.

Beason expressed his appreciation 

for the smooth transition by 

nominating Brown for a Patriotic 

Employer Award through an 

organization called Employer 

Support of the Guard and Reserve 

(ESGR). The award program 

gives soldiers and their families an 

opportunity to recognize employers 

who go above and beyond the legal 

requirements and show extraordinary 

support for their military families.

Kevin Brown Receives Patriotic Employer Award 

for Extraordinary Support of Troops

by Sarah Singhurst, Administrative Management Specialist, Cookeville Area Office

Photo above (l to r): Robert Haynes, ESGR; Darrell Beason,NRCS District Conservationist and Chief 

Warrant Officer for TN National Guard; Kevin Brown, NRCS State Conservationist, and Ed Day, ESGR. 

Beason arranged to surprise Brown 

with the award presentation at a 

NRCS meeting in Murfreesboro on 

January 19, 2011. ESGR volunteers 

Robert Haynes and Ed Day, veterans 

themselves, personally presented the 

award. Brown said, “I’m genuinely 

touched and surprised by the honor.”

Jerry Prater, NRCS Veterans 

Emphasis Program Manager for 

Tennessee, points out that a number 

of recently hired employees are 

veterans and Reserve/Guard members 

along with several long time 

employees of NRCS. In addition, 

there are many more employees 

whose immediate family members 

have served and/or currently serve in 

the military.

More information about ESGR 

can be found on the organization’s 

website http://www.esgr.org.

Photo above: Robert Haynes presents Kevin 

Brown Patriotic Employer Award.
Current Developments

- 12 - Helping People Help the Land

Make plans now to attend 

a two-day web seminar 

on "Web Utilization 

to Support your Mission". This 

seminar will provide:1) Information 

on the assistance available from 

Tennessee NRCS to support your web 

utilization; 2) Training on the use 

of a state of the art web application 

to create dynamic websites; and 

3) Examples of best practices for 

website utilization. An example site 

can be seen at: http://gcscd.com 

Webpage training has been scheduled 

as follows:

Area I - June 1-2 - Jackson AO 

Area II - June 6-7 – Murfreesboro AO 

Area III- June 15-16 – Cookeville AO 

Area IV - May 24-25 - Knoxville AO

Contact Carter Harris to register if 

you plan to attend as space is limited.

Web Utilization Training Scheduled

Hunter Duncan, a 14 year 

old Sequoyah High School 

student, is an Earth Team 

Volunteer in the Madisonville Field 

Office. He began volunteering in 

the Madisonville Field Office in 

the summer of 2010 by assisting 

in various field work activities and 

clerical activities. 

Hunter’s big project last summer 

was assisting in the Feds, Farmers 

and Friends Feed Families Program. 

He and former AmeriCorps Worker 

Corey Rolen, went to businesses in 

Monroe County with information 

about the program and also got the 

local newspapers to do an article. 

Hunter also decided to ask his youth 

group at Hopewell Baptist Church to 

help him with this project.

He and his church helped collect 

over 1000 lbs. of food and various 

items (baby diapers, toilet paper, 

soap, shampoo, etc). All of the 

donations collected were donated 

to the Douglas-Cherokee Neighbor 

Service Center to distribute to 

families in Monroe County. Hunter 

was persistent in his determination to 

help feed hungry families and local 

families benefitted from his efforts.

 “I am proud to be an Earth Team 

Volunteer for the Natural Resource 

Conservation Service,” said Hunter. 

“It is a good way to give back to my 

community.” 

Hunter Duncan, Earth Team Volunteer Makes a Difference in Monroe 

County

Photo above: Earth Team Volunteer Hunter 

Duncan using GPS to get the job done.

The NRCS Distribution Center (formerly LANDCARE) has undergone several 

changes including the name change. 

To order publications and forms, go to: www.nrcs.usda.gov/distributioncenter

Exhibits can be viewed and ordered at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/exhibits/

There is no charge for publications or for shipping exhibits but order early to ensure 

the exhibit is available. Exhibits are shipped with a prepaid return shipping label.

Ordering Publications and Exhibits