June 2005

675 U. S. Courthouse

Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Telephone: 615/277-2531

FAX: 615/277-2577

USDA Natural Resources

Conservation Service

NRCS

From the office of the State Conservationist

Current

Developments

Inside This Issue....

 Page

American Indian Program

 Delivery Initiative Training 6

Appalachian RC&D Receives

 More than $35,000 in Grants 7

Bacon Celebrates 105th Birthday 3

Buffalo/Duck River RC&D 4

 Earth Team Volunteers Work at

 the Elephant Sanctuary

Darrell Beason Update 3

Kenny Childress Memorial 2

NRCS Celebrates 70th

 Anniversary 5

SCD's Active in Conservation

 Education 4

Upcoming Events 3

Welcome Aboard -

 Perry Stevens 2

 John Rissler 2

T

he Natural Resources Conservation Service is celebrating its 70th year of existence

in 2005, and throughout each of those 70 years, the NRCS has made a significant

impact in Tennessee. Our water quality is improved, and our soil is more productive.

We have been responsible for programs and projects that have made Tennessee an even

better place to live.

Good work is not always easy work, so we have faced some stiff challenges. However,

we are not defined by our challenges as much as we are by our responses to those

challenges. Our successful responses in the first 70 years have made us into an effective

and productive agency.

One of the challenges we face now is an all-time high customer demand, so we are

responding by making improvements in the ways we deliver our services. Another

challenge has involved our changing customer base over the past 70 years. We have

responded by changing along with our customers, taking advantage of new technology,

and becoming better equipped to implement programs and services. We know that the

number one thing we do is the professional delivery of our services to customers, and

when we have done our jobs well, the results are better water and soil quality and an

overall increase in productivity.

During this 70th year of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, agency leadership

has renewed its commitment to focus more strategically on how we do business. We are

continuing to review our lines of business and service to improve them and make them

even more efficient. As your fellow NRCS employee, I am proud of the good work you do

and the important results you produce. May we all continue together at least another 70

years!

James Ford

State Conservationist

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced the first Farm Bill Forum will be held in

Nashville, Tennessee on July 7 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. CDT at RFD-TV Northstar

Studios. "The next farm bill will affect America's entire agricultural community," said

Johanns. "That's why I want to ask America's farmers and ranchers how our farm policy

is working and how we can make it better. I believe very strongly that they deserve a

voice in this process."

Johanns Announces First Farm Bill Forum to be held in Nashville
Current Developments

Tennessee Welcomes...

Perry Stevens, State Public Affairs Specialist

T

ennessee’s new Assistant State

Conservationist for Programs is now

onboard. John Rissler comes to the

position with 12 years of NRCS experience

under his belt. John grew up in Oklahoma and

received his degree in Agricultural Education

from Oklahoma State University. He started

out as a student trainee, but before long he

was a Soil Conservationist in Oklahoma. He

followed that with positions as a Nutrient

Management Specialist in Missouri, a District

Conservationist in New York, a Tribal

Conservationist in Oklahoma, a Plant

Materials Center Manager in Michigan, and as

a Zone Program Liaison in Texas.

John is married to Carrie, and they have two children, 5-year old Abigail and 3-year old Anna.

In his spare time, John likes to hunt, fish, and spend time in other outdoor activities. He says

he is happy to be in Tennessee and is looking forward to working with employees throughout

Tennessee to run the most effective programs possible.

P

erry Stevens is a Mississippi native and

longtime Tennessee resident. He

received his B.A. in Journalism from

the University of Mississippi and worked for

several years as a news director, anchor, and

reporter at radio stations throughout the

southeast. After completing his Master of

Public Administration at the University of

Alabama-Birmingham, he was named a

Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC) in Atlanta. At the CDC, he was a

health communications specialist and a press

officer. Most recently, he was the Risk

Communication Coordinator at the Tennessee Department of Health’s Bioterrorism

Preparedness Program.

Perry took over the job of State Public Affairs Specialist in May 2005 and he says he is

looking forward to meeting and working with District Conservationists and other NRCS staff

across the state.

John Rissler, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs

K

enny Childress touched the life of virtually

everyone he met. A native of LaFollette,

Tennessee, he was married to Kathy

Powell Childress for 27 years. They had three

children – Cindy, William and Rosemary. He

was a Christian and a member of the Walton’s

Chapel Church of Christ.

Kenny obtained his BS Degree from Austin

Peay State University and his Master’s Degree

from Tennessee State University. He began his

career with NRCS (then the Soil Conservation

Service) in 1978 in Union City and from there

moved to Trousdale County.

Kenny was transferred to Macon County in

1981. The local farmers reminded him of the

folks in the rural area of LaFollette where he had

grown up. With his affable personality, people

soon thought of Kenny as “one of the locals.”

Kenny was a friend to everyone. Easily

recognizable by his trademark fisherman’s hat,

most days he could be found at the Stockyard

Café eating lunch. It wasn’t unusual to see Kenny

and his friend, five-year-old Stetson, having a

truck and tractor pull on the café table.

In Memory of Kenneth “Kenny”

William Childress, Jr.

April 21, 1948 – June 7, 2005

Kenny knew that getting conservation on the

ground required compassion, patience, a

willingness to work with landowners, and a love

for the natural resources. These were

characteristics he demonstrated daily. NRCS

employees thought of Kenny as more than a

coworker; he was a friend who will be missed.

Kenny spent his life caring for people and

conserving the natural resources, and in doing

so left a legacy that will endure for generations.

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Current Developments

Upcoming Events

 Event Location For more information

NRCS Diversity Day Ag Expo Center NRCS Civil Rights

July 12, 2005 Franklin, TN Committee

10:00 am

Small Farm Expo TSU Farm Hilda Gooch, TSU

July 19 Cheatham County 615-963-5530

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Or register online at:

Pre-registration required www.tnstate.edu/cep

 by June 30, 2005,

 for awards luncheon

Pasture Walk Roy McClerran Farm Phillip Dixon

July 21 Clay County SCD

931-243-3321

RC&D Annual Meeting Agri-Lane TN RC&D Council website

August 4-5, 2005 315 John R. Rice Blvd www.tnrcd.org

Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Pasture Walk Wayne Tucker Farm George Hofstetter

August 18 Shelbyville Field Office

931-684-4197, ext. 3

Pasture Walk Bart Lays Farm Louis Boyd

September 15 Clarksville Field Office

931-729-2686, ext. 3

Darrell Beason returned to work on June 27

following a 13-week assignment in Maryland

to complete a Warrant Officer training course.

He graduated on June 22 from the course.

"This training was not nearly as rough as the

last experience. The worst part was missing

family and friends," said Darrell.This session

was less restrictive, and he was able to call

home on a regular basis.

Darrell has been told he will be reconnected

to his unit, which is currently in Iraq, but this

is still unofficial at this time.

Darrell Beason Completes Warrant Officer Training

He is the Dean of American Soil Scientists.

Samuel R. Bacon of Cookeville turned 105

years old on July 1, 2005. The longtime

Tennessee resident is the nation’s oldest

living soil scientist. He worked for NRCSTennessee (then the Soil Conservation

Service) from 1945-1963. After 35 years with

the NRCS and USDA, Mr. Bacon retired in

Cookeville. He was honored there earlier this

month by the NRCS, which presented him

with several original soil surveys he coauthored in the 1940s and 1950s. He also

received a plaque from State Conservationist

James Ford commemorating Mr. Bacon’s

years of exemplary service.

During the ceremonies, Mr. Bacon also

received letters of congratulations from

Congressman Gordon, the Tennessee

General Assembly, Secretary of Agriculture

Mike Johanns, Tennessee Governor Phil

Bredesen, and Maryland Governor Robert

Ehrlich. (Mr. Bacon attended the University of

Maryland.) Mr. Bacon told the crowd of about

150 well-wishers, “I’m feeling so good right

now, you may have me around for a few more

years.”

Tennessean is Nation's Eldest

Soil Scientist at 105

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Photos above & right: Samuel Bacon and friends

celebrate his 105th birthday.
Current Developments

Jackson Madison County Schools

Fifth Grade Environmental Fair

2005

The Madison County Soil Conservation

District , along with the Natural Resources

Conservation Service, serves as an exhibitor

for the Fifth Grade Environmental Fair each

year. During these activities students learn

about the effects of soil erosion on the

environment and how to correct erosion

problems. Students also learn how they can

help take care of our natural resources.

Approximately 1200 fifth graders, teachers,

and teacher aids attended this year’s

environmental fair.

Farm City Day in Rhea County

The Rhea County SCD participates in the

annual FARM CITY DAY which is held on the

Purser Farm in the Cottonport community of

Rhea County for all 3rd graders in the countythe majority of whom have never been on a

real farm before.

This is an exciting event for these 3rd graders

as they get a close-up view of pigs, cows

and horses, as well as grain crops, forestry,

wildlife, a sawmill, beekeeping, and sheep

shearing. They are also treated to an old

fashioned hayride.

At the SCD booth different colored beads

were used to represent things on the farm,

i.e., red/barn, blue/water, green/grass, clear/

air, white/sheep, black/cow, pink/pig, yellow/

sun. A brown leather strap represents soil

(brown/soil). Students are told what each

bead represents and then given a bead of

each color to add to the strap to make a

bracelet.

The goal of the Rhea County Soil

Conservation District is to teach the children

that their food and clothes come from the

farm. The district wants students to develop

an understanding and appreciation for

agriculture and an awareness of the products

produced on the farm.

Todd Trew, CED for the Dayton and Chattanooga Farm Service Agency translates for the

Hispanic students who visited the SCD booth.

For the eighth consecutive year, Earth Team

volunteers from the Buffalo/Duck River

Resource Conservation & Development

(RC&D) volunteered at the Elephant

Sanctuary in Lewis County. On May 14,

volunteers Amanda Brower, Katy Couch,

Sharon & Derek Englett, Christina & Curtis

Hart, Michael Kelley, Jena Stilwell, and

Bobby Thigpen joined John Sheffield of the

Elephant Sanctuary who directed the work of

the Earth Team volunteers.

The group of volunteers worked hard

cleaning rust off of steel fence posts and

picking up litter on the recently acquired

Lee’s Lake area. Many of the students have

volunteered at the Sanctuary before and look

forward to the annual event.

“The students were tired at the end of the

day, but they had the self-satisfaction of

knowing they had a role in maintaining this

safe haven for the Asian and African

elephants,” said Sharon Englett of the

Buffalo/Duck RC&D.

The Sanctuary started out with 112 acres

back in 1995; today it operates on 2,700

acres that supports 8 Asian and 4 African

elephants. The Sanctuary provides the

elephants a place to roam with ample food

and water readily available. A full-grown

Asian Elephant consumes 150-200 pounds

of food and drinks 30-50 gallons of water

every day!

Buffalo/Duck River RC&D Earth

Team Volunteers Work at the

Elephant Scanctuary for the 8th

Consecutive Year

The Buffalo/Duck River Council treated the

volunteers to lunch and presented each of them

an Earth Day t-shirt.

Buffalo/Duck RC&D Earth Team Volunteers clean

rust off of steel posts that will be used at the

Elephant Sanctuary.

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The State Office Employees Association

sponsored a Field Day June 9, 2005. Participants visited the Warner Park Nature Center at

the Natchez Trace Parkway where they learned

about the park, its history and current use, and

the relationship it has with NRCS. The group

learned about invasive species identification and

floodplain management issues, and they got a

look at the bioengineering project for stream bank

stabilization that was designed for the park by

NRCS employees.

A short hike along part of the original Natchez

Trace and lunch at the famous Loveless Café

completed the field day.

Warner Park Nature Center Director Sandy Bivens greeted

NRCS employees. Sandy’s father, Donald C. Bivens, was

Tennessee’s State Conservationist 1975-1987.

State Office Employee Association

Sponsors Field Day

Current Developments

State office employees enjoy a visit to the Warner Park Nature Center.

NRCS celebrated it's 70th anniversary in April

2005. NRCS offices throughout the state

held special events such as planting a tree

or flowers as part of the agencies nationwide

effort to mark seven decades of conserving

natural resources on private and tribal land.

The anniversary’s theme, “A Partner in

Conservation Since 1935,” reflects the

agency’s mission—providing leadership in a

partnership effort to help people conserve,

maintain, and improve our natural resources

and environment.

NRCS Celebrates 70th Anniverary in 2005

Volunteers are Winners!

In October 2004, after participating in local soil

juding contests, a group of high school FFA and

4-H students decided that they wanted to

volunteer as a group and help the soil conservation office in Celina. This group had a great

run of success in the soil judging competitions.

At every competition this group competed in,

they either had a 1st or 2nd

place team.

As a result, 12 of the initial 14

volunteers competed in the

National Land Judging Contest.

One of the three teams finished

4th in the nation, one student

finished 10th and the coaches

finished 7th and 17th in the

nation.It’s amazing what a little

thing called volunteering can

do!

State office staff members and James Ford, State

Conservationist, planted a tree at the Hermitage

as part of the 70th anniversary celebration.

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NRCS partnered with the Caney Fork

Watershed Association, Putnam

County and White County Soil

Conservation Districts and Tennessee

Department of Agriculture to deliver a

water quality based workshop/field day

on Steve Slatten’s farm on May 20,

2005. 

Upper Cumberland residents learned

about stabilizing stream banks,

maintaining and improving water quality,

and how applying

conservation practices

can have a positive

economic effect on their

farm operation and the

environment.

Jenny Adkins, NRCS did

a water quality

presentation; Eric

Chance, Tennessee

Wildlife Resources

Foundation talked about

the Tennessee Stream

Mitigation Program;

Charles Parris, NRCS

and Mike Richardson,

retired NRCS discussed

agricultural practices

and assistance available

from NRCS; and Mark Hudson,

Tennessee Department of Agriculture,

made a presentation on “How Did We

Get Here?”

Attendees were a diverse group of

individuals from surrounding

communities including landowners/

operators, agribusiness professionals,

community leaders, Tennessee

Technological University professors,

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

representatives and local political

figures, as well as, concerned citizens. 

Approximately 90 people attended the

event which was sponsored by the

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation

Service, Caney Fork Watershed

Association, Putnam and White County

Soil Conservation Districts, and the

Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

Water Quality Workshop/Field Day

Current Developments

James Ford, State Conservationist and Phillip

Dixon, American Indian/Alaskan Native SEPM

for Tennessee, attended the American Indian

Program Delivery Initiative Training on May 8-

11, 2005 at the Poarch Band of Creek Indian

Reservation in Atmore, Alabama. The purpose

of the meeting was to bring Tribes and NRCS

together in an effort to improve program

delivery to Tribes and Tribal people. This

event provided NRCS employees an

opportunity to learn about the different

cultures within the Tribes.

Nine different Tribes participated in the

meeting including:

Poarch Bank of Creek Indians (AL)

Seminole Tribe of Florida (FL)

Eastern Bank of Cherokee Indians (NC)

Oneida Indiana Nation (NY)

Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe (GA)

Pamunkey Indian Tribe Reservation (VA)

Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe (VA)

Passamaquoddy Tribe (ME)

Lower Muskogee Tribe (FL)

Richard Coombe, Regional Assistant Chief,

NRCS East Region

said, “Over the years,

we came close to

seeing the last of

America’s first farmers.

By the early 1990’s,

there were approximately 7,000 American

Indian farmers in the

United States. The

situation has changed

in recent years. The

2002 Agricultural

Census shows there

are now more than

24,000 American Indian

and Alaska Native farm

operations. America’s

first farmers are making

a comeback and USDA

and NRCS are helping.”

James Ford and Phillip Dixon at the Elders Luncheon at the Anerican Indian

Program Delivery Initiative Training in Atmore, Alabama.

Jenny Adkins conducted a workshop on water

quality on the Steve Slatten farm.

Ford and Dixon Attend American

Indian Program Delivery Initiative

Training

Tour attendees had a chance to see applied conservation practices

and the impact they have on the environment.

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Current Developments

A

 regional crowd of

 approximately 100

 elected officials,

business and community

leaders and entrepreneurs

were on hand July 1, 2005,

as the Appalachian

Resource Conservation &

Development Council was

awarded three grants

totaling more than

$35,000. The funding will

benefit businesses in

Carter, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington Counties. The grants are to fund

initiatives that promote goods and specialized services produced by locally owned

manufacturers, producers and agricultural operations.

Funding will be available to further research and market the www.LocalGoods.org web based

buyers guide. Additionally, funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission will increase artist

involvement in the www.QuiltTrail.org project. The Quilt Trail is fast becoming a Tourist

Destination that can attract visitors from across the country to this region. Through the merging

of the Quilt Trail and the Local Goods efforts, visitors can be linked to local business. The goal of

these initiatives is to support locally owned businesses by creating specialized ways of

connecting them with retail and wholesale consumers in this region.

The event was held at Farmhouse Gallery & Gardens in Unicoi Tennessee. This site displays a

Quilt Square Mural and also is a Local Goods site producing local artwork and a line of

Farmhouse BBQ Sauces.

Grants awarded were:

USDA – Rural Development – Rural Business Enterprise Grant - $20,000

Funding to expand, enhance and market the www.LocalGoods.org searchable online database of

items made, grown and crafted in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Development Fund Grant - $9,750

The funding will allow Tennessee Agriculture Producers to apply for mini matching grants to get a

Quilt Square Mural to display at their farm to help market their products. Operation must be a

point of sale for locally produced agricultural product or agri-tourism. Application guidelines will

be available at www.QuiltTrail.org by August 1, 2005.

Tennessee Arts Commission – Arts Project Support Grant - $5,500

Funding to commission a local artist to paint 10Quilt Square Murals for permanent display in the

region. Artist will also assist 5 schools with painting murals for the www.QuiltTrail.org project.

This effort will be documented with photographic images and essays and presented on the

website.

The Appalachian RC&D Council is a regional non profit that has been serving Carter, Greene,

Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington Counties since 1994. The Council Mission is to

conserve natural resources and improve rural economies through community leadership and

enhanced educational opportunities. To learn more about the Council and it’s activities visit their

website at www.appalachianrcd.org.

Appalachian RC&D Council Recipient of Federal and State Grants

Totaling more than $35,000

A field tour featuring Perry County was

sponsored by the Buffalo/Duck River RC&D

Council in support of International Heritage

Development Conference held June 4-8 in

Nashville, Tennessee. The conference was a

program of the Alliance of National Heritage

Areas and was hosted by the Tennessee Civil

War National Heritage Area and the Center for

Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee

State University.

As part of “Workshop Tuesday”, on June 7

seventeen conference attendees participated in

the Perry County Workshop entitled Building

Capacity Where Resources are Few and Far

Between. Featured in the workshop were three

tour stops highlighting outreach activities in

assisting local artists and developing rural arts

programs, protecting cultural resources,

improving recreation, addressing watershed

education and water quality issues, and

building private and public partnerships that

benefit the citizens of Perry County from farms

to towns.

RC&D Council President Ancil Balentine stated,

“This illustrates how effective partnerships are

making a difference by building capacity in our

rural communities. We are proud to play a

supporting role as part of a very successful

conference”.

As part of the tour a luncheon was held with

over sixty five in attendance to exchange ideas

on partnering and to become more familiar

about Heritage Areas from other parts of the

United States.

Local government, organizations and agencies

participating in the tour included Perry County

Commission, Perry County Historical Society,

The Center for Historic Preservation, Town of

Linden, City of Lobelville, Tennessee Arts

Commission, Mousetail Landing State Park,

Tennessee Valley Authority, USDA Natural

Resources Conservation Service, Rural

Development, Farm Service Agency, Forest

Service, South Central Tennessee

Development District, Tennessee Department

of Economic and Community Development,

Tennessee River Trails and Extension Service.

RC&D Council Sponsors

International Heritage Development

Conference Tour

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