Florida NRCS Outreach Update FY 2007 #2 April - September

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“Clamalot” DeDiCates New ParkiNg lot

By gail Hendricks, Vis

Cedar Key, also known as “Clamalot” for its ideal clam 

growing conditions, held a dedication and ribbon 

cutting on September 26, 2007, for its new Anchor Hole 

parking lot. Among those present for the ceremony and 

Clam Bake luncheon were Sue Colson, Cedar Key 

Commissioner and Cedar Key Aquaculture Association 

Projects Coordinator; Joe Muller, USDA Rural 

Development; State Senator Charles Dean; Adele Griffin, 

Aide to US Senator Mel Martinez and Ann Bowens, NRCS 

State Outreach Liaison.

Organized by the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association, the parking lot dedication is 

the culmination of several years work, initiated in part by Ann 

Bowens, NRCS Outreach Liaison. Ann met with the Cedar Key 

clam growers back in 2005 as part of NRCS’ outreach to small 

farmers. The association wanted to know if NRCS had a program 

that would help them purchase land near a boat ramp where 

they could park their commercial vehicles and trailers. Ann 

connected them with the USDA Rural Development where they 

applied for and received a $300,000 Rural Opportunity 

Enterprise Grant with which they were able to buy 2 connecting 

lots. The parking lot has been developed over the last year and a sue Colson, left and ann Bowens third connecting lot was purchased with CRA funding.

According to the first aquaculture census by the USDA in 1998, Florida produces more hard clams by volume than any other state. This is due in part the fact that Florida has 

a year round harvest because of its weather and water quality. About 75% of Florida’s clams 

come from Cedar Key. Cedar Key weathered two hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 but the storms 

had little effect on clam production.

The new parking lot, marked with a large wooden cutout of a clam, will relieve boat traffic and parking problems at the other docks and ramps in town. 
Catching Up With the Lintons

By Ann Bowens, Outreach Liaison

On a recent visit to the Live Oak Field Office, Chris 

Menhennett, District Conservationist, and I 

decided to stop by and visit the Linton Farm. Mr. and 

Mrs. Linton were eager to show off their farm and their 

new John Deere tractor . It allows him to bale and 

tie-off his hay with just a stroke of a button. They also 

were eager to discuss the accomplishments on their 

farm, thanks to NRCS’s EQIP program. 

The Linton’s continue to stay involved with NRCS 

programs, especially after having won 2nd place 

in the National Organization of Professional Black 

Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees’ 

Lloyd Wright Small Farmer Award Contest. They 

formed friendships with other farmers throughout the 

country and continue networking with these individuals. Each year, since winning the contest, they have 

traveled (at their own expense) to participate and be a 

part of this national meeting.

Su

Florida NRCS Outreach Update FY 2007 #2 April - September

funds to purchase one of the recognition stones 

(below) and assist in some other areas. 

On 

Memorial 

Day the 

park was 

the site of a 

memorial 

service with 

service men and women, past and present, being 

recognized. An eternal flame was moved here 

from the Perry courthouse. The event was well 

attended. Bryant Russell, SRRC&D Vice President, 

(above) was on hand to represent the RC&D. 

As you can see, it is a beautiful park and the veterans really deserve some place nice like 

this. 

2
Florida NRCS Outreach Update FY 2007 #2 April - September 3

2007 Asian Pacific Islander 

Organization (APIO) Conference 

Hosted by Florida

by Gail Hendricks, VIS

The 2007 Asian Pacific Islander Organization 

(APIO) Training Conference was held August 

20-24th at the Miami-Dadeland Marriott Hotel. 

“Pursuing Excellence through Leadership, Diversity, 

and Unity,” was the theme this year. Niles Glasgow, 

State Conservationist in Florida welcomed the 

group to Miami and later gave a presentation on 

agriculture and conservation in Florida. 

The conference was well attended including many NHQ personnel and the Chief, Arlen 

Lancaster, who is NRCS’s first Asian American chief. 

Many of the speakers stressed agency goals and 

progress through diversity in conservation programs, program delivery, accountability, and employment. 

Helping to host this years meeting was a contingent from Florida 

NRCS including Civil Rights 

Committee members and the Public 

Affairs staff. Jack Creighton, Nga 

Watts and Elwood Holzworth (left 

photo above) were on the local 

arrangements and planning committee for the meeting. Several Florida employees 

participated in conference breakout sessions 

including Jesse Wilson, State Engineer (middle 

photo); Jeff Schmidt, Area Conservationist; Kevin 

Sullivan, Area Soil Scientist; Jack Creighton, DC, 

Elwood Holzworth, Soil Conservation Tech; Nga 

Watts, Agricultural Engineer; and Howard Yamataki, 

Resource Soil Scientist.

“We really appreciated the hospitality shown to us during our visit to Miami.” said Sharyn 

Alvarez, Acting National Asian Pacific Islander 

Program Manager. 

The meeting allowed newer employees to network with more experienced staff such as State 

Conservationists and Area Conservationists and 

other Asian Americans in the agency. Recruitment 

ideas were passed around from state to state. There 

were also sessions to learn about other Asian 

cultures.

Christine Coffin, DC in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, was the planner and director for the 

conservation tour on Thursday. (right photo) The 

participants learned that there are increasing 

demands for Asian fruits and vegetables and that 

consumption is increasing nationally. They visited 

Asian American producers that grow exotic tropical 

plants and fruits and were able to taste 

the bitter melons, guava, pitaya (dragon 

fruit), and longans grown on local farms. 

NRCS has worked with the farmers to 

help produce better crops and conserve 

resources by installing drip irrigation 

systems and other conservation 

measures.

Another stop on the tour was a visit to a Thai Buddhist Temple where 

Christine Coffin has, through Florida’s Outreach 

program, worked with the monks on conservation on 

their property. Buddhist monks taught the group 

about Buddhism, Thai culture and food, and how to 

meditate. At the end, the highest monk blessed the 

participants with water and put a beaded necklace 

on each person. The necklaces divert stress, anger, or 

unhappy thoughts by counting on them repeatedly.

“We really appreciated 

the hospitality shown 

to us during our visit to 

Miami.” 

- Sharyn Alvarez, 

Acting National Asian Pacific 

Islander Program Manager. 
Florida NRCS Outreach Update FY 2007 #2 April - September 4

Communication Reminders 

To help combat prejudice and discrimination 

Excerpt from “Diversity in the Workplace” by M. Kay duPont

1. Everyone has a natural right to courtesy and 

respect.

2. By standing up for our rights, we show that we 

respect ourselves, and we earn respect from 

other people.

3. Sacrificing our rights usually results in allowing 

other people to mistreat us.

4. By trying to avoid conflict, we can hurt ourselves 

and others.

5. We decide what’s important to us; we do not 

have to bend to other people’s issues.

6. When we do what we think is right for us, we feel 

better about ourselves and have more authentic 

and satisfying relationships.

7. We all have a right to express ourselves, as long 

as we don’t violate the rights of others.

8. It is not essential that you be loved or approved 

of by everyone.

9. You do not have to be perfectly competent, 

adequate, and successful to consider yourself 

worthwhile.

10. Unhappiness is seldom caused by outside 

circumstances and past events.

11. It is never better to avoid difficulties and responsibilities than to face them.

12. There is not always a solution to every problem.

13. In honest communication, there is no “right and 

wrong,” just “different.”

Heir Property, Estate Planning and

Land Loss Workshop Affecting Small 

Farmers and Landowners

By Ann Bowens, State Outreach Liaison

I

n January of 2007, USDA Rural Development 

solicited public comments and historical information on the heir property issue as it affects African 

American farmers and homeowners. This information was published in the Federal Register. As a 

result of this call for comments, Charles Conerly, West 

Florida RC&D Coordinator, John Harper, Three Rivers 

RC&D Coordinator, Doug Ulmer, Suwannee River 

RC&D Coordinator, and the Florida Rural Opportunity 

Group (FROG) polled black farmers and homeowners 

in three RC&D areas for their comments on this 

subject. As a result, we sponsored the first Heir 

Property, Estate Planning and Land Loss Workshop at 

the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Farm. 

Attendance exceeded expectations with more that 90 farmers and landowners present to hear 

Attorney Charles Sheppard, Alcorn State University, 

Jackson, Mississippi, (above) address the group. 

Among the topics discussed were problems arising 

when undivided interest in land is passed to multiple 

heirs, land partition sales, heir housing, and the 

cultural importance of land/homeownership and 

land loss. 

At the luncheon, NRCS took the opportunity to 

recognize all of the “Small Farmers” that have 

participated in the national Lloyd Wright Small 

Farmer Award Contest. Each farmer was presented a 

plaque by Ann Bowens, State Outreach Liaison.
Florida NRCS Outreach Update FY 2007 #2 April - September 5

Part 406 - National Outreach Policy

Subpart A - General 

406.0 Purpose 

This policy provides guidance and direction in implementing a comprehensive outreach process for the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This policy directly supports and assists with the implementation of program 

outreach activities in the Agency Public Notification Procedures (GM 230, Part 405.5). The process will utilize existing 

partnerships, formulate new ones, and engage the entire Agency to facilitate full implementation. 

406.1 Policy 

A. The policy of the Natural Resources Conservation Service is that Outreach is an integral part of the overall delivery 

of NRCS programs and services to customers and potential beneficiaries. We will conduct our business to ensure that 

all programs and services are made accessible to all customers, with emphasis on the underserved. 

B. To that end, NRCS will: 

(1) Conduct outreach to serve a diverse clientele; 

(2) Inform and educate existing and potential customers about NRCS and USDA Conservation programs and services; 

(3) Provide leadership and guidance to conduct outreach activities and initiatives; 

(4) Incorporate outreach tracking into the existing integrated accountability system; and 

(5) Engage partners in the outreach process. 

FYI Welcome to Cynthia Portalatin

New USDA 1890 Outreach Liaison at FAMU

Cynthia is currently located in the Gainesville FSA office

Cynthia.Portalatin@fl.usda.gov

Publications and Information 

Available in Spanish

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/espanol/

http://www.usda.gov/EnEspanol/

USDA es un proveedor y empleador que ofrece igualdad 

de oportunidades para todos.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, 

familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic 

information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an 

individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. 

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with 

disabilities who require alternative means for communication of 

program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should 

contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To 

file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of 

Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 

20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

For more information on Outreach, contact :

Ann Bowens, State Outreach Liaison

P.O. Box 141510

Gainesville, FL 32614

352-338-9516

ann.bowens@fl.usda.gov

Outreach Editor:

Gail Hendricks

Public Affairs Staff

352-338-9560

gail.hendricks@fl.usda.gov