Dr. Larry Butler, NRCS diversification specialist in Fort Worth, TX, who spoke at the conference, said that many farmers and ranchers produce 11 products, but only sell two. On the Navajo Nation - As part of an NRCS Information and Education campaign started in November 1996, employees of the various Navajo tribal departments, NRCS in Arizona, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service recently held their first annual conservation awareness field day. The event took place at Asaayi Lake, within the boundaries of the first small watershed program project planned on the Navajo Nation. Participants included high school and junior high school students, local land users, recreationists, and Federal and tribal officials. Local land users gave a history of traditional land uses, agency technical specialists made educational presentations, and field day participants cleaned up trash around the lake area.
Plans are underway for next year's second annual conservation awareness field day.
This year's program focused on the efficient use of hardwoods for the manufacture of value-added products. The agenda included project reports from States and presentations on producing value-added forest products, secondary markets, secondary processing of hardwoods, and production of cedar oil from Eastern Redcedar. The meeting also included tours of Weyerhaeuser's Oklahoma operations sawmill in Wright City, Mountain Fort Rustic Furniture in Broken Bow, and the Oklahoma Forest Heritage Center. Share Your Ideas on How to Thank Conservation Farmers - Chris Bieker, NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist in Washington, is putting together a list of innovative ways to publicly recognize and thank conservation farmers. Let her know if you would like a copy of the list.