The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the Earth Team Award Winners for FY 2022, and NexGen Academy, a youth group from Albuquerque, was recognized as a 2022 Regional Group Volunteer Award Winner.
The NexGen Academy group assisted Rick Strait, NRCS New Mexico State Soil Scientist, with soil and vegetation inventory on Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) land on the Rio Grande. The NexGen Academy group used National Resources Inventory (NRI) sampling protocols to evaluate bosque restoration. The National Resources Inventory (NRI) program collects and produces scientifically credible information on the status, condition, and trends of land, soil, water, and related resources on the Nation’s non-federal lands in support of efforts to protect, restore, and enhance the lands and waters of the United States.
The NexGen Academy group consisted of the following students: Joseph Rutherford, Luke Fletcher, Trinity Perez, Ryleigh West, Emylia Smith, Isaac Fletcher, Jeffrey Brower, Devin Stowe, Pablo Gallegos, Brianna Spielman, Hayden Ware, Elizabeth Gatchell, Miguel Dorado and Logan Slimp.
NRCS appreciates the important work these volunteers do. Their efforts help NRCS bring more conservation services to farmers and ranchers throughout the state. New Mexico’s Earth Team provided about $38,514.73 of benefit to our customers and taxpayers in 2022.
Earth Team is a program that allows NRCS to stretch available resources by partnering volunteers with employees to provide a wide range of services to private landowners and the public. These activities can include conservation technical assistance, office support, teaching and generating awareness about conservation through community projects.
The Earth Team volunteer program helps its participants expand their skills and knowledge through community projects. The program also offers participants community service hours, earned academic credit and an unpaid internship in federal service. Visit our “Earth Team Volunteers – New Mexico” webpage to sign up for volunteer opportunities in your community.
Original source can be found here.