ORDER NO. 31689
			    	RESOLUTION IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 75 ANNIVERSARY OF THE
					 	USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
			 	Came to be heard this the  12th day of April, 2010, with a motion made by Commissioner
			 	Letz,  seconded by Commissioner Oehler, the Court unanimously approved by a vote of
			 	4 -0 -0 to:
			 	Approve Resolution and Proclamation in commemoration of the 75 Anniversary of the
			 	USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
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COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND ONE (1) COPY OF THIS REQUEST
AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT
MADE BY: Judge Tinley OFFICE: County Judge
MEETING DATE: April 12, 2010 TIME PREFERRED:
SUBJECT: Consider, discuss and take appropriate action to adopt resolution and
proclamation in commemoration of the 75t~' anniversary of the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service (MRCS).
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON)
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: Judge Tinley
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION:
IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in
accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS RQUEST RECEIVED ON:
5:00 PM previous Tuesday
@ .M
All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate
information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court
Meetings. Your cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towards your request being
addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules Adopted by Commissioners'
Court.
United States Department of Agriculture
o NHCS
Natural Resources Conservation Service
101 South Main Street
Temple, Texas 76501-7602
Telephone: 254-742-9800 Fax: 254-742-9819
March 17, 2010
The Honorable Pat Tinley
Kerr County Judge
700 Main
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Dear Judge Tinley:
On Apri127, 2010, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will celebrate i'ts
75th anniversary. Born out of the days of anguish and adversity of the Dust Bowl, NRCS, ',
formerly Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has a long and distinguished place in Texas history of
helping people help the land.
The dust storms, eroded fields and overused rangelands of seven decades ago, have given way do
a land of plenty. This is a strong testament to the men and women of Texas who have worked ',
the land, care for it and restored its bounty and beauty with the help of state agricultural colleges,
universities, Extension and Research. NRCS is very proud to have been part of this legacy of '
conservation, stewardship and production so strongly embraced by the state's farmers and
ranchers.
In recognition of this proud event for us, I am requesting a county proclamation from you
recognizing the NRCS and its place in state history of helping Texans care for Texas land. We'
have enclosed a draft proclamation for your convenience. If possible, our local NRCS personnel
would be honored if they could join you in a photo event as you sign the proclamation. For Kerr
County, please contact the Kerrville Field Office at (830) 896-4911 ext. 3 to let them know when
the proclamation signing will be scheduled. ',
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Respectfully,
,~rs~i,~
DONALD W. GOHMERT
State Conservationist
LValadez:mb 3/12/10
cc: Assistant State Conservationists for Field Operations
District Conservationists
Helping People Help the Land
An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
DRAFT Proclamation
WHEREAS the people across Texas wish to live in harmony with the natural resources and leave
abetter earth for our children and grandchildren;
WHEREAS conservationists across our beautiful State work hand-in-hand with the citizens of
Texas to conserve natural resources and to create a healthy land;
WHEREAS leadership for conservation of natural resources on private lands is provided by a
partnership that includes soil conservation districts, State conservation agencies, other Federal
agencies, Tribes, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service;
WHEREAS the Natural Resources Conservation Service and its predecessor, the Soil
Conservation Service, have been helping agricultural landowners in Texas meet their
conservation goals;
WHEREAS the Natural Resources Conservation Service has established an important
conservation partnership with farmers and ranchers in Texas;
WHEREAS now is the time to recognize the contributions of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service and its partners, and to increase awareness among the State's citizens of
the importance of natural resources;
Now, therefore, I, , do proclaim Apri127, 2010, as Conservation
Day in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the State
of Texas, and urge all citizens to celebrate this special observance, and further, to reflect on ways
that together that we can contribute to a healthy environment and make Texas an even greater ',
place to live, work, and raise a family.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of Texas to be affixed
(day) of (month), 2010.
~`~. ~~ i w
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~ A Legacy of Conservation
About NRCS
Helping People Help the Land
Since 1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (originally called the Soil
Conservation Service) has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's
private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources'',
NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science and suited to
a customer's specific needs.. We provide financial assistance for many conservation
activities. Participation in our programs is voluntary.
• Our Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program provides voluntary
conservation technical assistance to land-users, communities, units of state and local'
government, and, other Federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation
systems.
• We reach out to all segments of the agricultural community, including underserved
and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, to ensure that our programs and
services are accessible to everyone.
• We manage natural resource conservation programs that provide environmental,
societal; financial, and technical benefits.
• Our science and technology activities provide technical expertise in such areas
as animal husbandry and clean water, ecological sciences, engineering, resource
economics, and social sciences.
• We provide expertise in soil science and leadership for soil surveys and for the
National Resources Inventory, which assesses natural resource conditions and trends
in the United States.
• We provide technical assistance to foreign governments, and participate in
international scientific and technical exchanges.
A Story of Land and People
NRCS draws on a tradition of principles in working with private landowners
that is as relevant today as when it was a dream to Hugh Hammond Bennett in
the late 1920s and early 1930s.
A career soil scientist in USDA, Bennett became convinced that soil erosion was
a national menace and that its solution lay in tailoring conservation practices to
fit the capability of the land and the desires of landowners.
Simple solutions for all situations would be fruitless. The crops, the land, and
the climate were so diverse that specialists. in agronomy, forestry, soil science,
biology, engineering, and social sciences contributed to conservation methods.
They worked with farmers to find solutions that benefited the land and fulfilled
the landowners' aspirations.
In 1933, the Soil Erosion Service, predecessor to the Soil Conservation Service
and NRCS, began working with farmers in the Coon Creek watershed of
southwesteni Wisconsin to transform the square, eroding fields into what one
sees today-a conservation showplace of contouring, stripcropping, terracing,
and wise land use that: benefits the soil, air, water, as well as the plant, animal,
and human life of the whole watershed.
The carpeting of the land with soil conservation works nationwide was hastened
with the passage of the. Soil Conservation Act in April of 1935. Recognition
of the first conservation district, bounded by the Brown Creek watershed in
North Carolina, on August 4, 193?, established a method for the Service to
assist farmers in the conservation districts. Locally elected citizens established
priorities and plans for the district's work.
i«!
U5DA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Helping People Help the Land
~~ o MRCS
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
#31689
PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF DECLARING APRIL 27, 2010
"CONSERVATION DAY"
WHEREAS the people across Texas wish to live in harmony with the natural resources and
leave a better earth for our children and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS conservationists across our beautiful State work hand-in-hand with the citizens of
Texas to conserve natural resources and to create a healthy land; and
WHEREAS leadership for conservation of natural resources on private lands is provided by a
partnership that includes soil conservation districts, State conservation agencies,
other Federal agencies, Tribes, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service ;and ',
WHEREAS the Natural Resources Conservation Service and its predecessor, the Soil
Conservation Service, have been helping agricultural landowners in Texas meet
their conservation goals; and
WHEREAS the Natural Resources Conservation Service has established an important
conservation partnership with farmers and ranchers in Texas; and
WHEREAS now is the time to recognize the contributions of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service and its partners, and to increase awareness among the
State's citizens of the importance of natural resources; and
Now, therefore, Kerr County Commissioners' Court does hereby proclaim April 27, 2010, as
Conservation Day in honor of the 75"' Anniversary of the National Resources Conservation
Service in the State of Texas, and urge all citizens to celebrate this special observance, and
further, .to reflect on ways that together that we can contribute to a healthy environment and mate
Texas an ever greater place to live, work, and raise a family.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, members of the Court have affixed their signatures and the seal of '',
said county as of the 12`'' day of April, 2010. ',
Adopted this 12th day of April, 2010
County Judge
lL y)
~I. A. "Buster" Baldwin, Commissioner
Precinct tll.
Jonathan ~
Precinct 3
~ ~
~lliairl H. Williams, Commissioner
Precinct 2
Bruce Oehler, Commissioner
Precinct 4