NRCS Employees Recognized for Rangeland Management and Conservation Education Efforts

News Release - Texas Section Society for Range Management

South Padre, Texas – Several NRCS employees were recently honored at the annual Texas Section Society for Range Management (TSSRM) meeting held in South Padre Island, Texas.

Kent Ferguson, Rangeland Management Specialist in the Zone 5 office in Weatherford, was honored with the Natural Resources Conservation Service County Level award. The TSSRM annually recognizes individuals who have directly contributed to range management accomplishments at the county level. The state recipients of this award are selected from all the county nominees by a committee of representatives from university faculty, federal and state government agencies, and conservation and environmental organizations.

“Kent was selected because he stresses the need for applying sound grazing management to all land users that he assists,” stated Jed Elrod, chair of the County Level Awards committee. “He makes grazing management a priority with all the contracts that he works with.”

Steve Nelle, a wildlife biologist in the Zone 2 office San Angelo, Texas was recognized with was recently honored for his accomplishments with an Outstanding Achievement award at the annual meeting. This is the first year the Outstanding Achievement Award has been presented. It is designed to recognize those who have demonstrated an exceptional level of achievement in rangeland and natural resource conservation and education.

Nelle has dedicated his 30-year career with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to educating people on range and wildlife management, plant identification, watershed and ecosystem function and other aspects of natural resource conservation. Riparian management is one of his areas of expertise. He has written several papers on the subject, as well as conducted numerous workshops for landowners and natural resource professionals.

For his ambition and leadership skills, Jason Hohlt, Rangeland Management Specialist in Kingsville, was honored with the Outstanding Young Range Professional Award. Hohlt is recognized for his outstanding natural leadership skills, as well as the quality of and willingness to work. Hohlt possesses a special ability to communicate effectively with others while promoting sound resource management.

Melony Sikes, Program Manager in the Zone 2 office in San Angelo, was honored with the Fellow Award for her dedication and service to the TSSRM, and her desire to continually find ways to educate the public about the importance of rangelands.

She was instrumental in developing the “Legacy of Rangeland Stewardship” video, which is sold as fundraiser and is a valuable education tool for TSSRM. The video is available internationally for use to educate students on the importance of rangelands.

Sikes has been a member of the TSSRM since 1987, and has served on or chaired nearly every committee. She served as TSSRM Director from 2001 to 2003. She is always willing to take on demanding and time-consuming special assignments for the Section. She is recognized as one of TSSRM’s most devoted, hard-working, and dedicated members.

TSSRM is a professional organization composed of individuals sharing a common interest in the study, management and rational use of rangelands and related ecosystems. For more information on TSSRM, visit their website at www.tssrm.org.

Contact:

Dr. Robert W. Knight
Associate Department Head
Department of Rangeland Ecology
and Management
2126 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-2126
Office: 979-845-5557
FAX: 979-845-6430

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