Hammer Honored by Texas Section Society for Range Management

Contact: Charles Anderson
NRCS Zone Rangeland Management Specialist

During its annual convention in Del Rio, the Texas Section Society for Range Management (TSSRM) honored Tom Hammer of Fredericksburg, Texas, with its Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) County Level award. Hammer is district conservationist for the NRCS in Fredericksburg.

“Tom is a staunch supporter of applying sound conservation practices to rangeland,” stated Charles Anderson, TSSRM president and NRCS zone range management specialist in San Angelo, Texas. “He is a leader in his community and works with producers on a daily basis to help them develop conservation plans for their land and understand their natural resources better.”

Hammer has been instrumental in developing a local range ecology and range management workshop. He worked with Fredericksburg Community Education to develop a plant identification course that is now taught at Fredericksburg High School.

Hammer took the lead in establishing the Gillespie Chapter of the Edward Plateau Prescribed Burn Association. He regularly helps landowners learn more about planning and applying prescribed burns in a safe and effective manner.

Hammer works with the Gillespie County Soil and Water Conservation District, Texas Cooperative Extension and other partners to host several range tours and workshops each year. These events usually have 350-400 producers in attendance.

The TSSRM annually recognizes individuals who have directly contributed to range management accomplishments at the county level. The 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.

The 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.

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