By Logan Garner
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| Division of Soil Conservation staff June 2012 |
You read
that right: “Who?” Indiana’s State
Department of Agriculture is more than just a collection of divisions and
offices, to be sure. The Division of
Soil Conservation is no different. A
diverse group of individuals (with an even more diverse set of skills, knowledge
and responsibilities) make up the soils division, whose primary goal is to
advocate for and reach out to Indiana’s citizens across the state regarding
their agricultural, conservation and informational needs. It’s time for a review of those people out
and about the state of Indiana as well as those who work behind the scenes to
bring a face and a voice from ISDA to the citizens it serves.
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| District Support Specialist Laura Fribley, Resource Specialist Sue Gerlach, Resource Specialist Cassandra Vondran |
Resource Specialists (RS)—These people are the Division of
Soil Conservation’s bread and butter.
“Resource specialist” is not just a clever name, as these field staff really
do specialize in providing you with valuable resources! These folks work and live across the state
where they connect farmers and other individuals to local, state and federal
cost-share programs and grants, agricultural and conservation organizations
alike, as well as local and regional events from which local knowledge and
resources are shared.
They also
provide technical assistance, and are our “boots on the ground” here at the
Division of Soil Conservation when it comes to surveying, designing and
implementing conservation practices. Resource
Specialists serve in many capacities and usually have other roles as well (as
you can see just below!). They are
housed within local NRCS and Soil and Water Conservation District offices, and
if one cannot be found in your county, you can bet there’s one close by whose
area of service certainly includes your own.
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| Program Manager Jordan Seger and District Support Specialist Geneva Rawlins |
District Support Specialists (DSS) – Just as their name indicates, DSSs
operate specifically in a supportive capacity for local Soil and Water
Conservation Districts. This support
comes in all forms, from aiding in planning and organization, to running normal
operations within the district, to building capacity and outreach, and even to
training for legal, administrative or conservation program-related tasks. In short, a District Support Specialist
serves the local SWCD office much like Resource Specialists serve
individuals.
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| Middle Wabash-Busseron watershed CREP Leader Dale Walker |
CREP Leaders—CREP, or the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program,
is active in eleven
large watersheds across the state.
In each of these watersheds there is a CREP Leader: a Resource
Specialist specifically tasked with reaching out to, educating and enrolling
landowners in this cost-share program.
Along-side their regular duties as Resource Specialists, CREP Leaders
are there to guide anyone who is interested in the environmental and economic
benefits this program provides.
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| Jim Woody, Team Leader |
Team Leaders—Team Leaders are yet another
important aspect of the Division’s field presence. These individuals represent their own section in the state and serve as managers to the rest of the RSs and
CREP Leaders in their respective areas.
And—you guessed it—they ALSO hold the duties and responsibilities of any
Resource Specialist. Team Leaders work
hard to ensure that the rest of us are trained, well-informed and working
together to fulfill the needs of those who seek us out (and those whom we seek
out). As with all these roles, Team
Leaders’ jobs are multi-faceted and shaped by the many needs and partnerships
that exist in Indiana.
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| Program Manager Deb Fairhurst and District Support Specialist Laura Fribley, Goose Pond tour with State Soil Conservation Board 2010 |
Support Staff—What is a field staff without its
support? The “behind the scenes” staff
for the Division of Soil Conservation gets around plenty, but mostly works in
the state office in Indianapolis. From
here and there (and everywhere, really), administrative staff and program
managers are responsible for the travel, training and communication between
field staff as well as communication between conservation partners and local,
state and federal entities. Program
managers ensure the smooth operation of ISDA’s and the Division’s many programs
and initiatives. Administrative staff
processes payments, contracts and grants, and organize meetings. They generate literature, maps and press
releases for events and programs all over the state. Heck, some of them even get out to the field and get their hands dirty from time to time! Support staff are also responsible for logistics and support to the State Soil Conservation Board, but that's another blog post.
If you know
anyone from the Division of Soil Conservation, you know he or she wears many
hats. Many of us here are active members
in organizations and committees in our own communities at home as well. Maybe yours is one of those!
More information on Technical Assistance: http://www.in.gov/isda/2367.htm
More information on District Support: http://www.in.gov/isda/2373.htm
Contact the Division of Soil Conservation: cleanwaterindiana@isda.in.gov
More information on District Support: http://www.in.gov/isda/2373.htm
Contact the Division of Soil Conservation: cleanwaterindiana@isda.in.gov
