USDA NRCS 2008 Honor Awardees

Secretary’s Honor Awards
The Secretary’s Honor Awards are the most prestigious Departmental awards presented by the Secretary of Agriculture.  Employees at all grade levels and private citizens are eligible for recognition.

The Honor Award categories for 2008 reflected the goals of the USDA Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2005-2010.  The Plan focuses on the Department’s major programmatic goals and objectives along with other management initiatives -- review the plan online.  An additional award category for heroism and emergency response recognizes USDA employees who perform acts of unusual selflessness or heroism in the line of duty.

This year, the Honor Awards also included a new award category focused on management initiatives that support sustainable practices for energy efficiency.

Category: Protecting and Enhancing the Nation’s Natural Resources Base and Environment
Individual Winner: Roger A. Hansen, State Conservationist, Columbia, Missouri
For formulating and strengthening a cooperative alliance with the Missouri Department of Conservation and other conservation partners which produced exceptional results in conserving and enhancing Missouri’s natural resources.

Category: Enhancing the Competitiveness and Sustainability of Rural Farm Economics
Team Winners: The National Technology Support Center- Co-Group Leaders- Carolyn Adams, Director NTSC and Phil McLoud, Agricultural Engineer. Team Members - Susan Andrews, Ray Archuleta, Bill Boyd, Kim Bradford, Gail Brant, Tracy Briscoe, Leander Brown, Anthony Burns, Frank Clearfield, Elvis Graves, Ron Gronwald, Kale Gullett, Michael Hall, Gene Hardee, Hank Henry, Charles Kome, Holli Kuykendall, Kevin Ogles, Jeff Porter, Madalene Ransom, Bill Reck, Kerry Robinson, Kristin Smith, Charlene Wood
For proving innovative informational tools to reduce barriers to small scale and limited resource farmers in implementing conservation activities which resulted in greater access to USDA programs and technical assistance.

Category: Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation, Management
Team Winner: Robert E. Snieckus, National Landscape Architect Group Member
For leading efforts to “green” USDA Headquarters and for reducing the Department’s carbon footprint through recycling, composting, reducing energy use throughout the complex, and increasing environmental awareness of employees.

Category: Supporting the President’s the President’s Management Agenda and Civil Rights
Individual Winner: Horace D. Hodge, USDA Liaison Officer
For developing and managing a recruitment and retention program that resulted in more high school and college students studying and pursuing careers in food, agriculture and natural resources sciences.