The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will celebrate its 75th anniversary on April 27, 2010. The NRCS, formerly Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has helped people on the land in Texas for these seven decades in an honorable and distinguished fashion.

The agency has come a long way since the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s to provide assistance to farmers, ranchers, and other land users to protect, conserve and sustain our natural resources of soil, water, air, plants, and animals.

The NRCS works with landowners in conjunction with the Kleberg-Kenedy Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board No. 356.

John Prukop is the Chairman with Vern Crocker being the Secretary. Trey Quackenbush is the Vice-Chairman and David Schubert and Ernest Bippert, Jr. are members which round out the Board.

“We have to continue to protect these fragile resources every day the best we can especially with weather uncertainties and all the other factors that are out of our control,” Chairman Prukop said. “It is indeed a privilege to serve as a Director on the SWCD Board and be an example to my fellow farmers,” says David Schubert, director on the Board.

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS — Pictured from left are Robert Schmidt, Ernest Bippert, Jr., David Schubert, Trey Quackenbush, and John Prukop; in front is Kleberg County Judge Pete De La Garza presenting the proclamation to Vern Crocker designating April 27 as Conservation Day. “We thank those in Kleberg and Kenedy Counties who are committed to conserving their resources for now and future generations,” adds Vern Crocker, Board Secretary.

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 as well as those in Kleberg and Kenedy counties.

Proclamation declaring April 27, 2010 as ‘Conservation Day’ in honor of the 75th Anniversary of NRCS. “I appreciate the partnership that our District has with the SCS/NRCS for all these years,” Ernest Bippert, Jr. said. “They have been a big help to me on my land in Kleberg County.”

We still have conservation challenges that we face today.

Due to technology and research and the dedicated efforts of farmers and ranchers and others, the impact of conservation problems of 75 years ago has been definitely lessened.

But with the ever growing population, conservation and protection of our natural resources becomes even more critical so that enough food and fiber can be produced to go around. For now let us celebrate 75 years of helping people help the land with Conservation Day on Tuesday, April 27.

For more information on conservation and programs available, contact the NRCS office or SWCD office in Kingsville at 401 East King Avenue or call at (361) 592- 0309 Ext. 3.