Earth Team Volunteer Joins Eagle Pass NRCS Team for the Summer

(Press Release) Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK) student, Valerie Ruiz, will be joining the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) team for 10 weeks this summer as an Earth Team volunteer. Ruiz, an animal science/pre-vet major at TAMUK, will be learning about NRCS and what they do as she helps district conservationist, Serafin Aguirre, and other staff in the office and in the field with conservation planning in Maverick County.

“We are excited to have Valerie join us to learn through hands-on training what we do at NRCS in helping people, help the land,” said Aguirre. “Valerie’s efforts working with private landowners and land managers will help improve the natural resources in the county that will contribute to cleaner water and air for everyone.”

Earth Team is a program that partners volunteers with NRCS employees. It was created in 1985 and offers many opportunities to individuals 14 and older who are interested in volunteering to improve the nation’s natural resources. Earth Team volunteers help NRCS conservationists provide private landowners and others a range of services from conservation technical assistance to teaching and generating awareness about conservation through community projects. The program can also be used by high school and college students for community service requirements.

Last month, NRCS celebrated National Volunteer Week by thanking and honoring its Earth Team volunteers for their service to conservation. In Texas, 1,600 Earth Team volunteers and Friends of Conservation contributed 14,455 hours helping NRCS and partners with critical conservation work. The Texas NRCS Earth Team Volunteers efforts helped save $340,560 of taxpayer’s money based on $23.56/hour.

“I am excited to see how NRCS helps landowners improve their farms and ranches,” said Ruiz. “As a pre-vet major, I know how the land is managed plays an important role in the health of livestock and wildlife so I want to improve my knowledge to be able to help future clients I work with and for when I own a ranch one day.”

For more information about conservation planning or being an Earth Team volunteer, contact the Maverick County NRCS office at (830) 872-3627.