Conservation volunteers honored during ‘National Volunteer Week’

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COLUMBUS – Last year, State Conservationist Terry Cosby issued a challenge to Ohio Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) employees to grow the volunteer workforce, called the Earth Team, by
recruiting at least one volunteer in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. Not only did employees respond; they
created the largest Earth Team volunteer corps in the history of NRCS in Ohio. He’s celebrating the work
these volunteers contribute to conservation in Ohio during National Volunteer Week, which began last
Sunday and continues through this coming Sunday.
Earth Team volunteers extend NRCS services by giving their time, talent, and energy to help NRCS
employees and customers protect and improve natural resources on agricultural and forest lands. In Ohio,
2,700 Earth Team volunteers donated 22,550 hours of service valued at $500,000 in fiscal year 2013.
That’s a 400 percent increase in volunteers and 200 percent increase in volunteer hours from the
previous year. Nationally, 22,800 Earth Team volunteers donated 330,000 hours of service in fiscal year
2013.
"I’m proud of my staff and the effort they made to grow Ohio’s Earth Team. I’m also grateful to all
the volunteers that gave of themselves in service to Ohio residents and environment," Cosby said.
"Our volunteers accomplished a great variety of work, from planting wetlands and gardens, to
removing trash along highways. Our volunteers do more than projects; many work alongside our staff in
our offices or on a farm assisting with conservation planning. We have no shortage of work for
volunteers!"
Volunteers range from retirees to students needing an internship for their degree. Job seekers, including
many new Veterans, gain valuable experience and references for their resumes. NRCS hires people with
education and experience in a wide range of fields, including engineering, communication, human
resources, finance, management, IT, and clerical support to name a few. If you’re interested, contact us
to see how your skills and experience may help the conservation customers we serve.
Learn more about the Earth Team by calling (toll-free) 888-526-3227 or online at
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/people/volunteers.

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