Longtime Agriculture Employee Receives Conservation Award

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts recently bestowed its 2010 Distinguished Service Award to longtime Tennessee Department of Agriculture employee Jim Nance. As an environmental assistance project manager, Nance has spent more than 20 years managing farm programs that provide cost share assistance to Tennessee landowners, allowing them to install Best Management Practices on their farms.

State Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens was on hand to help present the award at the 66th Annual TACD Convention held in Nashville earlier this month. He called Nance a tireless worker and said that his work for natural resources conservation has made the entire state a better place to live and work. In addition to his regular duties, Nance is also the Executive Secretary to the State Soil Conservation Committee, which advises the Tennessee Department of Agriculture on matters related to soil conservation and water quality improvement.

In awarding the honor, TACD presented a video tribute, noting, “Jim Nance’s commitment to conservation, soil conservation districts and the natural resources goes well beyond the boundaries of his job. His willingness to go the extra mile to get the job done is well-known by his colleagues.”

Nance’s daughter and son-in-law, Anita and Weldon Akins of Gallatin, also attended the TACD Awards Banquet to help celebrate. Upon accepting his award, Nance jokingly asked whether this was actually a surprise retirement party. Givens assured him that it was not.

Nance grew up on a farm near Alamo in Crockett County where he attained some notoriety raising purebred Hampshire hogs. In fact, he had the grand champion in both the junior swine show and the open Hampshire show at the Mid-South fair in 1948. He served in the US Army for three years and has a bachelor's and master's degree in Animal Husbandry from UT Knoxville. He has four children and numerous grandchildren.

Information provided courtesy of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. To learn more about USDA-NRCS, visit your nearest USDA Farm Service Center, or go to www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov. NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Media Contact: Perry Stevens, 615-277-2533