Sid Lowrance Wins National Earth Team Employee of the Year for 2006

MARSHALL, ARKANSAS, January 20, 2007— The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today that J. Sidney Lowrance is the National Earth Team Employee of the Year for 2006.  He was nominated for his leadership and contributions to the Earth Team Volunteer Program.  In 2006, Lowrance, district conservationist at Marshall, Arkansas, and his team of volunteers built and distributed 125 Eastern Bluebird nesting boxes throughout the state.  They also distributed 37,000 tree seedlings in Searcy County.  Groups of volunteers contributed 2,142 volunteer hours in completing both projects.

Many of the tree seedlings are planted along fence rows and roads and around houses and barns.  This helps to grow windbreaks, increase wildlife habitat and improve the beauty of the area.  Trees also prevent erosion, provide nesting sites and purify the air.  “In today’s world a very important factor for planting trees is global warming,” said Lowrance. “If left unchecked, this trend will have dire consequences for Arkansas and the world.”  The tree planting project reached out to 95 families, all of the fifth grade students in the Leslie, Marshall and Saint Joe Schools, as well as members of the Jasper FFA. 

“I recruit environmentally conscious volunteer group leaders who locate volunteers to plant the trees and install the nesting boxes,” said Lowrance.

Nesting sites of the Eastern Bluebird are compromised due to urban sprawl, metal fence posts replacing wooden fence posts, and brush removal on ranches, farms and parks.  “Youths, school classes, church groups, 4-H clubs and Marshall and St. Joe FFA chapters assembled the boxes and carried a few home to install.  They gained experience in building the nesting boxes and in planting trees.  There is great community support for these programs,” said Lowrance.  The group has built and distributed more than 425 Eastern Bluebird nesting boxes since 2004.

“Volunteers play a vital role in achieving our conservation efforts in Searcy County,” he said, “Without them the success we obtained would be far more minimal.

Volunteer group leaders are Ricky Reed, soil conservation technician, Wendy Hendrix, soil conservation technician, Janie McEntire, Buffalo Conservation District secretary, and Bill McEntire, Earth Team volunteer.

For more information about the Eastern Bluebird nesting boxes and tree seedlings planting programs contact Lowrance at (870) 448-3184, extension 3, or visit his office at 201 Factory Road in Marshall.

To find out more about becoming an Earth Team volunteer, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/ volunteers/.

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