Two from Cherokee County recognized by Texas Area IV conservation district

Two Cherokee County residents, nominees from the Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District, earned recognition from Area IV, a 53-county district association. David Little was named Area IV Forestry Conservationist and Amanda Low was the Conservation Teacher Runner-up.

Jennifer Pacheco, with the CCSWCD, said the district was very excited for their winners.

Pacheco said Little is a producer who is involved a lot in the programs that are offered at the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a group which Little gave credit to.

“It’s truly an honor," Little said. "We get so much support from our services, whether it be the NRCS or the local Cherokee County Association, A&M guys; we’re just fortunate to have those and they have helped me so much. I am truly thrilled to be honored.”

Little, who is retired, manages an approximate 65-acre farm with his wife Paula, where he is involved with hay production and forestry work.

Little said in terms of conservation, he is involved in everything from revitalizing pasture land to reforesting land and planting new timber.

He was specifically awarded for his practices of planting trees, using the latest technology to properly plan out planting and using drones to help maintain plantings.

“We enjoy the rural life,” Little said.

“I do truly want to emphasize a special thanks to the resource people that really help us, our state, our county, our federal; all three offer assistance and guidance,” Little said. “It’s a talented group of people that’s open to helping anyone in our area.”

Pacheco said Low could not be nominated while her husband was serving on the CCSWCD board.

“For the teacher, that was a very personal thing for me because I’ve worked with Ms. Low since I started working for the county and she does such an amazing job,” Pacheco said. I knew she needed to get nominated and have the opportunity to win and to be recognized for all the things that she has done for the kids and exposing them to agriculture and soil and water conservation.”

Low, who has been in education for 14 years, first began teaching fourth grade. When she realized they didn’t understand what agriculture meant, she knew something needed to be done. With her involvement in 4-H and her husband being an extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, she knew she could find resources to help.

“I started trying to be more diligent in making them aware,” Low said. “I just started seeing what kind of programs I could bring to my classroom to make science more engaging and fun for my students, especially if it’s offered for free.”

She currently teaches second grade math and science and incorporates various programs to build on the science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills she is required to teach. Some of the programs and teaching aids Low uses are the watershed pollution model, Farm Bureau’s Read Across America that features books on agriculture, the county’s soil and water conservation poster contest, hatching eggs in the classroom and once-a-month zoom meetings with farmers on a variety of subjects.

Low was recognized for taking the students on field trips related to agriculture, using curriculum devoted to soil and water conservation and partnering with local programs to bring real life agriculture into the classroom.

Low said she was surprised by the award, but honored and appreciative of it.

Both Little and Low will be recognized at the county awards banquet May 3 and the area event May 7.

The CCSWCD meets at 5:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at the USDA Service Center located at 4361 Loop 343 W. in Rusk. The organization can be contacted by calling 903-683-4669 or by sending email to cherokeecounty@swcd.texas.gov.

For information about the CCSWCD, visit the Cherokee County TX Soil and Water Conservation District Facebook page. For information about the Texas Soil & Water Conservation board, visit tsswcb.texas.gov.