Award of Excellence in Hispanic Community Outreach: 

Virginia’s State Conservationist Paving the Way for the Future of Conservation via Outreach, Mentoring, Engagement and Visibility.

BY: Jeffrey Blakley, Virginia Public Affairs Specialist

The National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS Employees (NOPHNRCSE) is an organization committed to mentorship, conservation, creativity, equity and fairness. Purpose-driven to support the delivery of Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) program benefits to the Hispanic community, NOPHNRCSE is an integral part of the effort to conserve our nation’s natural resources.

Community outreach is a vital component of connecting farmers and landowners with the resources available through government programs, educational institutions and cooperative agreements. An effective community outreach program will have both immediate and long-term impact. To encourage and recognize the efforts of individuals committed to outreach, NOPHNRCSE selects an individual to receive its Award of Excellence in Hispanic Community Outreach. Recipients are those who have shown leadership and dedicated their time to involvement with the organization and who have led substantial efforts to serve the Hispanic community. This year’s award winner is Dr. Edwin Martinez Martinez, NRCS’ state conservationist for Virginia.

Dr. Martinez has been an active member of NOPHNRCSE for more than 18 years. He has served on scholarship selection committees, given keynote addresses and mentored numerous farmers, landowners and agency employees. Dr. Martinez and his work are rooted in conservation, education, outreach and mentorship.

Officially, Dr. Martinez’s career in conservation began in 2005 through an internship with NRCS in Nebraska. Throughout his internship, Dr. Martinez worked with and learned from several experts in the various disciplines (e.g., soil conservationist, soil scientist, biologist, and engineering) required to effectively understand the conservation planning process and best management practices. It was during this time that Martinez understood his calling in life. While this revelation came in his 20s, the seeds of conservation had been planted while he was growing up in Puerto Rico.

Having taken a conservation course in Puerto Rico, Dr. Martinez was exposed not only to classic coursework, but to its practical application on-site. He became acutely aware of the limited resources of his home island and to the degradation of Puerto Rican soil and water quality.

“It was during this class, that I began to think about future generations, asking myself, ‘How we can preserve the island?’” Dr. Martinez said.

Progressing through his care and challenging himself with roles giving him greater responsibility, Martinez cites Carlos Suarez, NRCS’ state conservationist for California, as an important mentor, saying, “Carlos has made a very big impact on my career, my desire to continue growing and my ability to lead.”

Motivated to help, Dr. Martinez has continued his career path while always allowing time to mentor and guide others. Understanding the difficulties faced by Americans who learn English as a second language (ESL), he serves on the Limited English Proficiency Advisory Committee for the USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) division.

“Having trust in yourself when speaking can be difficult in any setting, and that is often amplified when speaking a language that is not native to you,” Dr. Martinez said.

Understanding and valuing the impact of having a mentor, Dr. Martinez has established a mentoring program in Virginia that requires all new NRCS employees to be assigned a mentor within 30 days. His goal is to ensure that all employees, especially ESL staff, are comfortable asking questions and communicating with their peers and colleagues.

“Checking in with people is important to me,” he said. “I want my team members to excel in communicating and be able to speak up as needed without fear.”

Which is why Dr. Martinez often helps ESL staff build a connection with NOPHNRCSE.

“I focus on ensuring staff are comfortable here at Virginia NRCS and throughout the country. NOPHNRCSE is a wonderful group to support that effort and I am grateful to be part of a team focused on the betterment of the overall conservation effort,” Dr. Martinez said.

Partnership is at the forefront of Martinez’s approach to leading NRCS operations in Virginia and is a driving force behind his desire to ensure the agency is actively engaging with all possible communities. He has worked extensively with Virginia State University and Virginia Tech, resulting in collaborative efforts that include VSU’s small farm outreach programs and Tech’s “4 the Soil” initiative. These programs have been instrumental in education efforts throughout the state.

“We must use every tool is our toolbox and, when we do, we are assured that we will continue to lead the way in conservation,” Dr. Martinez said.

Dr. Martinez has no intent to slow down and said he will use this award as a spur to reinforce his efforts. He plans to continue being a mentor within the Hispanic community and with conservation causes throughout the country.

“I have been fortunate to find my passion in life and I am grateful to be part of NOPHNRCSE and work with so many talented and driven people. It is my goal to continue fostering an environment of inclusivity, respect and opportunity,” Dr. Martinez said.  “I’d like to say ‘thank you’ to my peers, my mentors, friends and fellow conservationists for this award and to remind them to always remember that conservation works!”