Pictured left is Melvin Adams, Nacogdoches County Agriculture Educator of the Year. Mr. Adams and other award recipients will be honored at the Agriculture Appreciation & Awards Banquet presented by TFP Nutrition on Monday, April 10 at the Nacogdoches County Exposition & Civic Center. Click here for more information about the event.

Adams named Ag Educator of the Year
by Kelly Daniel, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce
Chances are a long-time preference for working in the outdoors contributes to Melvin Adams' land management background that spans more than four decades.
He now shares his natural resources management and conservation knowledge with property owners and students through his involvement with the Nacogdoches Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Nacogdoches County Agribusiness committee has chosen Adams as the Agriculture Educator of the Year, and Adams said that he is "honored to be included in the list with the previous award recipients."
Adams is a Nacogdoches County native and claims a "BIA - born in Alazan" title. He graduated from Nacogdoches High School and then Stephen F. Austin State University with a B.S. in agriculture education.
His first professional job was teaching in Silsbee for three years. In 1967, Adams began a career with the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), what is now known as the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He was stationed with the SCS in Kaufman for a few years, and then moved to Center where he continued SCS work for 17 years.
"In 1987, I was selected as the East Texas Plant Materials Center Manager at the SFA Experimental Forest," Adams said, "and retired in 1999."
Adams did not stay still in retirement. He soon began working part-time as a technician for the Nacogdoches Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Today, he continues with the Nacogdoches SWCD, providing conservation information to land owners, including planting and application assistance as well as management assistance.
"Satisfaction for me is seeing the results of putting conservation measures into practice," Adams said. "Starting with something eroded, not producing any real agriculture commodities or products. Then through the effort of the land owner with a little suggestion, and then seeing that multiply into something helpful and producing."
Throughout the years, Adams has built relationships with many in the ag industry including the Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board, SFASU Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the Texas A&M Forest Service and local businesses that have contributed to many of the programs that benefit students.
The Nacogdoches SWCD is involved in several events that train students in natural resources conservation practices through competition. "I've worked with FFA and 4H students in planning and implementing woodland judging, land judging and forage contests," Adams said. "Some are competing to move up to state level." Adams is involved in an SWCD sponsored annual field day competition set for April 5 at Attoyac Farms hosting students from five counties.
Adams also works with the County's fourth and fifth grade students. He is involved in conservation demonstrations such as Ag in the Classroom and other forestry awareness programs.
Adams will be honored at the Agriculture Appreciation & Awareness Banquet presented by TFP Nutrition on April 10 at the Nacogdoches County Exposition & Civic Center. Banquet tables and tickets are available. Contact the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce at 936-560-5533 for details. The event begins at 6 p.m., and the meal is sponsored by Mast Cattle & Timber Investments.
Gary and Sue Atkins Agricultural Scholarship Awards will be presented to Nacogdoches County students, and ag appreciation awards will be presented to the following:
• Hyman and Ben Boozer Family, Farm Family of the Year (sponsored by Tipton Ford-Lincoln);
• Hank Curbow, Agriculture Pioneer (sponsored by Heritage Land Bank);
• Borders Poultry Supply, Inc. Agribusiness of the Year (sponsored by First Bank & Trust East Texas);
• Melvin Adams, Agriculture Educator of the Year (sponsored by Citizens 1st Bank).

Pictured below: Melvin Adams, standing far right, speaks to a group of Fredonia Elementary students at a Soil & Water Conservation District / Natural Resources Conservation Services workshop held at the SFASU Piney Woods Native Plant Center. NRCS member Alan Peer, standing on left, and Nacogdoches SWCD member Chris Crenshaw, center, are also speakers. (Photos by Kelly Daniel)

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