Meet Nebraska's Featured NRCS Employees
NRCS employees across Nebraska share a purpose and passion about conservation.  Meet a few here, and learn about how they help people help the land.
 

NRCS Civil Engineering Technician

Mitch Keebler
Omaha, Neb., field office
25 years of service

     “One of the best parts of my job is working in a field office where the producer/landowner walks in with a problem (water erosion, animal waste, pipelines etc.,) and you can walk them through a solution. That walk might include reviewing the problem, identifying a solution, program support explanation, design, construction, and following-up afterwards.  Lots of steps in that walk, but I’m proud to see completed projects I’ve worked on and a satisfied customer.”

     "My passion and commitment to my job is fueled by assisting producers that are committed to taking care of their land.   I have worked for 15 years serving the producers of Nebraska as an NRCS employee and helping them achieve their natural resource goals. 
     "Without the producers’ willingness and desire we are very limited.  I am very privileged to work in a county where the producers are conservation-minded and are always looking for ways to protect and improve their land.
     "My greatest satisfaction occurs when a producer comes to the office years after applying a practice, and tells us how wonderful it is working and all the benefits they have received because of it.  This is when we truly know we are achieving the ultimate goal of conserving and enhancing our natural resources."

NRCS District Conservationist

Nick Simonson
Alma, Neb., field office
5 years of service

     Nick is one of the newest District Conservationist in Nebraska.  As the District Conservationist in the Lower Republican Natural Resources District in south central Nebraska, Nick supervises four offices and 14 employees.
     “Growing up on a Nebraska Sandhills ranch I was very involved with agricultural production and conservation.  I began working for NRCS during college and came on full-time after graduation.
      “Working with producers to help them understand the benefits that come with applying different conservation practices is a very gratifying reward.  I feel it’s important to educate landowners on ways to keep their operation sustainable.  Many producers have been in business over 30 years and may not be used to technology that is becoming an integral part of farming and ranching.  I enjoy helping them understanding ways these technologies can be used.
      “I also take pleasure in assisting beginning farmers and ranchers.  Some of these producers are not aware of the many programs and services from NRCS, and they become excited once they find out!"

NRCS Civil Engineering Technician

Ken Kotera
Wahoo, Neb., field office
27 years of service

      “In my 27-plus NRCS years, visual results to me are the most gratifying - seeing you are ‘Helping People Help the Land’.  I’m most proud of the design and construction in promoting the Wetlands Reserve Program sites.  There is a sense of satisfaction seeing conservation being put on the land and knowing I helped with preserving water quality and restoring wildlife habitat for future generations.  It’s also gratifying to provide technical assistance for land treatment options to landowners/operators in curbing soil loss.”