Employee Vignette

Vince Snyder

Natural Resource Specialist, Hadley Field Office

Vince Snyder enjoys experiencing nature, so dedicating his professional life to conservation only made sense. And his current position as a Natural Resource Specialist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is a natural fit.

“Working for NRCS gives me the opportunity to visit and help protect areas that the general public may not have access to,” says Vince. “I was hooked into conservation by my first job restoring wetlands in Pennsylvania. Later, delineating wetlands allowed me to appreciate some great environments prior to their development.”

Vince eventually became involved with farm-based conservation while working for soil and water conservation districts in Virginia, Maryland, and then joined NRCS in Massachusetts in 2002. In his free time, Snyder enjoys bicycling and hiking with his wife and dogs. He is also an accomplished musician who plays mandolin and guitar with Acoustic Brew, a local bluegrass band.

As an NRCS Natural Resource Specialist, Vince works with farmers, like John Kokoski of Mapleline Farm in Hadley, to develop comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMPs), a progressive planning tool. The Kokoski CNMP, which provided recommendations for applying manure and wastewater to meet the nutrient requirements of 85 acres of cropland, was one of the first to be signed and implemented in Massachusetts.

“Learning how to balance the agricultural use of the land with its natural resources and wildlife added complexity to an already interesting profession,” says Vince. “Every day, working with nature can be a learning experience and a rewarding one. It’s great to know that my efforts are helping to preserve our planet’s resources for future generations.”

For More Information Contact:

Diane Baedeker Petit
Public Affairs Officer
413-253-4371
diane.petit@ma.usda.gov

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