Counties get new conservationists

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service on Thursday announced the appointment of new district conservationists for two Arkansas counties.

The service’s conservationists are part of the voluntary technical support that the USDA offers private landowners, tribes and other non-federal entities in the name of improving land and water quality, plus recreational opportunities and wildlife habitats.

Nolan Beck was named district conservationist for Lincoln County.

Wade Hamilton was named Cross County district conservationist, according to a pair of USDA news releases.

Beck, a professional crappie angler originally from Greenville, Miss., has worked as the district conservationist for Chicot County since 2009, the release said.

For the past four years, Hamilton has served as district conservationist for Crittenden County.

He is from Bay, and was trained in soil and plant science at Arkansas State University, according to the release.