Natural Resources Career Development Program
NRCDP
STUDENT BIOS
This summer of 2018, we placed 11 NMSU students into NRCS internship positions all around the country. Below you can read a little about each student, where they were stationed, the great experiences they had this summer during their internship, and some advise they offer to future NRCDP applicants.
Rian Nials
Fortworth, Texas
My name is Rian Nials, I am from the small town of Radium Springs, New Mexico. I am majoring in Range Science and getting two minors in Livestock Production and Ranch Management, and I plan on graduating December of 2019. This summer, I enjoyed being able work with a wide variety of producers, along with many different NRCS employees that have a large skillset.
My favorite part about being in Fort Worth, TX was being able to explore the cities and see numerous museums and historical sites such as the BRIT and Stockyards. The most valuable skill I learned was how to effectively evaluate range/pasture and relay the information in a way that the producer finds useful.
Advice that I would give is don’t be afraid to take advantage of any opportunities even if they are not exactly what you want. Getting your foot in the door will open so many more and lead you on whatever path you may want for yourself.
Melissa Meyers
Ottawa, Kansas
My name is Melissa Meyers, I am from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Range Science. I plan on graduating May of 2021. This summer, I enjoyed being able to learn new skills such as interacting with producers and working with different specialists in their field of work.
My favorite part about being in Ottawa, KS was going to a place I had never been before and getting to learn more about the Midwest. The most valuable skill I learned was plant identification and learning how the soil health affects the type of vegetation that can grow.
Advice that I would give is don’t be afraid to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to you, even is they're out of your comfort zone. These experiences will teach you important skills that may help you in the future.
Lauren Samaniego
Conway, Arkansas
My name is Lauren Samaniego, I am from El Paso, Texas. I am pursuing a masters in Conservation Ecology. I plan on graduating May of 2020. The staff of the NRCS office I worked for this summer were amazing! So welcoming and there was a real sense of inclusion and family. Not to mention Conway, AR was beautiful with thick lush forest and rangelands.
My favorite part about Conway was my "Conway family"- they were awesome. They not only made sure that I was getting the absolute most out of my internship experience by allowing me to work on contracts, do field work, and encouraging me to attend as many trainings as I could, they also made sure I was getting the most out of my time in Arkansas by experiencing everything Arkansas had to offer. The most valuable skill I learned was communicating with ranchers ad producers and developing sustainable practices that were no only good for their operations but for the health of their land.
My advice to future applicants: Be aware that the security clearance process takes a long time and you may not even get it during your internship. You will not be in the field everyday and a good portion of your daily work will be clerical, especailly if you do not have your security clearance. Make sure you always have something to do- if you complete your responsibilities ask for more and if they say there is nothing, there are free online trainings and webinars from AgLearn and other sites to keep you busy.
Jordan Samaniego
North Dakota
My name is Jordan Samaniego, I am from El Paso, TX. I am majoring in Wildlife Science with an minor in Range Science, and I plan on graduating December of 2020. What I enjoyed most this summer was being exposed to a diverse and wide variety of work conditions and tasks. The entire NRCS staff went out of their way to expose me to as much as possible and allowed med to get the most education possible over this summer experience.
I was fortunate enough to be placed in one of the most senic and beautiful counties in the state of North Dakota. Almost everyday I was able to enjoy the outdoors and experience something I would never be exposed to here in New Mexico. The most valuable skill I learned was how to communicate with producers and landowners in a way that allowed us devise long term improvement plans that can enhance the status of their property.
Advice that I would give is ask questions! Showing that you are interested and engaged in the topics allows for more learning opportunities to some. The staff will be eager to to teach you new things. Stay busy. Always offer your services if you find yourself getting bored. If there is nothing to do, there is always plenty of information made available to study and learn from. Make as many connections as possible, and first impressions are everything. You never know who could make that career defining phone call on your behalf.
Melody Martinez
Logan, Utah
My name is Melody Martinez and I was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I graduated August 2018 with a degree in Agricultural Biology. What I enjoyed the most this internship was all the people. Getting to work with producers and NRCS employee was a great experience. The most valuable thing I learning this summer was what it was like to work for the NRCS. It helped me decide if I would want to pursue a career with the agency.
My duty location was in Logan which is in the northern part of Utah. It was beautiful up there. The scenery was amazing and there were lots of trails and parks to explore. The advice I would give is to be curious and ask all the questions you can.
Cynthia Mendez
Willcox, Arizona
My name is Cynthia Mendez, I am from El Paso, TX. I am double majoring in Wildlife Conservation Ecology anf Range Science.
The thing I enjoyed most about my experiences this summer was the field office and the experience of being out in the field, helping people help the land they live on. The most valuable skill I learned was reading the land and using my judgement on how to best help manage the land to benefit the owner and the ecosystem.
Advice I would give is to do your research on the agency, it is a great opportunity and a fantastic experience.
Jeffery Cervantes
Walsenburg, Colorado
My name is Jeffrey Cervantes, I am from Mescalero, New Mexico. I am majoring in Range Science, and I plan on graduating December 2018. This past summer I have had the opportunity to work with the NRCS, which has given me the opportunity to work with several different NRCS offices within Colorado, not just the main office that I was assigned to.
My favorite part about being placed in the Walsenburg, CO office was the people I got to work with. They were very helpful and supportive on making sure I learned as much as possible from multiple people, who are specialist in different fields. The most valuable skills that I have learned from my internship was learning how these different offices work together across the state, how agencies may have to work together, and interactions between an agency and a landowner.
To new NRCDP applicants, my advice would be to ask as many questions as possible, and to take up any opportunity that is presented to you. During my time in Colorado, I always agreed to go somewhere when asked. This has allowed me to make friends in the different offices in southern Colorado. It is always good to make as many connections in as possible in a potential place that you intend to work.
