Pennsylvania Ag News Headlines Former Keystone NRCS Employee Named Kentucky State Conservationist Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 09/03/2008 USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces the appointment of Thomas Perrin as Kentucky's new State Conservationist, effective this past Sunday. Perrin comes to Kentucky from Ohio where he most recently served as the Assistant State Conservationist for Programs. Perrin is a native of Florida and grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania. He began his career in 1977 as a district technician with the Westmoreland (Pennsylvania) Conservation District and then a soil conservation technician with NRCS (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) in three other Pennsylvania counties. Perrin's experience includes numerous positions held at NRCS in Ohio, including: soil conservationist, district conservationist, lead district conservationist, assistant state conservationist for field operations and the assistant state conservationist for programs. Perrin is also an instructor for the National Employees Development Center (NEDC), which is the focal point for training in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. He also completed several details as assistant state conservationist for operations in Ohio, assistant state conservationist for programs in Vermont, National Emergency Watershed Protection program manager in Washington, DC, and state conservationist in Kansas. Perrin holds an associate degree in environmental/conservation technology from the Westmoreland Community College in Pennsylvania and a bachelor degree in environmental studies from Ohio University. He is a 2001 graduate of the NRCS Midwest Leadership Development Program. Over the past thirty years, Perrin developed leadership skills as well as a sincere interest in resource conservation and management. He carries that commitment to both the job and the people who serve with him. He is a U.S. Naval Reserve –Seabees veteran, has owned and operated a small beef herd and has an interest in hunting, fishing and handy-man work. He served on the parish council at St. John Fisher Church, was a trustee of the Steubenville Rifle and Pistol Club and is a 4H Shooting Sports Instructor. Tom and his wife, Angela have three children and two grandchildren. More from this state at: Pennsylvania Ag Connection Copyright © 2009 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.