Level 3 ACES Enrollee, Rhoby Cook, began working as the Klamath Trinity Resource Conservation District Coordinator for the Eureka, CA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in July, 2007. She is responsible for strengthening Tribal participation in NRCS Programs and creating programs for the Klamath Trinity Resource Conservation District (KTRCD), one of the first tribal conservation districts in California. She also works with members of the KTRCD to implement the Seventh Generation Plan (a long term Tribal planning document) which focuses on supporting small agricultural development and educating the community about conservation issues such as soil building and water usage.

“Rhoby has proven to be the perfect person for the position.  She has the needed contacts, imagination, and commitment, and with her help the KTRCD has been making great strides. It has established its goals and work plan, and entered into a Mutual Agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture.  With Rhoby's help, the KTRCD is now starting to find sources of assistance to ensure continued operation and implementation of its work plan and projects,” says Rhoby’s Monitor, Bruce Gordon, District Conservationist for the NRCS Eureka Field Office.

A life-long grassroots organizer and gardener, Ms. Cook acts as a liaison between the NRCS, Hoopa Valley Tribe and the KTRCD in developing and implementing important community programs and resource inventories. Most recently, she is assisting in setting-up a community farm or CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in order to assure fresh vegetables are accessible to the 2600 individuals that live on the reservation.

With gas at $5 a gallon in that area, Ms. Cook noted that there has been an increased interest among community members to grow their own food. “It is gratifying to work on a project and realize that lots of people are coming forward to help and be involved. The organization is helping people do things that they want to do, developing small businesses and cleaning up the community,” says Ms. Cook.

In order to gather support for the CSA and other programs, Ms. Cook does a lot of community outreach by creating brochures, attending local fairs and talking with friends and neighbors on the reservation where she is, in fact, a home-owner.

Ms. Cook holds a B.A. degree in Sociology and Economics from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and prior to working with the ACES Demonstration Project, worked as an independent radio producer and directed a non-profit arts and culture organization.

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