Three Tennessee Employees Awarded Highest Honor in USDA Farm Service Agency

Three USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees from Tennessee received Lifetime Achievement Awards at a recent award ceremony in Washington, D.C. From left: Farm Loan Manager Greg Brooks, FSA Administrator Zack Ducheneaux, District Director Don Gray, and Farm Loan Chief James Welborn. Photo by Greer Gill, USDA.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Nov. 1, 2023 – Three U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees from Tennessee were awarded the FSA Administrator's Award for Service to Agriculture. Don Gray of Morristown, Greg Brooks of Rogersville, and James Welborn of Nolensville were acknowledged with Lifetime Achievement Awards at USDA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 24, 2023.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have 30 years or more of service with FSA and have demonstrated and contributed to the improvement of the quality and service of FSA. Awardees are nominated from within the agency and all employees are encouraged to nominate co-workers, supervisors, retirees, or teams who have made significant accomplishments/contributions towards FSA’s strategic goals and objectives.

“I am proud to have three of 2023 winners of the FSA Administrator’s Awards for Service to Agriculture come from here in Tennessee,” said John Litz, Tennessee FSA State Executive Director. “Throughout this past year, as I visited various service centers, I have had the opportunity to see the great work they do for agricultural producers across the state. During my travels and one-on-one visits with employees and producers, I have experienced first-hand the dedication and service that lifetime employees like Don, Greg, and James have contributed to improve our state. They are very deserving of this honor.”   

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.