WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today presented the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) highest honor to 39 teams of distinguished employees who made the most significant accomplishments that support USDA’s mission, strategic goals, objectives and priorities. Vilsack also presented a Secretary’s Act of Valor Award to a team that risked injury to themselves by attempting lifesaving actions during a disaster response.
“Hard-working and dedicated employees are at the heart of the service we aim to provide agricultural producers and all Americans,” Vilsack said. “The work being honored this year includes identifying the bioenergy potential of a crop, improving the resilience of supply chains, and an act of valor attempting to rescue pilots of a helicopter downed while fighting the Moose Fire in Idaho in July 2022.”
All USDA employees, employees of other Federal agencies, and organizations collaborating with USDA to accomplish the Department's mission are eligible to be nominated for a Secretary’s Honor Awards, which are honorary and do not include monetary awards. Awards were given to teams whose work advanced USDA’s six strategic goals.
Three teams of employees were recognized for their work in helping USDA achieve its Strategic Goal 1, which is Combating Climate Change to Support America’s Working Lands, Natural Resources, and Communities:
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