I was country when country wasn’t cool
I was country from my hat down to my boots
I still act and look the same
What you see ain’t nothing new
I was country when country wasn’t cool

Yes, I am quoting a Barbara Mandrell song, and yes you just aged yourself by correctly identifying the lyrics to “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”.

NCTC helps to connect people of all ages with nature and the outdoors.

Every time I notice my job title on my business card, I remember these lyrics but fortunately for my co-workers, I no longer sing them out loud! Although I am the Connecting People with Nature Coordinator at the National Conservation Training Center, I feel like I have always been part of an elite team of professionals responsible for facilitating a relationship between the American people and the natural resources our agency manages.

We were all connecting people with nature when connecting people with nature wasn’t cool!

I also wake up every morning feeling blessed to be able to do what I do and to work with the people I do. I don’t always feel so blessed when I am driving home … but even on a really bad day, I feel like I made a difference and that our agency finally thinks that connecting people with nature is not only cool, but it is one of the most powerful resource management tools we can possibly use.

Matt Gay, Connecting People with Nature Coordinator, NCTC, Division of Education Outreach

Did you like this? Share it: