Pam Tucker looks forward to visiting with family as she celebrates her transition into retirement. For the first time in 40 years, she will not need to plan around the weekend, she said.

The district manager of Barton County Conservation started work on July 24, 1978. In that time, she’s found a lot to be proud of, particularly outreach at the Farm and Ranch Show, Kids Ag Day, and bringing the Soils Trailer to the Kansas Wetlands Education Center for school events there. 

“I don’t work with the schools so much now, but in the past, I enjoyed bringing conservation comics to the teachers to share with students,” she said. 

They explained soil and water, and it was in a comic book that kids could understand. 

She enjoyed the soils stewardship program promoted through the churches. That program also translated to schools, she said, but today, interest is shifting more toward the internet and computers, and it remains to be seen what’s next in conservation education. 

Many relationships with area farmers and ranchers have been forged in those 40 years, she said. 

“They’re a good bunch of people,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed working with each and every one of them and I’ve enjoyed learning about the agricultural community through them.“

Tucker comes from a family rooted in agriculture. Her position provided the opportunity to learn more and to become comfortable working with Natural Resources Conservation Service, and over time, customers became friends, making coming to work something to look forward to. 

“I’m going to miss seeing them and working with them,” she said. It’s been hard leaving this job, she added, coming to terms with the fact that many of the tasks she has done in recent months marked the last time for her. “I’ve had more problems backing out of here than I ever thought I’d have.”

Still, Tucker said she is excited about the new energy and new ideas that the new manager, Sarah Martinz, will bring to the office. 

Coming up with new routines and plans for things she will do in the future has helped. After the holidays, she’ll consider some of the offers she’s received to join various groups and she plans to pursue her own hobbies. 

“I want to get into refurbishing furniture,” she said. “Wood furniture, and maybe metal. I’m just going to have fun and be on my own time, at my own speed, which is usually slow.” 

A come-and-go reception was held in her honor at the Natural Resources Conservation Service office at 966 Patton Road on Wednesday afternoon.

Friday is her last day, and a dinner reception is planned for that evening at the Lone Wolf restaurant in Ellinwood. After that, Tucker is looking forward to her next adventure. There are going to be a lot of adventures, she said.