Unearthing potential: USDA national award winner from Menomonie reaches out to underserved farming populations in Wisconsin

MENOMONIE — Ka Ying Vang wants people to see nature as an integral part of our society that needs to be preserved.

“I’m trying to make that tiny little dent,” said Vang, of Menomonie.

Vang, a soil conservationist with U.S. Department of Agriculture, recently received the Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief’s National Individual Civil Rights Award for 2017 for his work building relations with historically underserved farmers in Wisconsin. The award is given to people who contribute to civil rights programs in the NRCS...