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[Opening music]
WHEELOCK: StrikeForce has put together projects across
multiple agencies and multiple programs
and I was delighted to hear the success stories
between the tribes and the different agencies
that are out here working with them.
EMM: I have a cattle heard that has tripled in size.
I think the impact has been huge.
Not only have I been able to expand
because of USDA programs, but I went from 15 acres to now,
I am operating 56 acres. It's just tremendous.
WHEELOCK: That's what StrikeForce is about
to try to get tribes from beginning to end
on their projects on their way to success.
[Intro music ends]
[Soft music plays]
NARRATOR: In New Mexico's Santo Domingo Pueblo,
a centuries old irrigation ditch network
is making way for a new, efficient,
underground pipe system thanks to
USDA StrikeForce investment and partnership.
GARCIA: We're saving water for the other farmers
down south served from the same ditch system that we have.
So, it's more availabile to the Southern farmers.
VILSACK: It changes the way in which these fields,
which have been irrigated in one way for hundreds of years,
it's creating a more efficient, more effective
irrigation system which is going to increase
production and deal with the drought conditions
which we have seen here for a long period of time.
GARCIA: With USDA investments,
we couldn't have done it without them.
The tribe has limited resources and the tribe
couldn't afford to do these improvements
and I am very, very grateful.
VILSACK: "Big Kitchen"
>> "Oh, yes."
NARRATOR: Tribal members here are also benefitting
from low interest housing loans
and other USDA investments.
And elsewhere in New Mexico, multiple USDA agencies
are working together to bring farmers
and others out of poverty.
NARRATOR: Here in Dulce, in the northern part of the state,
ranchers with the Hickoria Apache Tribe
attend USDA conservation planning workshops.
DENETCLAW: Our programs are helping this community by
making it easier for our producers to get
ranching on the ground.
When we come in and help them financially,
and with information,
I think we'll give them the desire to want to
invest more because there is an incentive there.
NARRATOR: Rancher Freida Havens received
technical and financial assistance from USDA's
Natural Resources Conservation Service
HAVENS: I was able to improve my range,
you know, through cross fencing and brush control
and water development.
It made a lot of difference because
before I couldn't graze very many cattle.
NARRATOR: Colorado's Southern Ute Tribe is also
taking advantage of USDA farm programs and StrikeForce.
Carol Olguin used a farm loan to maintain her cattle herd.
OLGUIN: Without the investments from the USDA,
we wouldn't have had the ability to grow the herd.
We would have had to sell more of the cows,
culled more deeply.
And, instead we got to maintain the herd and grow
it with the investments that we received.
NARRATOR: StrikeForce is also helping the Ute Mountain
Ute Tribe in Colorado.
The reservation is expanding their cropland acreage
with improvements to their water system.
And they're using a USDA rural development grant
to build a crop processing facility.
HAYES: With this grant we'll be able to build
a mill facility where we can go from step one
all the way through to delivery.
So this is a great opportunity for the tribe.
WHYTE: USDA, they've really helping out quite a bit
for what they've done and helped out
with our water situation,
as in our pivots, updating our sprinkler packages.
That has made our efficiencies a lot better.
[Musicans singing and playing drums]
NARRATOR: Summer feeding programs
on reservations sponsored by USDA's
Food and Nutrition Service provide important nutrition
when school meals are not available.
In South Dakota, Colorado and many other states,
these summer feeding sites are benefitting
from StrikeForce support.
[children cheering and laughing]
NARRATOR: In Arizona, StrikeForce is helping
the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
The tribe is replanting hundreds of trees after
a massive fire destroyed their timber supply.
KESSAY: StrikeForce is what we've been using
to fund this program here.
It has really helped us out a lot,
and I hope to get our trees back in.
NARRATOR: The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada
is partnering with USDA on a number of
StrikeForce projects involving farm loans,
conservation technical assistance
and rural development programs.
ALLEN: The reservation has three communities on it.
We've served them in the business arena with
Rural Business Enterprise grants, with business loans;
we've also served them in water...
NARRATOR: A new water treatment plant
will provide clean drinking water for
the reservation's Sutcliffe community.
NARRATOR: The Tribe is also using StrikeForce
investments to develop sage grouse habitat.
Conservation practices that benefit this at-risk bird also
promote healthy grazing land for Tribal ranchers.
HARRY: To assist the Sage Grouse,
we're working on developing the habitat
that they historically used.
So, the Tribe is very appreciative of the funding
that has come from the Federal Government.
NARRATOR: The tribe is also building
a new community center complex that will provide
a central meeting place and other benefits.
GARCIA: The USDA came in and helped out
with the kitchen equipment
and the interior supplies that we needed for this.
I think that this community center
is going to bring the community together.
NARRATOR: Elsewhere in the community,
StrikeForce is making a difference with
Farm Service Agency loans and assistance to farmers.
KOBLE: Our new microloan program
is a very flexible and streamlined loan.
So, it's very easy to take out.
They can use for anything from annual operating expenses,
to purchase equipment and livestock.
And, it's a loan that gets in their hands very quickly,
so they can start producing the things
that they want to do right away.
NARRATOR: In Indian Country and in areas of
persistent poverty across Rural America,
the USDA StrikeForce Initiative is building
partnerships and leveraging investments to
bring growth and opportunity where it is needed most.
WHEELOCK: It was a delightful and refreshing experience
to come out here and see Tribes making
their dreams come true with the help of USDA.
VILSACK: StrikeForce is really designed to make sure
that there is no barrier too large
that prevents participation.
And, what we hope to be able to see is StrikeForce expand
into all areas where there is persistent poverty.
[Closing music]