Meet Minnesota's Featured NRCS Employees
NRCS employees across Minnesota share a purpose and passion about conservation.  Meet a few here, and learn about how they "help people help the land".
 

Jim Axell became the Minnesota NRCS Visual Information Specialist in February, 2006. Axell was previously employed as an NRCS Engineering Technician in the NRCS state office in St. Paul. Jim was the key individual who helped train the engineering staff in Minnesota with Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) software. Jim has been very proud of his accomplishment of preparing construction plans for the Snake River Project in Warren, Minnesota. This flood control project will help save the town from future flooding situations. This project challenged Jim on a wide array of technical software issues. The job satisfaction that Jim derived from this experience fueled his passion to work with other technologies for the NRCS. In 1983, Jim Axell had a spinal cord injury while boating on the St. Croix River in Stillwater, Minnesota. This life changing event modified Jim’s direction forever. Originally Jim had wanted to go into the medical field. As is the case with others who have sustained such injuries, one’s passion to do something can change. However, it’s important to note, the change that did not take place is Jim’s desire to challenge himself. Jim went back to school and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree and a CADD technical degree. He finished his educational experience by participating in an NRCS internship which developed into a permanent position. If you ever have the privilege of meeting Jim you will find an employee who comes to work full of ambition and leaves the office with a smile on his face!