USDA Employee Recognized for His Service to Montana

Bozeman, Feb. 3, 2014 – USDA Rural Development Montana is proud to announce that Montana Rural Water Systems has presented Steve Troendle, Community Programs Director USDA Rural Development Montana with their 2014 Distinguished Service Award.

Co-workers have described him as a super hard worker with a great sense of humor. A genuinely caring person who treats everyone fairly and with respect, and who cares about doing the right thing, the practical thing, the sensible thing. A former supervisor nicknamed him "Velcro Man," because if there was ever a problem or a challenge it would stick to him like he was Velcro.

It is these traits and more that have served Steve Troendle well in his more than 32 years of service which he began in 1982 with the Farmers Home Administration as an Agricultural Management Specialist. Steve has moved around a few times in his career, starting in Minnesota then Oregon and Washington State, finally settling in Montana in 2007 where he became the Director of Community Programs overseeing the Water and Environmental and Community Facilities Programs.

Since becoming Director of Community Programs Steve has overseen more than $190,000,000 in funding to Montana's water systems. That is an average of $23,750,000 a year!

"The funding Rural Development has been able to provide to Montana is not due to one man," Steve was quick to say. "There is a staff of 8 very hard working people in Water and Environmental! This award is just as much theirs!"

Rural Development Montana is excited that Steve and the hard work of his staff bringing clean drinking water along with efficient and safe waste disposal to the communities of Montana is being recognized.