Anaconda Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center (JCCCC) which lies in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest of southwest Montana opened its doors in mid-March of 1966. Forty-six years ago, Tim Moriarty, an Irishman from Butte and Anaconda JCCCC’s then deputy director, deemed March 17^th 1966 as the Center’s official birthday.

This year, Ray Ryan, Anaconda JCCCC’s current director and vice president of Anaconda’s AOH Division 1, led the local St. Patrick’s Day Parade in fine Irish fashion. Despite the gray and soggy skies, Anaconda JCCCC students were the sunshine at the end of the procession as some enthusiastically carried an anniversary banner and others filled up the Center’s latest green fleet addition—a white electric van with a ‘zero emissions’ green tone—as well as the easily-recognized Forest Service green bus and sport utility vehicle.

Ryan keeps the Irish tradition alive and well while facilitating student involvement in local celebrations and community recognition for the Job Corps program and its services that come in many shades of the festive color. Anaconda JCCCC celebrated its 46 years of Irish influence alongside others in the lineup, such as Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer striding out and waving from his green sport coat and Montana Senator Jon Tester steering his green John Deere tractor.

The USDA Forest Service operates 28 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers across 18 states with a capacity of 6,200 students. For more information, you can visit: http://recruiting.jobcorps.gov/en/home.aspx.

The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.