By Desiree Van Dyke, NACD Southwest Region Representative

Hans Hunt has spent much of his first several months as NRCS Assistant Chief for the Western Region traveling throughout the West, meeting with producers, field offices, and conservation leaders. 

“The most important part of it is being out on the road and meeting with people,” said Hunt during a recent interview conducted by NACD Southwest Region Representative Desiree Van Dyke. 

Raised on a cow-calf ranch in northeast Wyoming, Hunt served nearly 11 years in the Wyoming Legislature, including as Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Chair of the Select Water Development Committee, and Majority Whip, before later advising Senator Cynthia Lummis on agriculture, forestry, and trade policy in Washington, D.C. 

Hunt said one of his main priorities in the role is understanding how conservation delivery is functioning across the region and where improvements are needed. 

He described the position as a “conduit” between producers, field offices, and NRCS leadership in Washington. The role was created specifically to strengthen communication between the field and national leadership, with regional leaders expected to spend roughly 70% of their time traveling and meeting directly with local staff and producers. 

“We want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly,” said Hunt. “What’s working really great that we might want to replicate somewhere else, and then what are some of the hiccups? What isn’t going well? What do we need to fix?” 

Hunt said part of the job is identifying successful local approaches that could work elsewhere, while also reducing barriers and improving how programs reach producers. 

Throughout the interview, Hunt repeatedly emphasized a “farmers first” approach and the importance of keeping conservation programs practical for working operations. 

One thing Hunt said has surprised him since taking the role is the level of engagement he has encountered across the region. 

“People everywhere I’ve gone are so excited,” said Hunt, referring to conversations about improving conservation delivery and producer access to programs. 

The region Hunt oversees stretches from Montana to New Mexico and west through Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands, areas with very different agricultural systems, resource concerns, and wildlife priorities. 

Whether discussing drought, grazing systems, water issues, wildlife habitat, or typhoon recovery efforts in Pacific territories, Hunt said understanding regional differences is critical to improving conservation delivery. 

Hunt also described NRCS as “a scientific agency” that uses the scientific method to evaluate conservation practices and measure outcomes on the ground. 

He said that the combination of science, field experience, and producer input is important to improving both agricultural operations and natural resource stewardship. 

Another thing that surprised Hunt was the number of programs available through NRCS. 

“There really is something for everybody,” said Hunt, pointing to programs supporting working lands, wildlife habitat, water management, and long-term operational sustainability. 

Hunt also spoke about the importance of conservation districts as part of the broader conservation delivery system across the West. 

During the interview, he repeatedly emphasized the value of hearing directly from people working in local communities and understanding conservation challenges at the ground level. 

“The people on the ground know their communities best,” said Hunt. 

As Hunt continues traveling throughout the West, he said those conversations with producers, conservation districts, and local conservation leaders are helping NRCS leadership better understand what is working on the ground and where improvements are needed. 

Tags: southwest region, pacific region