NEWS RELEASE

NACD Welcomed New NRCS Leadership at 80th Annual Meeting 

San Antonio, TX – This week at the National Association of Conservation Districts’ (NACD) 80th Annual Meeting, conservationists from across the country welcomed new leaders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to the National Conservation Partnership. The partnership has endured for 80 years at the national level and nearly 90 years locally, since the first conservation district was established in 1937. 

Board members welcomed NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt, who answered questions from members, introduced NRCS’ new Assistant Chiefs, and spoke about goals for the next year. With a focus on meeting farmers where they are, Chief Bettencourt detailed how NRCS plans to host producer round tables, invest in technical tools and staff training, and implement USDA’s Regenerative Pilot Program. She also spoke about increasing data and metric capturing to better share the success of producers voluntarily implementing conservation practices.  

“We are in a unique position currently, that all members of the NRCS leadership team have come directly from the field and know what it is like to walk into their local NRCS field office,” said Chief of NRCS, Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt. “This experience is crucial and assists us in grounding decisions. We are focusing on transparent, reliable data, to ensure that the credit goes exactly where it belongs: back to the producers whose actions make a measurable impact. We couldn’t do this work without our partners being force multipliers. NRCS is excited for the future of partnerships and what is to come.”

On Wednesday, NRCS Associate Chief Colton Buckley, Assistant Chiefs Jimmy Emmons (Central Region), Hans Hunt (Western Region), and Kennon White (Southern Region) participated in a panel discussion on NRCS priorities, staffing, and conservation programs facilitated by NACD President Gary Blair. NACD is also pleased to welcome Walt Whitcomb, Assistant Chief to the Northern Region, to the partnership.  

“Conservation districts are proud to continue to work alongside NRCS in delivering voluntary, locally led conservation,” said NACD President Gary Blair. “Strong leadership is essential to ensuring that federal conservation programs remain accessible, flexible, and responsive to the needs of producers and communities. We look forward to collaborating with NRCS leaders to advance practical, science-based solutions on the ground.” 

### 

About the National Association of Conservation Districts: 

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state and territory associations and the 17,000 individuals who serve on their governing boards. For 90 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.