National NRCS Chief Reunites with Former Coworkers

SIGOURNEY – On Dec. 5, the Keokuk County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Sigourney was visited by NRCS Chief Terry Cosby, who previously worked in the Sigourney office four decades ago. Cosby had a heartfelt reunion with former coworkers, who are now retired. Cosby first worked at the Sigourney office for a semester in 1982, as a co-op student. After graduating, he returned to Sigourney and worked at the office from 1983-1985, before leaving for the Oskaloosa office. Cosby continued working for the NRCS for decades, eventually being appointed as its national chief by President Joe Biden in 2021. He currently oversees more than 10,000 conservation employees.

“I kinda wanted to come back to where it all started, and Iowa was the place...During that time, just trying to figure things out, especially the Iowa farming and that type of thing,” said Chief Cosby. “I never would have guessed I would have a job like this and be a presidential appointee...It’s been wonderful. After 45 years as a career employee, then becoming the administrator, the chief, it was a great bookend to a career that I never would have imagined. Just having fun and doing conservation, that’s been the most important thing.”

“When he came here, he was so timid and quiet,” said Don Borts, who was the Keokuk County District Conservationist from 1970-1994. “He addressed me as sir and talked in a low voice, but he changed in three years of training here...I’m pretty proud of him.”