Connection Through Conservation
May 1, 2026
As a generational farmer in Iowa, Tim Palmer was raised around cattle and crops and knew that was his calling in life.
“I started driving tractors and was around livestock at a very young age. I just always knew that's what I wanted to do. I enjoyed being in a tractor and feeling that sense of accomplishment when you're doing something, and you see that it's done right.”
But his conservation journey didn’t begin until about 20 years ago.
A call to conservation
Palmer began to realize there was a need for conservation on his farm, but he wasn’t familiar with the programs in his local area. A mentor encouraged him, saying, “The best way to learn about the programs is to be involved.”
Palmer took this to heart and jumped right in. He began to engage in discussions about protecting local resources and how the funds were being allocated. ”I was never one to sit on my hands in a meeting. I always had questions, always questioned some of the motives of things that we're doing. I just wanted to be part of the process,” Palmer shared.
He quickly became a familiar voice and leader in conservation discussion, landing him various appointments within the National Association of Conservation Districts, culminating as president.
Today, he continues his dedication to conservation as treasurer for the National Conservation Foundation.
For Palmer, conservation has become a defining part of his career. “Conservation basically has been my career for the last 20 years,” he said. “And it will continue to be.“
The foundation’s role in his conservation mission
NCF plays an important role in his mission. For Palmer, the foundation offers a unique opportunity to connect and educate even those outside of agriculture.
“We have the chance through educational programs to reach non-farmers or non-agricultural people who can utilize the same processes to take care of their own little spot in the world,” he shared.
NCF’s main educational programs, Envirothon and the Next Generation Leadership Institute, are both designed to educate and train the next generation of conservation leaders. The NCF-Envirothon is an annual competition where high school students participate in a problem-solving experience focused on six main categories: aquatics, ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and current environmental issues. NGLI takes conservation leaders from around the country to the next level by preparing them to understand and lead local conservation efforts.
Palmer has seen how programs like these have connected communities around the country. “Through conservation districts, we have access to every household in the country. That gives a remarkable opportunity to share the importance of environmental stewardship,” he said.
Looking to the future, Palmer sees an even greater opportunity. The new strategic plan will guide the foundation for the next ten years, placing a greater emphasis on supporting local conservation districts. “NCF is uniquely positioned to support local, regional, and state communities all the way to the national level,” Palmer explained.
From Palmer’s perspective, conservation starts with people. He places a special emphasis on the next generation.“If we build a workforce that begins from a conservation mindset and becomes part of the leadership that continues to promote these programs and practices, we will be able to maintain our fields and forests for generations to come.”