Steve Gilje

Steve Gilje of the Rolette County Soil Conservation District in North Dakota serves as a Northern Plains Region Chair for the National Association of Conservation Districts. Conservation meetings are very familiar to Steve. “My dad served on the conservation district state board forever. I grew up attending these meetings,” he shared. 

Steve is excited to continue to connect with his cohort. “I've been most impressed with my group; they are wonderful people,” Steve shared. He is also excited to further his planning and leadership skills through this cohort to benefit his district. The Rolette County Soil Conservation District is dedicated to planting tree rows to keep the light soil in place. The district has been adapting over the years to more conservation practices, such as no-till, as this area is one of the most eroded places in the United States. 

In addition to working in production agriculture, Steve is a volunteer firefighter and ambulance driver. Living in a small community, Steve is active in many organizations and volunteer positions, including the North Dakota Angus Association and Grazing Land Coalition.