Elke Serves as State Conservationist Champion

Written by Dan Fagan

For over 20 years, Curtis Elke has served with the Natural Resource Conservation Service in varying capacities, and currently is the State Conservationist for the state of Idaho.

The Natural Resource Conservation Service aims to provide farmers and ranchers with financial and technical assistance to voluntarily put conservation on the ground by helping both the environment and agricultural operations.

Elke’s formative years were spent on his family’s farm in Cavalier, N.D., raising cattle and growing sugar beets, wheat, and beans alongside his father, grandfather, and uncles. From this experience, Elke gained an in-depth knowledge and understanding about the issues facing farmers and the land they depend on for their livelihood.

It was only fitting that when Elke decided to attend Dakota College of Bottineau, that he would gravitate toward the study of the land by pursing a degree in horticulture and landscape design.

Leaving the family farm and his hometown was an intimidating prospect for Elke, but DCB’s small class sizes, friendly student body, and ardent teaching approach of his professors made him feel right at home.

Elke credits his professors at DCB for offering him the assistance, guidance, and accountability he needed to begin his professional career.

“I remember one time I showed up late for class, and the instructor announced, ‘Well, I see our guest speaker has arrived.’ He then had me stand in front of the class and give an impromptu talk to the class. It was a humorous way of letting me know that I needed to take my studies and attendance more seriously,” Elke recalled.

Elke thrived in his classes and thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on approach to learning at DCB.

“A lot of our classroom was in the field which was unique, and I learned so much because of it. It was the springboard to my career,” Elke said.  

After graduating DCB in 1984, Elke was hired as a soil conservation technician in North Dakota with the Natural Resource Conservation Service. He worked for five years before deciding to return to college to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Elke graduated from North Dakota State in 1992, but he wasn’t able to return to the Natural Resource Conservation Service due to a hiring freeze.

Elke decided to try his hand in the private sector and went to work for Concord Environmental Equipment as a regional sales manager.

“All that education and experience from my college days came in handy when I needed it the most,” Elke said.

Never giving up on his plan to return to the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Elke was hired back on in 2000. Thus, began a journey that would take him to four different states over the next fifteen years.

“Working in the Soil Conservation Service is kind of like being in the military in that you have to move around a lot,” Elke said.

Initially, Elke served as a soil conservationist and district conservationist in Oklahoma where he dealt with forestry and rangeland management. He was then promoted to Assistant State Conservationist for Operations in Massachusetts where he focused primarily on aquaculture operations. Later, he returned to the Dakota plains by taking the Assistant State Conservationist for Operations post in South Dakota.

According to Elke, soil conservation issues vary greatly depending on the region one serves, which has made his service in different parts of the country enlightening.

In addition to his duties as State Conservationist, Elke serves on the Board of Customer Experience, working to make the United States Department of Agriculture (which oversees the Natural Resource Conservation Service) the best it can be for those it serves. He also sits on a shared stewardship with the Idaho Governor Brad Little.

Elke’s passion for land conservation no doubt rubbed off on his grown children, Joshua and Carlee, both of whom work for the Natural Resource Conservation Service carrying on the family legacy of caring for the land.

When he’s not busy at work, Elke enjoys the land he helps conserve. He is a hunter and fisherman, and enjoys downhill skiing, and hiking.

“It’s been quite a career and quite an experience, but it all started at Dakota College of Bottineau,” Elke said.