NatGLC Congratulates Chief Colton Buckley on Appointment to Head of NRCS

Washington, DC – The National Grazing Lands Coalition (NatGLC) welcomes the announcement by The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today that Colton Buckley will become the new head of the agency. Building on a career of service to farmers and ranchers, Chief Buckley takes the helm as the 19th leader of the primary private lands conservation agency at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

“This is an exciting moment for our long-standing relationship with NRCS,” NatGLC Chairman Rob Cook said. “Colton is someone who leads with intention and has been an ally to our grazing lands and our nation’s producers for many years.”  

Chief Buckley began working with NRCS in 2025, first appointed as Chief of Staff. Buckley then became the Associate Chief of NRCS with a focus on technical assistance programs. Raised on his grandparents’ cattle operation in Texas, Chief Buckley is committed to a farmer-first conservation approach. NatGLC expects his leadership to reduce the bureaucracy around conservation delivery, enabling producers to access the important financial and technical support the agency was founded on over 90 years ago. 

NRCS has been a long-time partner of our organization and the producers we serve,” Cook said. “I look forward to seeing how the agency will innovate under Chief Buckley’s leadership. Grazing management plays an essential role in the future of America’s food system, wildlife habitat, resilience to natural disasters, and many other benefits for our nation as a whole. NatGLC is committed to staying at the forefront of this conversation with our nation’s leaders.”  
 
NatGLC stands ready to continue to aid Chief Buckley and the entire agency in improving and increasing the delivery of technical assistance to grazing producers across the country.