The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced that Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Peters is resigning from his role, effective September 30, 2026, concluding a 15-year career with NACD, 11 of those years serving as CEO.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts as NACD’s CEO for the last 11 years,” said Peters. “I am deeply grateful to the NACD leadership, board of directors, and staff for their trust in me to lead such a respected organization. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am tremendously proud of all that we have accomplished together.”
Peters first joined the NACD staff in 2006 after working for former Congressman Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota. Peters served on the NACD government relations team as Legislative Affairs Manager, helping to advocate for locally led conservation priorities in Congress and across federal agencies.
In 2015, Peters was appointed by NACD to serve as CEO. Under his leadership, NACD achieved significant expansion across the United States with an annual budget growing to $54 million for fiscal year 2027 and a diverse portfolio of conservation grant programs, membership services, trainings, and events.
“When you think of NACD, you think of Jeremy,” said NACD President Gary Blair. “Whether he is discussing the conservation title of the Farm Bill with a congressional leader or on a farm tour with a producer or rancher, he is a champion for the voluntary, locally led, incentive-based approach that is the cornerstone of conservation and NACD. On behalf of America’s conservation districts, we will miss his leadership and thank him for his service to conservation and agriculture.”
Peters has also served as Executive Director of the National Conservation Foundation (NCF), NACD’s sister organization that educates and prepares conservation leaders for the sustainability and regeneration of our natural resources. NCF’s hallmark programs are the NCF-Envirothon, a youth environmental education program that engages over 25,000 students annually, and the Next Generation Leadership Institute, which prepares conservation district leaders for national service.
“I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Jeremy over the last 20 years,” said NCF Chair Brent Van Dyke. “I have observed his dedication to conservation and experienced his innovative leadership of our national organization. He has faced conservation and leadership challenges by addressing critical issues head-on. His future is bright as he takes the next steps in his career.”
Peters’ career journey to NACD leadership began on his family’s farm in southwest Virginia, where he developed an appreciation for the land and natural resources while working on the family cattle operation. In addition to his leadership of NACD, Peters has also worked for national agricultural organizations, including the National Farms Union, managing climate and energy policies, and the American Farmland Trust as Federal Policy Director. He has also served on the boards of directors for Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and the Conservation Technology Information Center. Peters holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and history from Emory and Henry University and a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Tech.
Peters will serve as CEO until September 30, 2026, and will consult for NACD through December 31, 2026. A national executive search will be launched by NACD later in 2026.
