Kip Studer
Conservation Programs Manager
Ohio Department of Agriculture – Division of Soil & Water Conservation
My Bio: I serve as Conservation Programs Manager for the Ohio Department of Agriculture – Division of Soil & Water Conservation. I am a graduate of Bowling Green State University, and hold a master’s degree in crop science from the University of Illinois. Over the course of my career I have worked with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry, several local soil and water conservation districts, and the IPM Institute of North America. I am a Certified Crop Adviser and Certified Conservation Planner and I currently serve on the Ohio CCA Board and Ohio 4R Nutrient Stewardship Council.
What motivates or inspires me most about working in conservation is protecting water quality. I lived in a suburb of Toledo and had my water turned off in August 2014 when the city shut down its water system. It was a sobering experience—not to be able to simply turn on the tap and trust the water was safe to drink.
Has that changed over the years? Over a decade later, much of my career has been focused on conservation programs that address water quality.
One thing another state taught me that has stayed with me is that it is valuable to develop new relationships with others who are working in conservation. It’s good to know others are working in the same field on similar issues.
A project or success I’m especially proud of is H2Ohio. I previously worked on several smaller programs, grants, pilots, and for SWCDs. Working on this program since day one has really made it feel like my own. The success of H2Ohio is due to the commitment of the local SWCDs across the state of Ohio and the farmers committed to water quality and mitigating nutrient loss. Listening to the needs of the people working on the program helps to shape the program while maintaining goals of the State of Ohio.
One thing I wish more people understood about my work is that I have loved being in the conservation field since high school. I developed my conservation ethic through hunting at a young age, then developed it through a great FFA program, and carried it into my schooling and current profession.
My favorite way to spend a weekend is coaching, attending my three boys’ sports activities, or hunting with them.
Something people are surprised to learn about me is that I come from a large family. I am the fifth child in a family of seven – four sisters and two brothers – and our names all start with the letter K.
Ask me about how I would set goals and objectives for a program if my state shifted funds toward an agronomic water quality program delivery.