Menu
NRD manager returning to roots
CURTIS, Neb. -- After spending nearly a quarter of a century in North Dakota, a career-long conservationist is returning to his roots as manager of the Middle Republican Natural Resource District.
Jack Russell, 57, takes over managerial responsibilities at the NRD office in Curtis on Thursday.
Born approximately 100 miles east of the mid-Republican area near Riverton in Franklin County, Russell became interested in conservation while working on his father's section five miles north of the village of Riverton.
"The bug bit me in high school when I became a member of Franklin High School's soil and range judging teams," he said.
Following graduation from Franklin High School in 1975, Jack went on to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, going straight through to get his agronomy degree in 1979.
More than three decades of conservation work followed, with Russell starting as a USDA Soil Conservationist in Franklin, Wahoo and Grand Island before moving up to become District Conservationist in Benkelman.
The next stop for Russell was Alamosa, Colo., where he served first as District Conservationist and later as Coordinator for the Resource, Conservation & Development District.
The major move to North Dakota followed, with Russell rising through the ranks from District Conservationist to Assistant to the State Conservationist while serving in the North Dakota communities of Hettinger, Devil's Lake and Bismarck.
Then, after a year as a private consultant, Russell was chosen as the new Middle Republican NRD manager. He is taking the place of Dan Smith, who is retiring.
"When I say returning to my roots I am not just talking about coming home to southern Nebraska. To me, of even more importance is the fact that, once again, I will be working with farmers and ranchers. That, to me, is the real heart and soul of conservation work. It's out in the field, facing up to the daily challenges that the front lines of farming face in today's increasingly complex and competitive world."
Russell continued. "I realize there are going to be tough issues to face. The needs of those who rely on deep wells for center pivot irrigation water are different than those of the farmers who depend upon the irrigation district water up and down the Republican River. But we not only can work together; we must work together. The needs -- both now and in the future--are too great for us to be divided by our differences."
In his first days on the job, the new Middle Republican NRD manager said he will focus his attention on studying Nebraska's water compact with Kansas and Colorado. "I know it's not going to be easy to resolve our differences because everyone seems to have a different idea about what's reasonable and fair. But, for the benefit of all concerned, we have to make a dedicated effort to resolving our differences and moving forward."
Jack and his wife, Cathy, have three sons, Cory, Kevin, Kelly and Jaden, and two grandchildren.
When not doing conservation work, Russell enjoys hunting, fishing and doing a lot of reading, especially history.