Following in Uncle's Footsteps

Growing up, T.J. Mathis would visit his Uncle Greg Mathis in his Soil Conservation Service office for fun. SCS became NRCS and T.J. matured. He learned more about what his Uncle Greg did and decided to pursue a career with NRCS. Graduating with a forestry degree from Iowa State University, he was able to join Iowa NRCS June 17, 2002.

Today, T.J. Mathis has five years of experience as a soil and district conservationist.  T.J. did a very good job and got a unique “promotion.” Mathis impressed his supervisor so much with his work in one county that, when a long time district conservationist the next county over retired, T.J. was named to head a second NRCS office. Responsible for two southeastern Iowa counties, two district boards and 11 NRCS, district and state employees, T.J. Mathis continues to work to put conservation on the ground. 

“I split my time between the two offices,” said Mathis.  “I’m lucky because I have two really good staffs. It is hectic, but it has to be done and we’re going to have fun doing it!” 

Located near the Mississippi River, much of the ground is termed marginal for growing crops and Highly Erodible Land (HEL). Terraces, forestry and grassland conservation practices are common in the counties. 

In addition to their other conservation work, Mathis and a district board picked a watershed to improve. The staff applied for a state grant and won it to study that watershed’s sedimentation problems and resource concerns. “Once our study is complete we can go after an implementation grant,” said Mathis, “and have more fun putting conservation on the ground.”           

For T.J. Mathis, the fun time that started for him so long ago in his uncle’s SCS office continues today. Fun to Mathis now means conservation.