Sara Schmidt, Regional Assistant Chief- West

Updated 07/26/2007

Sara Schmidt was selected as Regional Assistant Chief - West, for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in July 2004. In this position, she serves as a management representative of the Chief, providing direction for NRCS programs and activities and overall leadership and supervision to state conservationists in the NRCS West Region. Areas are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pacific Basin, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Prior to joining NRCS, Schmidt was executive director of the Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP). The IRP is directed by federal law and state executive order to coordinate local, state and federal rural development efforts.

Previously, Schmidt served as the executive vice president of the Idaho Cattle Association. She also worked on the staff of Senator Larry Craig in his Washington, D.C., office during the 1996 Farm Bill when he was chairman of the Senate Conservation, Forestry and Rural Development Subcommittee.

In addition to her work with IRP, Schmidt served as chair of the Idaho Community Review Steering Committee, on the University of Idaho College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board and as a board member for the Idaho Council on Industry and the Environment, Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education, and Leadership Idaho Agriculture. Braasch is a past chair of the Idaho Food Quality Institute and Idaho Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Steering Committee.

Schmidt received a bachelor’s degree in Economics with honors from Albertson College of Idaho.