About EMILY
Emily Fife was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania but grew up in Northeast Ohio. While growing up she worked on horse farms and developed an appreciation for agriculture and the outdoors. She found her calling in college when she learned that she could take her passion for the environment and combine it with her love of agriculture by helping farmers and ranchers with voluntary conservation. Emily started her career with two Soil and Water Conservation Districts and as an NRCS Earth Team Volunteer in Kentucky while studying agricultural science at Austin Peay State University where she graduated with honors in December 2004. In her 20 years with NRCS, she has served as a soil conservationist in Oregon, a District Conservationist in New York, a Team Leader in Oregon, and Assistant State Conservationist for Programs in Arizona. Throughout her career, Emily has also done temporary assignments as Easement Remediation Coordinator in Wyoming, Acting State Conservationist in Arizona, and a National Headquarters detail in Washington DC. These experiences have provided her with exposure and knowledge in the variety of services that NRCS offers. Emily’s role as State Conservationist is to provide leadership and management direction of all NRCS functions involved in planning, organizing, and implementing complex soil, water, and natural resource conservation for Utah. Emily brings with her a breadth of experiences which has taught her the value of different perspectives and approaches. Believing that the best work starts at a grass roots level, Emily plans to focus on one of the agency’s greatest strengths and founding principles, locally-led conservation. She also believes that NRCS employees, partners, and customers are our greatest asset and will support them to ensure Utah has a solid foundation for great conservation. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband Kenny, two boys, Keegan and Quinlan, and her cats and dogs. She loves running long distances and has completed several marathons and ultra-marathons. Writing is another passion of hers and she uses her writing to share the lessons she has learned throughout life.
