Cathy joined the Iowa Women in Agriculture board in 2017. She currently farms the Warren County land that her grandparents purchased in 1949, and she manages a family farm in Clarke County. She has enrolled the most vulnerable land in CRP, built terraces, converted pasture into hay ground, and uses no-till and cover crops on corn/soybean acres.
The help she received from the NRCS inspired her to serve as a Soil and Water District Commissioner. This is her fifth year as a county commissioner and she is just beginning her second year as a Region 6 Director.
In 2016, Cathy was one of eight women who were recognized by the Iowa State Extension and Outreach program “Women Impacting the Land.”
Through the years, she has enjoyed being a part of 4-H and FFA programs. She is a lifetime member of FFA Alumni, and has received honorary Chapter and Iowa Degrees. She has judged at the district, state and national level for FFA.
Her family includes her husband Richard, whom she met at Iowa State. He has an architectural firm in West Des Moines and is constantly being reminded that he can’t quit the day job. A son, Alex, is the Director of Public Policy for a firm in Washington DC.