Former Decorah State Assemblyman Chuck Gipp named Iowa Iowa DNR Deputy Director

Former Decorah State Representative Chuck Gipp has been named as the new Director of the DNR's Division of Soil Conservation by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

The Division of Soil Conservation is responsible for administering state programs and providing leadership to farmers, landowners, communities and others to promote the protection and management of soil, water and mineral resources.  The Division also assists Soil and Water Conservation Districts and private landowners to meet their agricultural and environmental protection needs.

"The Division of Soil Conservation makes up nearly half of the Department.  I'm very confident Chuck will provide strong and visionary leadership as we continue to address the conservation issues and opportunities facing the state," Northey said.  "Both his experience as a state legislator and an actively engaged farmer in Northeast Iowa will benefit both the Division and the farmers they partner with."

Gipp was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1991 to 2008, serving as Majority Leader from 2002 to 2006 and Majority Whip from 1995 to 1999.

He has also been managing partner of A-G Swiss Farms, Inc., a diversified farm that he operated with his brothers near Decorah.  They specialized in the breeding and milking of registered Brown Swiss dairy cattle.  During his time there, they implemented extensive conservation practices on their 640 crop acres that they used to grow corn and alfalfa hay.