Karen Woodrich began her professional career with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as a Soil Conservationist in 1998 in Portage, MI. 

Woodrich served as the State Conservationist in Kentucky and then in Kansas until 2022.  Over her 25+ years with USDA, Karen has worked on several projects to further streamlining efforts in program and technical service delivery.  She is a 2020 graduate of the USDA Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.  

As the Deputy Chief for Programs, she manages the Agency’s robust conservation planning efforts along with the delivery and implementation of the voluntary conservation programs of the Title II of the Farm Bill which include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs (ACEP), the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), Watershed programs (PL-566), the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP). She also oversees landscape initiatives, the technical service provider program and other special projects.

Karen is a native of central Wisconsin, with a background in dairy and Christmas tree farming.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Science, from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.