Sioux City, Iowa - “Crazy lucky.”
It’s the way Sioux City native and West High School alum Graham McGaffin describes his current position in conservation. Earlier this year, a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and a professional career dedicated to making positive changes in the world led Graham to a unique opportunity.
Graham was named Iowa’s State Director for The Nature Conservancy, a global organization working towards the goal of creating a world where people and nature can thrive.
“I have been with The Nature Conservancy for over 11 years and in the conservation field for almost 15 years. I didn’t get the promotion to State Director on my first try, or my second, or my third try,” says Graham, who served in other roles for The Nature Conservancy in Iowa and Wyoming prior to assuming his current role. “This was my fourth attempt at becoming Iowa State Director for The Nature Conservancy. It is a huge honor because people regularly move across the country for these types of jobs.”
Graham’s passion for the environment began as a young child, growing up in Sioux City’s Loess Hills. In school, he thrived as a student at Emerson Elementary School, West Middle School, and West High School. When he wasn’t studying, Graham was competing. One of his fondest memories is representing West High at the Drake Relays in Des Moines.
“Being able to run in front of thousands of fans on the same track as top college and professional athletes is a great memory,” adds Graham, who credits West High with giving him the social skills that would help him in college and later in his professional career. “Graduating from West High, I was prepared for college – not just academically but socially. Attending Sioux City Community Schools introduced me to not only some of my closest friends and my wife but also hundreds of individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and situations. I can’t think of any better foundation than that for the role of a leader in today’s world.”
After high school graduation, Graham attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics and a double master’s degree in agricultural economics and environment - natural resources. While living in Wyoming, Graham started climbing, snowboarding, skiing, and mountain biking.
The experience took his appreciation and interest in the outdoors to the next level says Graham.
“My undergraduate degree in economics introduced me to ways studying incentives could lead to both macro- and micro-level changes that can have a positive impact on our environment. The field of study still fascinates me today,” he says.
Today, as the Iowa State Director for The Nature Conservancy, which operates in 76 countries around the world and all 50 U.S. states, Graham engages with residents, elected officials, and community leaders about the benefits of conservation for wildlife, natural resources, and quality of life.
“Iowa has some of the most dedicated conservationists you’ll find, both natural resource professionals and private landowners,” Graham says. “It’s a pleasure to work with them on creative solutions to bring about positive change for our natural resources in Iowa and around the world.”
One of those solutions is right in Siouxland’s backyard. Through collaboration and commitment, The Nature Conservancy and its conservation partners work together on one of the largest stretches of connected habitat in the state – public and private conservation lands from Stone Park up to Broken Kettle Grasslands near Westfield, Iowa.
When he isn’t working, Graham and his wife Emily, a teacher in the Sioux City Community School District, stay busy with their two kids, coaching their athletic teams and traveling. They also enjoy getting together with friends and family in the Siouxland area, something that is possible because of the professional opportunities Graham has experienced in Siouxland.
“I get to do this amazing job in my hometown, working on land and water conservation challenges I care about deeply and personally,” says Graham. “There are a lot of things you can’t control in life, but you can control how hard you try. My advice to current students is to try hard and keep at it.”