Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently welcomed a new County Executive Director to the Howard County office.
    Kris Koth, of the Cedar Rapids area, began the position May 27.
    Koth has been working with FSA for the past six years. He started out in the Cedar County office in 2002 after graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural systems technology with an emphasis in business.
    Koth worked in the farm loan program for about a year before becoming an FSA technician for about four years. Koth then went through FSA’s county office  nine-month trainee program, before landing the Cresco job.
    During the program, Koth spent time in a different Iowa county each month job shadowing other county executive directors while preparing for the position.
    Koth said he looks forward to working in Cresco, meeting people in the community and working with area farmers.
    “I’m excited about the opportunity to come here. I think it will be fun and different,” he said.
    Koth grew up on a farm in a town of about 1,000 people near Cedar Rapids. He gained experience growing corn and beans and caring for livestock while living on his parents’ farm. He continues to help out on the farm when he has time.
    “I like to get out there in the field. It’s fun and relaxing,” he said.
    He and his wife, Renae, plan to move to the county soon.
    Koth replaced former FSA Howard County director Connie Straw.