USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Appoints Kellee Melton as South Carolina State Conservationist

NRCS Appoints Kellee Melton as South Carolina State Conservationist

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the appointment of Kellee Melton to the position of South Carolina NRCS State Conservationist, effective on May 17^th, 2026. Mrs. Melton replaces Ann English, who retired in December of 2024. Kellee has served as as the Acting State Conservationist for South Carolina since July 2025. Prior to this, she was a part of the national Programs Branch in the Financial Assistance Programs Division (FAPD) at NRCS Headquarters where she worked on program implementation and agency software development.

"I am honored and humbled to have been selected by Chief Bettencourt to be the 10th State Conservationist of the South Carolina NRCS, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to lead the state where I first started my career. As your new State Conservationist, I assure you that my highest priority will be to work together with our staff and partners to rebuild, restore, and restructure our state to support our farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners." Kellee Melton said of her new role.

Over her 27 years of federal service with the NRCS, Kellee has held technical, programmatic, and leadership positions, including Soil Scientist, Soil Conservationist, State Business Tools Coordinator, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, and numerous acting positions. She earned her Bachelor of Science in agronomy and her Master of Science in crop and soil environmental science from Clemson University. Immediately after finishing graduate school, Kellee joined the NRCS as a soil scientist mapping soils across Lee County, South Carolina.

Kellee and her husband of 25 years, Brad, have a son, Jamison, 21, and daughter, Carley, 18. She enjoys spending time with friends, camping with her family, attending Clemson sporting events and cheering for her daughter on the softball field.

More Information

For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forest landowners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.