Terry Cosby, a former chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is the newest member of the Ohio Wildlife Council, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Cosby was appointed to the council by Governor Mike DeWine and has more than four decades of experience helping landowners with conservation activities.

Cosby has an extensive background in agriculture and conservation. He grew up on a cotton farm in Mississippi and earned his bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State University, a land grant college. Cosby began his 46-year career with the Natural Resources Conservation Service as an intern in Iowa. Among other positions, his career included a 16-year stint as the agency’s state conservationist in Ohio. Cosby served as the agency’s chief from 2021 to 2025. He resides in Canal Winchester and enjoys hunting and fishing.

As chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cosby led a premier federal conservation agency with 3,000 field offices nationally with 12,000 employees. The Natural Resources Conservation Service helps farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners plan and implement voluntary conservation activities that benefit wildlife and people.

The Ohio Wildlife Council is an eight-member board that reviews and votes on all Division of Wildlife proposed rules and regulations. Council meetings are open to the public. Individuals interested in providing comments are asked to call 614-265-6304 at least two days prior to a meeting to register. All comments are required to be three minutes or less.

The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.