Watershed Specialists
Will Boyer, Northeast Kansas Watershed Specialist
Will Boyer is an extension watershed specialist for K-State. He works primarily with Northeast Kansas watersheds, where he provides education and technical assistance to agricultural producers and other stakeholders. Will works one-on-one with livestock producers to find solutions to water quality concerns associated with their confined feeding and grazing operations using high-resolution mapping data and GIS software.
Will has been with K-State since 1998, and in his current position since 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Chadron State College in Nebraska, and a master’s degree in environmental planning and management from K-State.
Jeff Davidson, Flint Hills Watershed Specialist
Jeff Davidson is a watershed specialist, with a special focus on the Flint Hills Watersheds. He has been with KCARE since 2012, providing research-based information and educational programs related to environmental stewardship of water resources throughout the Flint Hills region. Jeff’s work focuses on: the use of off-stream watering sites for cattle, improved water quality through rangeland management practices, confined feeding animal management, cover crop management, soil infiltration improvement strategies, and riparian zone management. Additionally, he is the initial contact for people who own streambank sites deemed highly erodible along the Cottonwood River. In partnership with these landowners, he helps to put streambank stabilization projects in place. These projects not only preserve crop ground bordering the stream, but reduce the amount of sediment that will flow into the nearby reservoir.
Jeff worked for K-State for many years previous to KCARE as an Agricultural Extension Agent in Greenwood County. He attended Colorado State University, where he earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Range-Forest Management and a Master’s Degree in Range Science, specializing in range animal nutrition.
Ron Graber, Central Kansas Watershed Specialist
Ron Graber is an Extension Watershed Specialist for watersheds in central Kansas. As part of his role, Ron coordinated the development, assessment and planning phases of the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) plan for the Little Arkansas River, the Smoky Hill River and Upper Timber Creek. His primary focus as a watershed specialist is to educate local citizens about non-point source pollution issues and motivate those citizens to implement water quality restoration and protection actions. Ron works with livestock producers, regardless of operation size, to conduct environmental assessment and provide assistance in identifying management options best suited for their individual operation. He also assists growers in water quality protection by providing information on best management practices (BMPs) for crop production as it relates to water quality.
Ron is a K-State graduate, holding both a Bachelor of Science degree and a master’s degree in Agriculture. Prior to his work as a watershed specialist, Ron was a County Extension Agent for K-State Research and Extension in both Osage and Harvey counties. He has worked as a watershed specialist since 2000.
Stacie Minson, Big Creek/Little Smoky Hill River Watershed Specialist
Stacie Minson has served at the Big Creek/Little Smoky watershed specialist for over 16 years. She works as both the specialist for this area and the WRAPS coordinator, providing technical assistance to the 2.400 square mile area, which includes Kanopolis Reservoir. Stacie not only focuses on water quality in her area by working closely with producers to implement cropland and livestock BMPs, she also actively promotes water conservation and improved water quality through many educational programs in the community.
Get in touch with Stacie Minson.
Daniel Skucius, Northeast Kansas Watershed Specialist
Daniel Skucius joined the KCARE team in 2023 and works in the Northeast Kansas watersheds. Previously, he served as the 4-H Youth Development Agent in Pottawatomie County, where he was the county program leader and delivered educational programming for the county’s 4-H youth. In his new role, he plans to build on the fundamentals he learned while working in extension and with 4-H families.
