Clayton County Foundation Advisory Board

Craig Watson

Foundation welcomes Craig Watson

The Clayton County Foundation for the Future is excited to welcome Craig Watson to its advisory board. Watson will help support its mission to empower communities and ignite generosity.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Craig to the table,” says Foundation chair Kathy Mueller. “He is a long-time partner in our work and an engaged community member who also brings experiences from outside our region.”

Craig grew up on a small dairy farm in Clayton County and graduated from Iowa State University. He spent his professional career in Houston, Texas, where he retired as Vice President of Quality Assurance and Agricultural Sustainability after 31 years with Sysco Corporation.

Today, Craig and his wife, LeAnn, reside in McGregor. “Our family interest in the Foundation began in 2011 with the establishment of the Watson Rugland Endowment for the Future in Clayton County,” he says. “After retirement, I renewed my life journey as a resident of our community.”

Craig recognizes dramatic social and political changes since his childhood in Clayton County. “The small family farm is gone. We face agricultural challenges regarding water quality, soil health, and land erosion. Meaningful, good paying jobs can be difficult to find,” he says. “With state and federal financial cuts to local programs that support community services, it is extremely important that nonprofit organizations like the Foundation provide assistance to make dreams possible within our local communities.”

As an advisory board member, he believes it’s important to develop a sharp, focused vision and an energized commitment to development that aids local organizations in providing goods and services to residents.

Craig and LeAnn have been married 53 years and share two children and four grandchildren. He enjoys the outdoors and spends many hours establishing prairie grass, wildflowers, and timber renewal on their property. He has a strong interest in local food and traveling the world to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

The Foundation offers many opportunities to improve quality of life by addressing an array of local issues. To learn more about how you can establish a fund or make a gift that impacts your community, contact Sadewasser at 563-880-6044.

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The Clayton County Foundation for the Future, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, was created with the intention of setting up a perpetual endowment fund that would serve the needs of all of Clayton County. To learn more, visit dbqfoundation.org/ccff.

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The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque envisions a vibrant and inclusive Dubuque region where everyone can thrive. Since 2002, we have inspired people to give back to their community, and we turn this generosity into lasting change across our region, increasing access to resources and opportunities that help all people succeed.

Visit dbqfoundation.org to learn about the many ways we are building a strong, thriving Greater Dubuque for all.