Idaho’s County Members Take on Philadelphia for the 2025 NACo Annual Conference

By Kathy Ackerman, NACo Representative and Idaho County Clerk

This year, the National Association of Counties (NACo) celebrated its 90th Anniversary—a milestone that set the tone for the entire conference. The programming honored this legacy and reinforced the idea that counties are stronger when they work together.

Idaho continued to have a strong presence on the national stage, with 16 representatives actively engaged in shaping discussions and ensuring Idaho had a seat at the table.

Like the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC), NACo is composed of a variety of standing committees and sub-committees that touch on all of the local and national issues counties face. Idaho representatives enjoyed attending these large-scale committee meetings and collaborating with peers across the country to troubleshoot and share resources and best practices.

There was robust discussion in committee meetings regarding the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill and the potential ramifications. In many large urban areas, counties were responsible for providing social services that had previously been funded by federal dollars. Idaho counties also felt the pinch due to the failed reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The consensus is that both urban and rural counties are scrambling, and it may take a while for the dust to settle.

Beyond committee meetings, conference goers benefited from an abundance of professional development opportunities, including presentations from subject-matter experts and interactive workshops that provided county leaders with the tools to make impactful decisions in their communities.

With a central focus on building strong leaders, NACo raised the bar this year with a stellar lineup of speakers.

– Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin highlighted the importance of humility in leadership, sharing, “Teddy Roosevelt wanted to be the baby at the baptism, the bride at the wedding, and the corpse at the funeral. He had to recognize and learn from his mistakes. Leaders grow in office.”

– Retired 4-Star General Stanley McChrystal spoke candidly about ‘mission fatigue,’ a challenge familiar to many in public service. He encouraged attendees to “go back to the why and ask yourself, ‘What is our intent?’ Then do what you can. Doing something is better than doing nothing.”

– Jon Dorenbos, former NFL player and magician, captivated the audience with a powerful motivational message—complete with a surprise plot twist and mind-blowing card tricks.

To view photos taken by Idaho’s representatives during the conference, check out IAC’s Flickr Page.