The PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference was held at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. Several conservationists were recognized during the awards luncheon on August 6, 2026.

The 2026 PACD honorees are as follows: 

President’s Award

• Barbara Peace, PACD 1st Vice President, Director, Indiana County Conservation District

Conservation District Employee Excellence Award

• Tom Ulrich, Agricultural and Erosion and Sedimentation Technician, Washington County Conservation District

Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Awards

• Years of Service
• Jim Coslo, Manager, Centre County Conservation District
• Debra Dressler, Administrative & Financial Assistant, Juniata County Conservation District

30 Years of Service

• Beth Futrick, Ombudsman/Grants Coordinator, Blair County Conservation District
• Jackie Ritko, Resource Conservation Supervisor, Cambria County Conservation District
• Tracey Crawford, Manager, Crawford County Conservation District

Click here to read the entire press release.  

The Conservation District Trash Challenge pits districts against each other to compete to see who can collect the most trash in the months of April and May. The award is sponsored by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. 

As the first prize winner, the Washington County Conservation District collected 1,168 tires and 800 trash bags for a total of 30,000 pounds of trash.

This year, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful also awarded a runner-up prize for volunteer hours. Westmoreland Conservation District won a runner-up prize for most volunteer hours, putting in 200 hours of hard work!

Pounds of trash and tires collected from all districts for the 2026 challenge:

Washington       30,000

Westmoreland    20,084

Pike              440

Mifflin            360

Clarion           240

Venango          240

Juniata           180

Jefferson         120  

The total pounds of trash and tires reported was 51,664!

 

 

PACD is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 “Soil. Where it all Begins” statewide poster contest.

The winners and the county conservation district that submitted the posters are:

Category: Kindergarten through First Grade

• Maelyn Spiece, Columbia County Conservation District

Category: Second through Third Grades

• Kaelyn Duncan, Greene County Conservation District

Category: Fourth through Sixth Grades

• Cora Petrunak, Lehigh County Conservation District

Category: Seventh through Ninth Grades

• Emma Rickabaugh, Blair County Conservation District

Category: Tenth through Twelfth Grades

• Ella Shultz, Columbia County Conservation District

Each state-level winner will be submitted for judging in the upcoming national competition this winter. The national contest is sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts. Visit https://www.nacdnet.org/contests for more information.

Click here to view the individual posters.

 

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) poster contest, open to students in grades K-12, offers young people an opportunity to express their views on natural resource issues through art. The NACD theme for 2026 is “Soil: Where it All Begins.”

The deadline to submit posters to PACD for the 2026 NACD Poster Contest state-level judging is June 30, 2026.

No photos of posters will be accepted, only clear, scanned PDF files. Districts should provide the files, correctly scanned and named, to PACD. If you don’t have a large scanner, a cell phone works too. If you aren’t sure how to do this, search online for instructions for scanning to PDF using a cell phone without an app.

Click here for the contest flyer and here for more information. Questions may be directed to Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org

PACD is again partnering with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for the annual Conservation District Trash Champion Contest. To participate in the contest, PA’s conservation districts are invited to register and pick up trash between April 1 and May 31, 2026.

Register for your event now and report your results to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful upon completing your trash pick-up efforts. The deadline to enter your information is June 5!

The winning district will receive $500 from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. New for 2026, an additional prize will be awarded for the most volunteer hours!

Click here to view the flyer. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Heidi Pedicone at hpedicone@keeppabeautiful.org.

Only five districts have signed up so far!

PACD is again partnering with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for the annual Conservation District Trash Champion Contest. To participate in the contest, PA’s conservation districts are invited to register and pick up trash between April 1 and May 31, 2026.

Register for your event now and report your results to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful upon completing your trash pick-up efforts. Receive free bags, gloves, and safety vests as supplies last. Free or reduced disposal is available at participating landfills in April.

The winning district will receive $500 from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. New for 2026, an additional prize will be awarded for the most volunteer hours!

Click here to view the flyer. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Michelle Dunn at mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

 

PACD is now accepting nominations for the PACD Conservation Awards.  The award nominations have been simplified and streamlined with an online nomination form. Nominations must be received by April 30, 2026.

The awards are:

• Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director or Associate Director Excellence Award
• Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
• Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation

Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org with any questions.

PACD is again partnering with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for the annual Conservation District Trash Champion Contest. To participate in the contest, PA’s conservation districts are invited to register and pick up trash between April 1 and May 31, 2026.

Register for your event now and report your results, upon completing your trash pick-up efforts, at Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Receive free bags, gloves, and safety vests as supplies last. Free or reduced disposal is available at participating landfills during the month of April.

The winning district will receive $500 from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. New for 2026, an additional prize will be awarded for the most volunteer hours!

Click here to view the flyer. Click here to register. Questions? Contact Michelle Dunn at mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

PACD is again partnering with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for the annual Conservation District Trash Champion Contest. To participate in the contest, PA’s conservation districts are invited to pick up trash between April 1 and May 31, 2026.

Register for your event now and report your results upon completing your trash pick-up efforts at Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Receive free bags, gloves, and safety vests as supplies last. Free or reduced disposal is available at participating landfills during the month of April.

The winning district will receive $500 from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. New for 2026, an additional prize will be awarded for the most volunteer hours!

Click here to view the flyer. Questions? Contact Michelle Dunn at mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

PACD is now accepting nominations for the PACD Conservation Awards. The award nominations have been simplified and streamlined with an online nomination form. Nominations must be received by April 30, 2026.

The awards are:

• Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director or Associate Director Excellence Award
• Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
• Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation

Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org with any questions.