The Northeast Association of Conservation District Employees (NACDE) recently announced their 2023 award recipients.

Cliff Lane Receives NACDE District Leader Award

The Northeast Association of Conservation District Employees (NACDE) District Leader Award is presented to a director or other individual who is doing an outstanding job working with district professionals on a regional basis, helps obtain the goals of NACDE and the regional partnership, and assists in expanding employee professional development.

This year’s winner of the District Leader Award is Cliff Lane. Cliff currently serves as PACD North West Region Director, NACD North East Region Representative, and Commissioner Secretary/Treasurer at McKean County Conservation District.

This award was presented during the 2023 Northeast Region Meeting in Portland, Maine. Congratulations Cliff!

Sandy Thompson Receives NACDE President’s Award

Sandy Thompson, Manager of McKean County Conservation District and former Vice President of the Northeast Association of Conservation District Employees (NACDE), received the 2023 NACDE President’s Award. President Jeff Parker, from Steubin County, New York, selected Sandy for the award.

The NACDE President’s Award is given in recognition of outstanding service to NACDE and the Conservation Partnership in the Northeast Region.

Sandy is a long-time member of NACDE, serving as Secretary from 2011 to 2016 and as Vice-President from 2017 to 2023. In her role as Vice-President, Sandy did an outstanding job filling for the NACDE President when he was not available for various meetings and other responsibilities.

The recipient has served both their District and NACDE with professionalism, dedication, and service to the cause of conservation and of District employees in the northeast.

The award was presented to Sandy Thompson at the PACD North West Region Meeting on September 27, 2023.

On July 31, 2023, Berks County Conservation District held its Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner. The event was held at the Oley Fairgrounds in Oley, PA. During the celebration, the district awarded $24,000 in scholarships and recognized several businesses and individuals.

Award Winners:

• Chair’s Award – John Ravert
• Contractor of the Year – H&K Group
• Plan Preparer of the Year – LTL Consultants
• Conservation Organization of the Year – Blue Marsh, US Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia Division
• Conservation Individuals of the Year – Tami Hildebrand and Joseph Boyle, Mt. Penn Water Authority
• Farm of the Year – Vista Grande Farms, LLC, the Bitler Family

 

 

Conservation district staff and partners attended the PACD/SCC Award Luncheon on July 19, 2023.

The following honorees were recognized: 

Legislator Leadership Award

• Senator Scott Martin (Senate District 13 – Berks and Lancaster Counties)

President’s Award

• Tamara Peffer (PA Department of Education)
• Piper Sherburne (Berks County)

Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award

• Thomas Boldin (Centre County)

Conservation District Employee Excellence Award

• Michele Long (Pike County)

Conservation District Trash Champion

• Washington County Conservation District

Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Awards

30 Years of Service

• Russell Ryan, Resource Conservation Supervisor, Adams
• Bill Zavislak, Chesapeake Bay Engineering Assistant, Lackawanna

35 Years of Service

• Tim Matechak, Erosion and Sedimentation Technician (Retired), Lackawanna
• James Pillsbury, Hydraulic Engineer, Westmoreland

45 Years of Service

• Barry Travelpiece, Engineer (Retired), Columbia

Click here to read the entire press release. 

PACD announced the winners of the 2023 “One Water” statewide poster contest.

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

Category: Kindergarten through First Grade

• Aiden German, Columbia County Conservation District

Category: Second through Third Grades

• Cora Petrunak, Lehigh County Conservation District

Category: Fourth through Sixth Grades

• Alekhya Doddapaneni, Allegheny County Conservation District

Category: Seventh through Ninth Grades

• Olivia Greene, Columbia County Conservation District

Category: Tenth through Twelfth Grades

• Evelyn Warner, Cambria County Conservation District

In the digital poster contest, Quinn Brown, Delaware County Conservation District, won in the Seventh through Ninth Grade category.

Each state-level winner will receive $50 and will be submitted for judging in the upcoming national competition this winter. The National Association of Conservation Districts sponsors the national contest. Visit https://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/contests for more information.

There is still time to participate! The submission deadline for the 2023 National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Poster Contest is June 30, 2023. The theme this year is “Watersheds – One Water.” Posters must be submitted to PACD via email to swehinger@pacd.org. Click here for more information. 

The deadline is fast approaching to make nominations for the PACD awards. Nominations must be received by April 30, 2023. Click here for more information and a nomination form.

The awards are:

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

Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org or 717-794-6110 with any questions.

For the third year, the Elk County Conservation District is challenging other conservation districts to pick up trash throughout April and May.

The district that picks up the most trash in their county is the winner. First, track the number of bags and weight of trash (if possible). Then, share your district’s photos and results on Facebook using the hashtags #ConservationCallout #DistrictTrashTalking.

The winning district will be recognized during the July PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference and receive the trash talker award (pictured) for the year. The 2022 winning district in Washington County currently holds the trophy, which will be passed on to the 2023 winner.

The deadline is fast approaching to make nominations for the PACD awards. Nominations must be received by April 30, 2023. Click here for more information and a nomination form.

The awards are:

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

Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org or 717-794-6110 with any questions.

 

During the National Association of Conservation District’s (NACD) Annual Meeting in New Orleans last week, Brian Sneeringer received the Distinguished Service Award. Sneeringer is the Ag Conservation Supervisor at the Adams County Conservation District.  

For over 30 years, Sneeringer has been a conservation district leader in no-till and implementing conservation practices. His well-established reputation with the farm community allows him to have one-on-one discussions with local farmers, where he challenges them to think outside the box and try new and innovative techniques. He is an innovator, leader, mentor, and outstanding example of a high-performing conservation professional.

Congratulations Brian! Click here to read the press release. 

The submission deadline for the 2023 National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Poster Contest is June 30, 2023. The theme this year is “One Water.” Posters must be submitted to PACD via email to swehinger@pacd.org. Click here for the contest flyer and here for more information from NACD.