PACD Conservation Planner Grace Rhodes received a FY24 performance award from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). In only nine months in her position as the PACD partner planner, Grace has demonstrated a strong commitment to teamwork and supporting NRCS field team members however possible. She has quickly learned about NRCS business tools and the conservation planning process.

Throughout the field team’s historic FY24 contracting season, Grace sought out work to help NRCS staff in contracting a record 58 contracts totaling $5,624.940. Grace learned quickly how to produce conservation plan maps and other documents in Conservation Desktop. She regularly offered her help to other planners to assist with various map creation for both the Perkasie and Bethlehem NRCS offices. Without Grace’s assistance, the field team would not have been able to meet contract obligation deadlines.

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the theme for the 2025 Stewardship Week: “Home is Where the Habitat is.” This theme highlights the essential role of both natural and managed habitats in our conservation efforts. The Stewardship Week theme is also the poster contest theme. Stewardship Week materials are available on the NACD Marketplace. 

The deadline to submit posters to PACD for 2025 NACD Poster Contest state-level judging is June 30, 2025. Click here for the contest flyer and here for more information. Questions may be directed to Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

The Cumberland County Conservation District recently held its annual awards picnic and board meeting. The district presented four conservation awards for 2024. They were:

• Farmer of the Year – Neil Darhower
• Legislator Recognition Award – Barbara Gleim
• Erosion Control Clean Water Award – Mike Wadel of Wadel-Mell Inc.
• Educator of the Year – Darla Romberger

 

Over 100 people celebrated the accomplishments of students, environmental organizations, and individuals on Monday, July 28, 2024, at the Oley Fairgrounds, Jefferson Street, Oley, PA.

The Berks County Conservation District awarded over $20,000 in scholarships and also awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Pine Creek Watershed Association.

Also presented were awards to individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in conservation, environmental, and agricultural best management practices in Berks County.

Click here to find out who the award winners were. 

The 2024 PACD honorees are as follows: 

Legislator Leadership Award

• State Representative Barbara Gleim, Nominated by Cumberland County Conservation District

President’s Award

• Amy Brown, Director of Programs & Operations, PACD

Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award

• Charles Duritsa, Vice-Chairman, Westmoreland Conservation
• District and PACD Secretary

Conservation District Employee Excellence Award

• Vincent McCollum, Cumberland County Conservation District

Conservation District Trash Champion

• Westmoreland Conservation District collected 11 tons of trash!

Instagram Photo Contest

• Lancaster County Conservation District posted fun and creative photos of conservation districts at work during Conservation District Week.

Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Awards

30 Years of Service

• John Dryzal, District Manager, Cambria
• Mark Stockley, Resource Conservation Supervisor, Cambria

35 Years of Service

• Dave Stoner, District Manager, Franklin

45 Years of Service

• Tammie Robinson, Office Administrator, Indiana

Click here to read the entire press release. 

 

There is still time to participate! The submission deadline for the 2024 National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Poster Contest is June 30, 2024. This year’s theme is “May the Forest Be with You Always.” Posters must be submitted to PACD via email to swehinger@pacd.org. Click here for more information. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is honoring 22 projects completed by schools, businesses, and community organizations around the state with the 2024 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence.

Applications were evaluated for their degree of environmental protection, innovation, partnership, economic impact, consideration of climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice, as well as outcomes achieved.

Congratulations to Pike County Conservation District on being honored with the 2024 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence! The district was recognized for its Dingman Township Park Pollinator Gardens project.

Click here to read the press release. 

Recently, the Lancaster County Conservation District celebrated its 71st Annual Banquet, honoring conservation efforts in Lancaster County. Recipients were recognized for their contributions to conserving natural resources. The event also included an auction that directly supports the district’s Ann Brown Scholarship for high school seniors. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the event.

Award recipients included:

• Watershed Project Award Recipients: Donegal Trout Unlimited, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Unique Excavating, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Building Industry Resource Conservation Award Recipients: Kinsley Construction, RETTEW, and High Associates
• Conservation School Service Award: Frank Wasco

Click here to read a press release on the banquet. 

For the fourth year, the Elk County Conservation District is challenging fellow PA 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 and #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. Washington County currently holds the trophy, which will be passed on to the 2024 winner.

Conservation District Week (April 28-May 4) is all about promoting conservation districts’ work across the Commonwealth. New for 2024, PACD is hosting an Instagram Photo Contest. 

How to participate:

• Must post and select only one photo of conservation district staff at work each weekday during Conservation District Week: Monday, April 29; Tuesday, April 30; Wednesday, May 1; Thursday, May 2; and Friday, May 3. A different photo must be posted and tagged each day.
• Must post photos on an official PA Conservation District Instagram account
• Must use #CDWeek and tag @PAConservation in each post
• By entering the contest, conservation districts are giving PACD permission to repost and use the photo entries
• Winner will be the district with the most likes on their tagged photos – a total of all five photos posted for the contest April 29-May 3
• The winning conservation district will receive a trophy (and bragging rights) at the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference in July

This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.

Questions should be directed to PACD Director of Communications & Education Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.