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Written by bruntt on . Posted in Awards, PACD General

Kelly Williams Wins Annual Watershed Specialist Photo Contest

The grand prize winning photo from this year's annual Conservation District Watershed Specialist Photo Contest (above) was submitted by Kelly Williams, Watershed Specialist for the Clearfield County Conservation District. The photo, which Kelly has titled "Reflections", captures Kelly and her niece monitoring water quality at a treatment site for abandoned mine drainage. Photo used with permission.

The grand prize winning photo from this year’s annual Conservation District Watershed Specialist Photo Contest (above) was submitted by Kelly Williams, Watershed Specialist for the Clearfield County Conservation District. The photo, which Kelly has titled “Reflections”, captures Kelly and her niece monitoring water quality at a treatment site for abandoned mine drainage. Photo used with permission.

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Written by bruntt on . Posted in Awards, Education

State Level Poster Contest Winners Announced

The 4th-6th grade winner in the state level poster contest was submitted by Sreekethav Vaka of Delaware County.

The 4th-6th grade winner in the state level poster contest was submitted by Sreekethav Vaka of Delaware County.

PACD and the PACD Auxiliary are pleased to announce the five state level winners of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) 2016 “We All Need Trees” poster contest. The winners in each age category are:
  • K – 1st Grade: Sabrina Ibragimova, Berks County
  • 2nd – 3rd Grade: Shricharan Ilayanambi, Delaware County
  • 4th – 6th Grade: Sreekethav Vaka, Delaware County
  • 7th – 9th Grade: Mara Yahner, Cambria County
  • 10th – 12th Grade: Shaianne Perkins, Carbon County
To promote the importance of trees, students from kindergarten through twelfth grades entered posters conveying their thoughts and ideas through original artwork. Submissions were judged based on the entry’s conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality, and universal appeal. PACD thanks all of the participants in the contest for their interest and dedication to conservation. Best wishes to the state level winners in the upcoming national judging competition. For more information about the NACD poster contest, visit https://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/contests.  

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Written by bruntt on . Posted in Awards, PACD General

Five Pennsylvania Farms Receive Clean Water Farm Award

PACD presented the operators of five farms with the Clean Water Farm Award during its annual conference on July 27, 2016 in State College, PA. The honor is awarded annually to farmers who manage their daily farm operations in an environmentally conscious manner that helps to protect Pennsylvania’s water quality.
Left to right: PACD President Glenn Seidel, Acting Secretary of Environmental Protection Patrick McDonnell, C. Barclay Hoopes, Jr., Diana Hoopes, and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Greg Hostetter. The Hoopes were presented with the Clean Water Farm Award on July 27, 2016. They were nominated by the Chester County Conservation District.

Left to right: PACD President Glenn Seidel, Acting Secretary of Environmental Protection Patrick McDonnell, C. Barclay Hoopes, Jr., Diana Hoopes, and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Greg Hostetter. The Hoopes were presented with the Clean Water Farm Award on July 27, 2016. They were nominated by the Chester County Conservation District.

This year’s award recipients are:
  • South East Region: Barclay Hoopes (Chester County)
  • South West Region: James A. & Billie Cowell, Jr. of Frosty Springs Farm (Greene County)
  • North West Region: Elder Farms – Loren & Darren Elder (Lawrence County)
  • North Central Region: Allen & Linda Wehr Farm (Union County)
  • South Central Region: Randall & Sarah Patterson (York County)
The Clean Water Farm award was initiated in 1986. Recipients of the award are nominated by their local county conservation districts. Financial support for this award is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Program and the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Education Office (administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.). Click here to read the entire press release.  

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Written by bruntt on . Posted in Awards, PACD General

PACD Honors Award Recipients during Annual Meeting

Conservation district staffs, state officials, and legislative partners convened in State College to honor conservationists during the PACD and State Conservation Commission’s 69th Joint Annual Conference. The awards luncheon took place July 27 at the Ramada Conference Center in State College, PA.
PACD President Glenn Seidel presents the Legislator Leadership Award to Representative Tommy Sankey during the PACD/SCC Awards Luncheon on July 27, 2016 in State College. Representative Sankey was nominated by the Clearfield County Conservation District.

PACD President Glenn Seidel presents the Legislator Leadership Award to Representative Tommy Sankey during the PACD/SCC Awards Luncheon on July 27, 2016 in State College. Representative Sankey was nominated by the Clearfield County Conservation District.

The 2016 PACD honorees are as follows:
  • Legislator Leadership Award

Representative Tommy Sankey (Clearfield)

  • President’s Award

Christopher Thompson (Lancaster)

  • Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award

Kenneth Meck (Lancaster)

  • Conservation District Employee Excellence Award

Karl Kerchner (Lebanon)

  • Auxiliary Scholarship

Leah Wenhold (Lehigh)

Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Program Awards
  • 30 Years of Service

Donna Fisher, District Manager, Blair

Maryruth Wagner, District Manager, Columbia

  • 35 Years of Service

Ed Magargee, District Manager, Delaware

Greg Phillips, District Manager, Westmoreland

  • 40 Years of Service

Barry Travelpiece, P.E., Resource Conservationist, Columbia

Click here to read the entire press release.  

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Written by bruntt on . Posted in Awards, Engineering Program (TAG), PACD General

PACD’s Somerset Office Engineering Staff Recognized at Pirates Game

PACD Conservation Engineer Eric Robertson, P.E. (along with other staff from the Somerset Office) was honored by the PA Fish and Boat Commission before a Pittsburgh Pirate game on May 25, 2016. He is pictured on the Jumbotron at PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA. The award was given to the Somerset staff for their acid mine drainage and stream restoration projects.

PACD Conservation Engineer Eric Robertson, P.E. (along with other staff from the Somerset Office) was honored by the PA Fish and Boat Commission before a Pittsburgh Pirate game on May 25, 2016. He is pictured on the Jumbotron at PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA. The award was given to the Somerset staff for their acid mine drainage and stream restoration projects.

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