McKean County Conservation District staff Sarah Carlson and Katelynn Decker attended the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. They gave a presentation showcasing how the district hired new staff, shifted responsibilities, and balanced the workload of existing staff, allowing the district’s programs to flourish and expanding implementation and outreach to the community.

They were joined by director Cliff Lane, who also represents the northeast on the NACD Executive Board. Other PA representatives attended from the Westmoreland Conservation District, the Indiana County Conservation District, the State Conservation Commission, and the Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies.

PACD held its annual Winter Meeting on January 29, 2026. Members received reports on work done by the PACD committees, heard from partners about their efforts, and learned what PACD staff have been working on over the last six months, including the new PACD Strategic Plan.

NACD Northeast Region Representative Nika Colley joined PACD at the recent PACD Executive Council Meeting and shared several links to help Pennsylvania’s conservation districts make the most of their national association:

• NACD Education Materials
• Legislative Fly-in Information and Issue Papers
• How to Take Advantage of Your NACD Membership (YouTube Video)

Nika also encouraged any district staff, directors, or associate directors who need help using the NACD Members Only Page to reach out to her at nika-colley@nacdnet.org.

An article on PACD’s Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) tour during the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference was featured in the July 22, 2025, issue of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) eResource newsletter.

Click here to read the article. 

McKean County Conservation District’s invasive species program was highlighted in the March 18, 2025, issue of “The NACD eResource.”

The article begins, “The fight against invasive species is a growing challenge for conservation districts nationwide. In McKean County, Pennsylvania, the McKean County Conservation District has taken a proactive stance, implementing an Invasive Species Program in 2018 in partnership with the Penn State Extension and the U.S. Forest Service. This collaboration led to the establishment of the Allegheny Plateau Invasive Plant Management Area (APIPMA), covering five counties in northwestern Pennsylvania. The initiative focuses on landscape-level management strategies to prevent and control non-native invasive plants, ensuring the health and sustainability of local ecosystems.”

Click here to read the entire article. 

Have you heard the buzz? The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) wants you to join us at the 2025 Annual Meeting! Hosted in partnership with the Utah Association of Conservation Districts, this year’s meeting will take place in Salt Lake City, UT, from February 8-12, 2025. Join us in the Beehive State to explore the theme “Bee the Change: Reaching New Summits in Conservation!”

Register online before Friday, January 17, to secure your spot!

Submitted by Rob Cronauer, Westmoreland Conservation District Manager/CEO

District board members and staff recently attended the National Association of Conservation District (NACD) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. The five-day event featured informative sessions on conservation topics like soil health, community outreach, climate change, and water quality. USDA Deputy Secretary for Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small announced a new initiative called the Working Lands Climate Corps at the event. This program will provide skills-based training for careers in conservation that will assist farmers with climate-smart agricultural solutions.

Participants also had a chance to meet and share ideas with conservation district staff nationwide. Westmoreland Conservation District Board Chair Ron Rohall is the Pennsylvania representative to NACD and has been active in advancing educational and funding opportunities to conservation districts at the national level.

Cliff Lane, McKean County Conservation District Secretary/Treasurer, PACD North West Region Director & National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) North East Region Representative, was presented with the National Association of Conservation District Employees Outstanding Conservation District Board Member Award. The award was presented during the NACD annual meeting in San Diego earlier this month. Congratulations Cliff!

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.

The National Association of Conservation Districts Northeast Region meeting was held in Portland, Maine from September 17-20, 2023. Pennsylvania was represented by staff and directors from conservation districts and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) held its annual meeting in New Orleans from February 11-15, 2023. Attending from Pennsylvania were PACD President Kelly Stagen, NACD North East Region Representative Cliff Lane, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh, State Conservation Commission Member Ron Rohall, McKean County Conservation District Manager Sandy Thompson, Adams County Conservation District Manager Adam McClain, Adams County Conservation District Ag Conservation Supervisor Brian Sneeringer, Indiana County Conservation District Executive Director Doug Beri, Jr., Allegheny County Conservation District Program Team Director Erin Copeland, and NRCS State Conservationist Denise Coleman.

During the meeting, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of Inflation Reduction Act funding to support oversubscribed voluntary conservation programs. NACD applauds this investment in voluntary and locally-led conservation efforts. It is critical for conservation districts to have the tools needed to face the challenges of the future. Click here to read the press release. 

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “The reality is, we can’t get it done without you. There needs to be a strong partnership between USDA and conservation districts. You’re the trusted source in your communities.”