On February 11, 2026, PACD Director of Communications & Education Shannon Wehinger traveled to Penn State’s main campus in University Park, PA. PACD was invited to host a conservation district booth at the Penn State Earth, Environment, and Sustainability Career Fair.

Shannon met with Penn State students interested in careers and internships related to science, the environment, agriculture, and conservation. A sign with a QR code to the PACD jobs webpage was prominently displayed.

The booth space was sponsored by the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT), which allowed conservation districts to have a booth at no cost to PACD.

The Earth, Environment, and Sustainability Career Fair featured employers focused on environmental science, sustainability, conservation, geosciences, geography, meteorology, and agriculture. The event is a collaboration between the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, the College of Agricultural Sciences (Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science), Penn State Career Services, and Penn State Sustainability.

On February 10, 2026, PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended the first annual conservation and farmland preservation banquet at the Lebanon County Conservation District.

The event recognized the hard work of local farmers, landowners, and conservation partners.

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.

April 26 to May 2, 2026, will be “Conservation District Week” in Pennsylvania. During this week, district offices will hold events, conference calls, and meetings with legislators. Resources such as letters, a press release, and social media images will be available from PACD to promote Conservation District Week. Stay tuned for more information.

Close to 4,000 township officials and guests from all over Pennsylvania will attend the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Conference and Trade Show from April 19 to 22, 2026. Once again, there will be a conservation district booth at the show from Sunday, April 19, to Tuesday, April 21.

PACD is seeking volunteers for the following shifts:

• Sunday, April 19 – Noon to 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, April 20 – 7:30 a.m. to Noon.

Please consider volunteering for a shift at the conservation district booth. This is a valuable opportunity to promote the districts and explain the type of work they do, as well as reinforce existing relationships with local township officials.

To volunteer, please contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made the conservation district booth at the PA Farm Show a success!

Thank you to the following conservation districts who sent volunteers:

• Centre
• Chester
• Clinton
• Cumberland
• Dauphin
• Huntingdon
• Indiana
• Lancaster
• Mifflin
• Schuylkill
• Union
• Washington

 

 

Conservation district directors and associate directors, district staff, and partner agency staff are invited to register for the Virtual 2026 PACD Winter Meeting. The event will take place as a series of videoconferences throughout January. Registration for each videoconference is required and free to participate. Please email the individual listed for a registration link.

PACD Conservation Committee Videoconference
January 7, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link

PACD District Employees Committee Videoconference
January 9, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org for a registration link

PACD Education and Outreach Committee Videoconference
January 13, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org for a registration link

PACD Legislative Committee Videoconference
January 15, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link

PACD Ways and Means Committee Videoconference
January 22, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link

PACD Operations Committee Videoconference
January 23, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link

PACD Executive Council Committee Videoconference
January 29, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-Noon
Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org for a registration link

PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended the 2025 Chesapeake Agricultural Networking Forum from November 12-14 in Hershey, PA.

The event was held for National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grantees, partners, and practitioners in agricultural conservation from across the region. Attendees discussed emerging trends and topics, networked, shared information and ideas, and informed what’s next for collective efforts to further advance agricultural conservation across the Bay watershed.

 

Mark your calendars for the 2026 PACD Winter Meeting, which will take place as a series of videoconferences throughout January. Registration will be both free and required. Watch for registration information in a future edition of Front Page.

PACD Conservation Committee Videoconference
January 7, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD District Employees Committee Videoconference
January 9, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Education and Outreach Committee Videoconference
January 13, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Legislative Committee Videoconference
January 15, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Ways and Means Committee Videoconference
January 22, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Operations Committee Videoconference
January 23, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Executive Council Committee Videoconference
January 29, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–Noon

Lancaster County Conservation District held a Gala on September 25, 2025, at Moonstone Manor in Elizabethtown, PA. Over 160 people attended the Gala to celebrate the district’s 75th year. PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended the celebration.

Click here to read the event press release.