On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 5, PACD and the SCC are offering PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference participants a guided tour of the Dickinson College Organic Farm. The 80-acre, USDA-certified organic farm is a living laboratory that involves students in all aspects of both farming and research and serves as an outdoor classroom where the next generation of conservationists learn about renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.

The highlight of the tour is the Waste-to-Energy Biodigester that converts local food waste and manure from a neighboring dairy into methane-rich biogas. Participants can learn about all of this and more on the tour.

Click here for more information and to register—and be sure to sign up for the tour during registration!

Several conservation district managers traveled to Harrisburg on June 25, 2026, to say goodbye to Doug Wolfgang, retiring executive secretary of the State Conservation Commission. Congratulations and thank you to Doug on his 28-year career of service to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the State Conservation Commission!

 

 

PACD Project and Event Specialist Molly Burns and Director of Communications and Education Shannon Wehinger traveled to Franklin County on June 23, 2026, to attend the Franklin County Conservation District’s 70th Anniversary Celebration.

The event honored three significant milestones: the Franklin County Conservation District’s 70th Anniversary, the presentation of the Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award to Samuel Worley, and the recognition of Alan Gift as the Franklin County Conservation Farmer of the Year.

PACD congratulates the Franklin County Conservation District, Samuel Worley, and Alan Gift on these significant milestones.

Registration for the 2026 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference is underway! This year’s conference will bring PACD members and partners together at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, PA, Tuesday through Thursday, August 4-6. Tuesday will feature a tour of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building and a casual get-together hosted by the SCC’s own Justin Challenger. Many thanks to Justin for his generous hospitality!

Wednesday and Thursday feature the summer PACD Executive Council meeting, an agricultural tour, a meet-and-greet with the new SCC Executive Secretary, and special sessions with a focus on new and emerging technologies.

Click here for more information and to register.

PACD will hold its summer committee meetings via videoconference in July prior to the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. The meetings are open to conservation district directors, associate directors, staff, partner agency staff, and invited guests. Registration for each meeting is free and required. Please email the listed contact to request a registration link:

PACD Conservation Committee Videoconference
July 14, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Contact mburns@pacd.org for a registration link.

PACD District Employees Committee Videoconference
July 17, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Contact hmiller@pacd.org for a registration link.

PACD Education & Outreach Committee Videoconference
July 21, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Contact swehinger@pacd.org for a registration link.

PACD Legislative Committee Videoconference
July 22, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Contact mburns@pacd.org for a registration link.

PACD Ways & Means Committee Videoconference
July 27, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Contact abrown@pacd.org for a registration link.

PACD Operations Committee Videoconference
July 28, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Contact mburns@pacd.org for a registration link.

 

Penn State Ag Progress Days will be held August 11-13, 2026, at the Russell E. Larson Agriculture Research Center at 2710 West Pine Grove Road in Pennsylvania Furnace. Nine miles southwest of State College, PA, this event will feature the latest technology and research exhibits, educational programs, and guided tours.

This event is an excellent opportunity to highlight the work and programs of the conservation districts.

We are looking for volunteers for the conservation district booth for this event (2 volunteers are needed per shift). If you’d like to schedule a shift, send your name, contact information, and preferred shift(s) to swehinger@pacd.org.                                                                         

The open shifts are:

Wednesday, August 12: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  
Wednesday, August 12: 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 13: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

When available, volunteers will be sent a final volunteer schedule, parking passes, and other show information. For more information on Ag Progress Days, visit their website at https://agsci.psu.edu/apd.

PACD Director of Communications & Education Shannon Wehinger was honored to participate in the Chesapeake Bay Program’s 2026 Education Summit held in Harrisburg this week. The event was organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and connected seven locations around the Bay via shared virtual sessions.

PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, PA Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding, PA Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley, and PA Department of Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe all participated in the event.

Nearly 4,000 township officials and guests from across Pennsylvania gathered for the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Conference and Trade Show, held April 19-21, 2026. As in previous years, conservation districts were represented with an informational booth at the event.

A special thank you goes out to the dedicated volunteers who helped staff the booth:

• Dean Druckenmiller, Berks County Conservation District
• Jason Fillhart, Washington County Conservation District
• Barb Peace, Indiana County Conservation District and PACD 1^st Vice President

Your time and support make participation in events like this possible—thank you for representing conservation districts!

On April 22, 2026, PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended the Goodwill Keystone’s Earth Day Celebration in Middletown, PA. Local students (grades 8-10) attended the event along with community partners and elected officials. The event included hands-on activities, interactive learning opportunities, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours that showcase the environmental impact of Goodwill Keystone.

At the conservation district booth, students played an interactive stormwater Plinko game and learned about conservation districts.

 

Mark your calendars! The PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference will take place at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, PA August 5-6, 2026, with preconference activities planned for August 4. Keep an eye out for details in an upcoming issue of Front Page!