PACD extends our thanks to CACAT for sponsoring the 2025 PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference!

The Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT) at Penn State Extension is dedicated to supporting Pennsylvania’s ag conservation workforce, especially at county conservation districts. We offer a range of resources to help you continue to deliver impactful, sustainable agricultural practices across the state, including:

• Ag Conservation Currents e-newsletter: Timely updates on agricultural conservation news, resources, funding opportunities, and professional development.
• CACAT Website: Your one-stop hub for technical materials, training events, open job listings, and ACAP updates.
• One-on-One County ACAP Visits: Customized support to help your team strengthen local conservation efforts.
• ACAP Promotions and Outreach: Boosting awareness of conservation funding opportunities and Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation.
• Training Events and Webinars: Offering practical, hands-on sessions to grow expertise.
• Engineering Assistance Request Program (EARP): Need help with an Inventory & Evaluation (I&E), basic surveying, or BMP design? EARP provides technical support from CACAT staff, PA State Conservation Commission engineers, or private-sector partners to keep your ACAP projects moving forward​.

Districts are encouraged to collaborate with CACAT by participating in trainings, promoting success stories, and connecting with our technical services.

Visit extension.psu.edu/cacat to learn more and sign up for our Ag Conservation Currents newsletter at extension.psu.edu/ag-conservation to stay informed!

PACD members and partners are invited to register for the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference hosted by the Westmoreland Conservation District. The event will take place July 15-17 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion, PA. Go Laurel Highlands has compiled lots of fun things to do in the area and participants will receive a 20% discount on Seven Springs activity passes, so come early, stay late, and bring the whole family!

On Tuesday, July 15, participants can bike the beautiful Youghiogheny River Trail to Confluence, hike one of the trails at Ohiopyle State Park, or get together for scramble-format golf at the picturesque Highlands Golf Club at Seven Springs. Time has been set aside for members to talk about conservation district funding on Tuesday evening.

Wednesday, July 16, offers two educational tracks, one following the Oven Run AMD Project and one examining Large-Scale Solar in Pennsylvania. Both tracks include a morning session and afternoon tour. The day wraps up with dinner at Seven Springs and a reception celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission (SCC) sponsored by Go Laurel Highlands. Join us for drinks, snacks, and conservation trivia!

On Thursday, July 17, PACD and the SCC will recognize outstanding members of the conservation community during our joint awards luncheon. The SCC Briefing Session in the morning will feature partner activities and highlight conservation district projects, followed by the SCC business meeting in the afternoon.

Westmoreland Conservation District invites conservation districts to show off their local pride by creating a basket of local items to donate to the basket raffle. Many thanks to Westmoreland for hosting the conference and organizing the basket raffle to benefit PACD.

One article can’t capture all the happenings at this year’s conference, so click here for more information and to register today! 

 

The countdown to the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference has begun! The conference will take place in just 100 days at Seven Springs Mountain Resort July 15-17, 2025. Registration will open in a few short weeks, and sponsorships are coming in. If your organization is interested in connecting with conservation district managers and board members from across the state, conference sponsorship may be just the opportunity you’re looking for! Click here to visit the sponsorship website and see what we have to offer. Questions? Contact Molly Burns mburns@pacd.org with PACD.

PACD will hold its summer committee meetings via videoconference in June and 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 the virtual committee meetings will be free and required. Mark your calendars and look for more information in a future edition of Front Page!

PACD Conservation Committee Video Conference
June 18, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. –11:00 a.m.

PACD District Employees Committee Video Conference
June 20, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Education & Outreach Committee Video Conference
June 26, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Legislative Committee Video Conference
June 30, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Ways & Means Committee Video Conference
July 10, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

PACD Operations Committee Video Conference
July 11, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

On March 27, 2025, the Lycoming County Conservation District held a Legislative Breakfast in Williamsport, PA. Twenty-nine people attended the event.

Legislators in attendance included:

• State Representative Joe Hamm
• State Representative Jamie Flick
• County Commissioner Mark Mussina

Legislators represented by their staff included:

• Juliet Harshbarger – Regional Director for U.S. Senator Dave McCormick
• James May – Regional Director for U.S. Congressman Dan Musser
• Ann Kaufman – Deputy District Director for U.S. Congressman Glenn (GT) Thompson
• Elizabeth Vollman – Constituent Specialist for PA Senator Gene Yaw

During the event, the district highlighted the past year’s accomplishments in various programs. Special attention was given to the ongoing Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program from Tropical Storm Debby. All in attendance offered their ongoing support for the residents of Lycoming County, and statewide, who were affected by the flooding this storm caused. Lycoming County will have 21 EWP projects due to this storm event.

PACD Water Resource Trainer Kelly Davidson staffed a conservation district booth at the

Penn State Earth, Environment, and Sustainability Career Fair. Kelly promoted conservation district careers to the many students attending the fair. The event took place on March 21, 2025.

Submitted by Matthew J. Long, District Manager, Lycoming County Conservation District

Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union County Conservation Districts teamed up to host a workshop for consultants on March 20, 2025. The Susquehanna Valley Consultants Workshop was attended by 69 consultants and contractors to learn about changes to the PAG-02 General NPDES permit. The event was hosted at the Pine Barn Inn in Danville, PA, and featured 12 presenters from the districts and two from the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Northcentral Regional Office. Various topics on the changes to the PAG-02 were covered, and the presenters fielded many questions.

The event was a great success, and the consultants and contractors in the region were brought up to speed on many of the larger changes in the General NPDES permit. It’s always great to get a room full of people district staff work with consistently and answer questions in real-time. Many common issues can be explained, and the hope is to increase permit review efficiency. The districts presenting the program look forward to hosting more events like this.

Submitted by Matthew Long, Manager, Lycoming County Conservation District

Lycoming County Conservation District hosted their 2nd Annual Ag lunch on February 25, 2025, in Williamsport, PA. It was a successful event that brought together farmers and several partnering agencies, including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency, Penn State Extension, and Stroud Water Research Center.

Representatives from PA Representative Jamie Flick’s office and U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson’s office were also present, further strengthening the event’s connection to local government support.

The gathering provided an opportunity for farmers to enjoy a meal, network with experts, and earn spray credits while learning about sustainable practices. This event was attended by 67 individuals, which represented a large increase from last year’s turnout. The collaboration between these agencies and government representatives highlights the importance of partnerships in promoting conservation and education within the farming community.

It’s time to RSVP for your spring region meeting! All meetings will be held in person, with the option to attend virtually. Please click on your region meeting below for RSVP information and other details.

Items for discussion include a proposed three-year dues schedule and an update on PACD strategic planning.

PACD South Central Region Meeting
March 19, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA

PACD North Central Region Meeting
March 25, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
Clinton County Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA

PACD South East Region Meeting
March 27, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
Henning’s Market, Harleysville, PA

PACD South West Region Meeting
April 10, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

PACD North West Region Meeting
April 17, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
Lawrence County Department of Public Safety, New Castle, PA (New Location)

PACD North East Region Meeting
April 25, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
Schuylkill Conservation District, Pottsville, PA

 

All district personnel are encouraged to attend the Inspiring Action with Public Speaking workshop on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Ramada Conference Center State College. The workshop, presented by Cindi Johnson and Stacey Piper of Piper Strategies, will provide an overview of audience-driven approaches to messaging and delivery that will supercharge your presentations and speaking engagements. Attendees will also have the opportunity to practice and get feedback on their own presentations.

Registration is required. The cost is $30 per attendee and includes lunch, refreshments, and workshop materials. Space is limited for this valuable training opportunity; registration closes when the workshop is filled.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.