Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

We support Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts who work for clean water and healthy soil every day.

Lancaster County Conservation District Holds Banquet

(left to right) LCCD District Manager Chris Thompson, PACD Director of Programs & Operations Amy Brown, and LCCD Chair and PACD Secretary/Interim Treasurer/Interim South Central Region Director Sonia Wasco.

On March 25, 2025, the Lancaster County Conservation District (LCCD) held its annual awards banquet in Lancaster, PA.

The program showcased examples of conservation work done throughout Lancaster County, and the district board recognized individuals and organizations contributing to the county’s natural resource concerns.

During the banquet, the district also held its 18th annual fundraiser auction to benefit its scholarship program.

PACD Director of Programs and Operations Amy Brown attended the event.

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Armstrong Conservation District Hosts Legislative Breakfast

Congressman “GT” Thompson discusses efforts to complete the new Farm Bill. Photo provided by ACD.

Submitted by Holly Laird, District Manager, Armstrong Conservation District

Armstrong Conservation District (ACD) hosted its annual Legislative Breakfast at its Kittanning, PA office on March 10, 2025. This event allows ACD to update our legislators about our projects for the previous year and our future plans.

Those in attendance included Congressman “GT” Thompson, a representative from Senator McCormick’s office, PA State Representatives Abby Major and Josh Bashline, a representative from Senator Pittman’s office, and the Armstrong County Commissioners.

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PACD Hosting Free Webinar on Legislative Process

Join PACD’s Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh for a free webinar on “Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania’s Legislative Process.” Brenda will share her more than three decades of experience building relationships with legislators during the webinar. Attendees will learn how conservation districts can engage legislators, the best time for engagement, and ideas and resources for making your efforts as effective as possible.

The event will occur via Zoom on February 5, 2025, from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Click here to register. 

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Snyder County Conservation District Hosts Legislative Tour

Shane Eia, USDA NRCS Civil Engineering Technician, explains how the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, with County Action Plan contributions, helped install a new Animal Heavy Use Area on a beef operation to tour participants.

The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held a tour on November 15, 2024, where they visited and viewed best management practices installed on Snyder County farms to prevent nutrient and sediment pollution. The SCCD cooperated with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Middleburg Field Office on the tour.

Sixteen invitees from the Snyder County Commissioners office, state legislator offices, Snyder County Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program committee, and SCCD Board of Directors and staff met at the SCCD office to start the tour. They visited three recently completed projects receiving financial assistance for BMP installation.

Click here to read the entire article and see more photos. 

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Franklin County Conservation District Holds Conservation Excellence Tour for Legislators

Photo caption (L-R): Chad Reichard, PA Representative Paul Schemel, Alan Gift, and PA Senator Doug Mastriano pose at the Gift farm during a recent tour of projects completed by the Franklin County Conservation District. Photo provided by the district.

The Franklin County Conservation District (FCCD) recently held a tour for local legislators to showcase key projects and conservation efforts. The tour included a warehouse facility, a large solar farm, a floodplain restoration site, and a farming operation with newly constructed improvements.

Franklin County was the recipient of over $3 million in grant funding for 2023 for stream restoration work and ag-related improvements for area farmers. In addition, the Franklin County Erosion & Sedimentation Control staff is kept very busy with permitting for warehouses and solar farms, along with residential and commercial construction.

Legislators were granted an in-person glimpse of the tireless efforts FCCD staff has put forth in maximizing the recent substantial increases in funding.

The Franklin County Conservation District is dedicated to promoting and educating about the wise stewardship of our natural resources.

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Berks County Conservation District Holds Legislative Breakfast

(Left to right) Christina Phillips and Joe Phillips accept a gift basket of local products from Berks County Conservation District Chair Piper Sherburne and Manager Dean Druckenmiller, as thanks for hosting the event. Photo provided by Berks County Conservation District.

On June 14, 2024, the Berks County Conservation District held an event and tour of a new best management practice installation at a family farm in Lenhartsville, PA.

Speakers included Senator Judith Schwank; Representative Jamie Barton; Representative David Maloney; Berks County Commissioners Christian Y. Leinbach, Michael S. Rivera, and Dante Santoni, Jr.; Berks County Department of Ag Deputy Director Kim Fies; NRCS District Conservationist Nick Ramsey; State Conservation Commission Director of Financial & Technical Assistance Programs Justin Challenger; and PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh.

The day ended with a tour of a barn built through the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP).

 

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McKean County Conservation District Holds Legislative Tour

Tour Participants (left to right) – Amanda Murdock, NRCS; Madi Rukgaber; Jeff Larson, MCCD Chairman; Sean Rukgaber, NRCS; Jake Tomlinson, Penn State Extension; Blaine Puller, MCCD Director; Justin Challenger, SCC; Doug Wolfgang, SCC; Ken Kane, MCCD Director; Adam Causer, MCCD Watershed Specialist; Sandy Thompson, MCCD Manager; Representative Martin Causer; Don Dickerson; Sarah Carlson; Katelynn Decker, MCCD Resource Technician; Kerry Fetter, MCCD Conservation Technician; Cliff Lane, MCCD Director; Senator Cris Dush; Ann Kaufman, Congressman Thompson’s Office; and Commissioner Tom Kreiner. Photo provided by MCCD.

To cap off Conservation District Week, the McKean County Conservation District (MCCD) directors and staff held a legislative tour to promote dedicated funding for the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program. The district welcomed Senator Dush, Representative Causer, Commissioner Tom Kreiner, Ann Kaufman from Congressman Glenn Thompson’s office, State Conservation Commission Executive Director Doug Wolfgang, and representatives from the State Conservation Commission, Penn State Extension, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to the event.

Click here to read the entire press release. Visit the district’s Facebook page to see photos from the event. 

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Conservation District Week Concludes

On April 29, 2024, Senator Gene Yaw and Senator Elder Vogel offered remarks regarding Conservation District Week in Pennsylvania. Click here to watch the video of Senator Yaw and here for the video of Senator Vogel. 

Thank you to conservation districts that reached out to their legislators and the public last week to share your great work!

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Lycoming County Conservation District Holds Legislative Breakfast

PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh poses with Lycoming County Conservation District Chairman Bill Kahler.

Lycoming County Conservation District held a Legislative Breakfast in Williamsport on April 24, 2024.

The district’s state Senator attended, along with two House members, all three Commissioners, and an aide from their congressman. District Manager Matt Long gave a presentation. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh also attended the event and gave a presentation.

 

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Conservation Districts Grateful for Level Funding in Governor Shapiro’s Budget

Pennsylvania’s county conservation districts thank Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for supporting conservation districts in his proposed state budget. 

Pennsylvania’s conservation districts assist landowners through technical assistance, permit reviews, site inspections, and education in a safe, efficient, and effective manner. Conservation districts aim to protect our natural resources, keep food on tables, and ensure public safety.

The Governor’s budget was released last week. The “Transfer to the Conservation District” lines in the 2024-2025 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture budgets were kept at the same funding level as last year. 

Click here to read the entire press release. 

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