PACD is currently running a campaign to raise awareness about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to enroll more farmers and landowners, and we ask that you share the message with your network to amplify the campaign. We have compiled a guide with some suggested posts to share on your social media channels. You can also use the recommended posts as a guide and create your variations.
Click here for the CREP Social Media Guide.
It’s time to talk about the PACD booth at the 2024 Farm Show! PACD offers complimentary space at our 2024 Farm Show booth to conservation districts who would like to set up a display for a day and educate folks from all over the state. It’s an opportunity to highlight your district, your county, and what’s happening in your neck of Penn’s Woods. Districts can display their exhibit if they are available to run the booth for both AM and PM shifts. If your staff is available for a half day only (AM or PM shift), PACD will provide the exhibit display.
The PA Farm Show runs from Saturday, January 6, to Saturday, January 13. We need volunteers (preferably two volunteers per shift) to staff the conservation district booth.
Available shifts:
Thursday, January 11: 12:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Friday, January 12: 12:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 13: 8:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Please get in touch with Gloria James at gjames@pacd.org by November 22, 2023, with your contact information and the shift(s) you’d like to fill.
Photo from Cumberland County Conservation District.
The Cumberland County Conservation District held its 21st Annual Conservation District Golf Tournament. One hundred and twenty-two golfers participated and raised $8,400 for educational scholarships! The district has raised over $66,500 over the last 21 years. Money raised goes to scholarships for college and high school students.
Click here to read a news article on the event.
Photo provided by Blair County Conservation District.
Blair County Conservation District held four multi-functional riparian buffer workshops highlighting buffers and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). A total of 54 people registered for the four events.
The district received $3,000 for the project through the CREP Mini-grant Program for Conservation Districts. Click here for more information and to apply.
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
Photo provided by Clarion Conservation District.
Clarion Conservation District planted 2.5 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer along Pigeon Creek in Clarion County. The project cost $14,000 and was paid for through PACD’s Riparian Buffer Sub-grant Program.
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.
The Northeast Association of Conservation District Employees (NACDE) recently announced their 2023 award recipients.
Cliff Lane (right) was presented the District Leader Award from NACDE President Jeff Parker. Photo provided by NACDE.
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 the NACDE President’s Award from Cliff Lane at the PACD North West Region Meeting.
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.
Conservation district and DEP staff are encouraged to register for The Art and Science of Deception, which is being offered twice, once on October 25 and once on October 26, at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, PA. Registration is waived through a grant from DEP, and some meals are included. See below for course descriptions, locations, and dates. Click here for more information and to register. (Clean Water Academy login required.) Registration is open through Friday, October 13. Question? Contact Molly Burns at mburns@pacd.org.
Choose Wednesday, October 25, or Thursday, October 26
This course is designed to provide practical information to people who deal regularly with the public. They must rely on the truthfulness of the information they receive but do not formally interrogate others. The class will cover both the linguistic and non-verbal clues potentially indicating deception, focusing on identifying opportunities to ask more and better questions to reduce the possibility that the attempted deception is successful.
This training was funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania’s conservation districts.
Photo provided by Clarion Conservation District.
On March 22, 2023, the Clarion County Conservation District held a Conservation Workshop for farmers and landowners to learn about funding and assistance programs in the county, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
Partner presenters included Clarion Conservation District, Clarion County Tax Office, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Keystone 10 Million Trees Program.
The district received a $2,600 mini-grant for outreach and education through the CREP Mini-grant Program for Conservation Districts. Click here for more information and to apply.
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
Attendees learn about dribble bar manure application. Photo provided by Franklin County Conservation District.
Franklin County Conservation District held a Summer Conservation Tour on August 3, 2023. Eighty-three participants attended the tour. The host farm provided first-hand accounts of best management practices, including construction and maintenance. Attendees also learned about dribble bar manure application and how it may reduce odor and manure nutrient runoff.
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Reminder to districts considering strategic planning: the Strategic Planning Grants Program is accepting letters of intent for 2024, and planning support is also available for interested districts. Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information.
A brief 2024 Staff Workshop options survey was sent out last week to all district staff listservs. All district staff are requested to complete this survey by Friday, October 13.
All district staff and managers who have yet to participate in the CliftonStrengths for Conservation Districts initiative are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. The CliftonStrengths assessment is an online tool that helps individuals identify, understand, and maximize their strengths. It can empower confidence, improve performance, and support growth and development in all personal and professional life aspects. The CliftonStrengths initiative aims to help district staff discover their talent areas, identify where the greatest potential for building strengths exists, and examine how individual strengths contribute to team performance and organizational culture. Staff interested in beginning their CliftonStrengths learning journey can visit Building for Tomorrow or contact Matt Miller mmiller@pacd.org Leadership Development Program Manager for more information.
Lastly, mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Conservation District Video Awards at noon on Thursday, February 15, 2024. Tune in to find out which districts will win the coveted CONDIVA trophy for 2023!
Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission grant. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.