The monthly Board Development Video Series provides information and review on governance, compliance, and programmatic topics. These short-format videos are intended for viewing and follow-up discussion at your district board meetings. The November 2025 installment focuses on Executive Sessions.

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.

You are invited to the Foundations of Project Management webinar on December 18, 2025, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. District staff often find themselves serving as a default project manager. With planning and proactive management, projects can succeed even in the face of adversity. This session will discuss three project management foundations (cost, time, and quality) and review management strategies. The webinar will be presented by Sarah Xenophon, Director of the Farm Viability & Natural Resource Division at the PA State Conservation Commission, and is open to all district personnel.

Visit Building for Tomorrow to register for Fall Leadership Series webinars.

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.

Mark your calendars for the 6^th Annual Conservation District Video Awards on February 12, 2026, at noon. Over the last five years, we’ve seen almost 70 video entries and presented over a dozen awards to district staff in recognition of the hard work and creativity that go into producing content that showcases the many ways districts work to accomplish their missions and serve their communities. We can’t wait to see what you’ve produced in 2025! All districts that produced and posted video content this year are encouraged to send us their entries.

The Law Office of Andrew H. Shaw, P.C. offers PACD a legal advice program. PACD Members have access to on-call legal assistance at a reduced rate, including both attorney and paralegal services.

The law office is a general practice law firm and can provide advice and assistance in many practice areas.

Their contact information is:

Andrew H. Shaw, Esquire
andrew@ashawlaw.com
2011 W. Trindle Road, Carlisle, PA 17013
717-243-7135
www.ashawlaw.com

Highlighting PA conservation district employees who go above and beyond.

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

Strategic planning is an essential activity for conservation districts. Building for Tomorrow encourages districts to regularly re-evaluate and update their plans, and supports districts by offering grants to offset costs associated with strategic planning activities. The State Conservation Commission has allocated funding for grants to reimburse up to a maximum of $1,500 in expenses related to the development of a strategic plan for the 2025-26 program year. Districts should submit a Letter of Intent by December 23, 2025. Visit Building for Tomorrow for more information.

On October 15, Ryan Szuch of Grow Conservation LLC presented a webinar that provides a good starting point for districts thinking about creating or updating a strategic plan. Right-Sizing Your Strategic Planning Process includes an overview of strategic planning for conservation districts, including scope and budgeting, with simple options for districts to evaluate when considering how to best invest their time and money to address priority challenges.

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.

 

Highlighting PA conservation district employees who go above and beyond.

During the PACD North Central Region Meeting on October 14, 2025, Lycoming County Conservation District Manager Matt Long demonstrated the Virtual Reality (VR) the district uses.

The videos used for the VR demonstration featured a poultry operation with 24,000 birds in the barn and a soil nailing project completed through the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program.

The district has one camera and 30 headsets that the Lycoming County Commissioners purchased using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. The district uses Meta Quest 3 headsets and is shooting the videos with a GoPro Max (360). The district plans to shoot a few more agriculture-related videos this fall with some local producers.

Matt emphasized that this technology has nearly limitless potential educational applications for both children and adults.

In Tunkhannock, in Wyoming County, PA, Jay Jadick and his partner, Jordan Delzell, are writing a new chapter on Jay’s family land. Together, they operate Twofold Farm and Studio, a blend of market garden and papermaking studio, coupled with a bold vision for perennial agriculture. 

Jay, a fourth-generation farmer, is shifting ground that once grew continuous corn into a more resilient future with trees. “We’re hoping to find a blend between art and agriculture in our daily lives,” he explained. “Long term, we want to focus on perennial crops like chestnuts and work more cooperatively with other artists and farmers in the region.” 

Twofold Farm’s vision began moving forward in June 2023, when Jay and Jordan first met with the Wyoming County Conservation District to share their ideas. With the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) newly launched, planning moved quickly.

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