Ag Progress Days, Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition, was held August 13-15, 2024, at Pennsylvania State University’s Research Farms in Rock Springs. During the three-day event, PACD and conservation districts from Centre, Crawford, Indiana, Juniata, Union, and Westmoreland counties met hundreds of landowners and farmers to discuss local conservation.

Thank you so much to all who volunteered to share conservation districts’ great work with the public. A special thank you to Westmoreland Conservation District for setting up the booth.

The Westmoreland Conservation District celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a Plein Air Paint Out, Reception, Exhibition, and Sale. Local artists were invited to paint scenes around the district’s conservation campus during a three-day period. Fourteen artists submitted 36 pieces of art featuring conservation practices like a pollinator meadow, compost bins, gardens, bee hives, and water features, as well as the district office.

This event was designed to promote the Westmoreland Conservation District’s mission, projects, and programs as it celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2024.

On Saturday, July 27, 2024, more than 20 community members joined the Pike County Conservation District for an educational program titled “Barrels & Breakfast” to learn about stormwater management and pollution reduction. Eighteen households each took home a 55-gallon rain barrel to install on their property. After installation, the rain barrels will capture and divert a total of nearly 1,000 gallons of stormwater for each large rainstorm.

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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This position is remote, with the employer of record being the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. The position is a partnership between PACD and the National Association of Conservation Districts on behalf of the National Conservation Planning Partnership.

The incumbent has primary responsibility for providing assistance and coordination support for the NCPP communication efforts. The position is under the technical supervision of the NRCS Natural Resources Specialist located in Benton, PA.

A cover letter and resume package, including 3 examples of communication pieces completed solely by the applicant, should be emailed to personnel@pacd.org by August 26, 2024.

Click here to read more. 

The Elk County Conservation District (ECCD), in collaboration with neighboring conservation districts and other industry partners, hosted “Forestry Days for Districts” from July 29 to 30 in Johnsonburg, PA. This two-day workshop was open to all conservation districts statewide, and representatives from over 20 districts were present! The objective was to provide “training by districts, for districts,” focusing on timber harvesting and effectively communicating sustainable timber practices.

Throughout PA, each district encounters varying degrees of forestry sites and timber operations. “Forestry Days for Districts” allowed district employees from all corners of the state to come together to discuss their own experiences and learn directly from those in the forestry industry.

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

Summit Room Block Deadline is August 16

All district and partner management staff are invited to join us for the 2024 Management Summit on September 18 & 19 at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center. The deadline to make a reservation from the event room block is August 16. Please visit Building for Tomorrow for reservation information, event registration, and agenda.

Strategic Planning Grants

Building for Tomorrow is accepting Letters of Intent for 2024-25 Strategic Planning Grants. The program will reimburse up to a maximum of $1,500 in expenses related to developing a strategic plan. Visit Building for Tomorrow for information and requirements.

CliftonStrengths for Conservation Districts

The CliftonStrengths assessment identifies an individual’s unique set of talent areas. It provides participants with an opportunity to learn about how their talents form the foundations for strengths that can contribute to success and fulfillment in all areas of life. Nearly 350 district staff have participated in the CliftonStrengths for Conservation Districts Initiative since its launch in 2022. Building for Tomorrow will continue to offer this valuable development tool to districts through April 2025. The initiative is open to all district personnel, including the individual assessment and team-building workshops for participating districts. Contact Matt Miller, Leadership Development Program Manager, at mmiller@pacd.org for more information on getting started or to schedule a workshop for your district team.

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.

PACD is co-hosting a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) Review Course. The course will be held at the Clinton County Conservation District in Mill Hall, PA, on September 10, 2024. The cost is $380 for non-district participants and $180 for conservation district staff (contact hmiller@pacd.org for the discount code). Click here to register online. 

The review course is open to anyone, including conservation district, agency, or private company staff, actively pursuing a CPESC certification through EnviroCert International, Inc. Please pass this information along to anyone who may be interested.

The deadline to register is August 30, 2024. Click here for more information. 

Over 100 people celebrated the accomplishments of students, environmental organizations, and individuals on Monday, July 28, 2024, at the Oley Fairgrounds, Jefferson Street, Oley, PA.

The Berks County Conservation District awarded over $20,000 in scholarships and also awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Pine Creek Watershed Association.

Also presented were awards to individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in conservation, environmental, and agricultural best management practices in Berks County.

Click here to find out who the award winners were. 

PACD is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to deliver a three-day Introduction to Conservation Planning course. This free training is scheduled for November 19-21, 2024, at the Iron Valley Golf Club, 201 Iron Valley Dr., Lebanon, PA.

The event is for entry-level employees of all organizations in Pennsylvania delivering conservation planning technical assistance, including, but not limited to, NRCS, conservation districts, SCC, farmland preservation entities, and non-profits. This training is only for those interested in writing conservation plans and becoming NRCS Certified Conservation Planners or apprentices.

The training is free, and lunch will be provided.

The application period is now open. Click here for the application and more information. Click here for information on the pre-requisite.

The deadline to apply is September 27, 2024.

Management Summit Day 2 on Thursday, September 18, will feature an interactive workshop on Ethical Issues in the Workplace, presented by Mary Kay Williams of Mindshift Consulting. This session will examine the definition of ethics and how values, morals, and beliefs impact ethics in the workplace. A discussion of the Ethical Triangle concept and common behaviors associated with ethics violations will be informed by case studies and examples of real-life district scenarios. It will also include the importance of insightful questions in making ethical decisions.

Visit Building for Tomorrow for agenda, registration, and important room block information.

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.