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.

Click here to read the entire article. 

On October 8, 2025, PACD Executive Director Amy Brown attended a legislative event in Lancaster County to promote funding for conservation on farms.

Also attending the event were Lancaster County Conservation District Chair and PACD Secretary Sonia Wasco, Lancaster County Conservation District Manager Chris Thompson, and State Conservation Commission Executive Secretary Doug Wolfgang.

Click here to read an article on the event. 

Fall Webinar Series to Focus on Strategic Planning, AI Applications, and Policy

The 2025 Fall Leadership Webinar series begins this Wednesday, October 15, with Right-Sizing Your Strategic Planning Process, a webinar presented by Ryan Szuch, Founder & President of York-based Grow Conservation LLC. This webinar will include an overview of strategic planning for conservation districts, including scope and budgeting, and present a toolkit with simple options for districts to evaluate when considering how to invest their time and money best to address priority challenges.

The 2025 Management Summit included a keynote and table exercise on Artificial Intelligence, and we’ll continue the conversation on Wednesday, November 19, with AI Tools for Conservation Districts: Applications and Considerations. The webinar will start with a brief review of potential environmental and ethical concerns voiced during and after the Summit sessions, followed by an interactive discussion on how AI can support HR and staffing, funding development, administrative and financial management, board and governance functions, and outreach and education at conservation districts.

The Fall Leadership Webinar Series concludes on Wednesday, December 17, with “Updating Your Employee Handbook: Sample Policies and Other HR Resources.”  This webinar will explore best practices and legal compliance for revising your district employee handbook and updating policies. It will also include an overview of sample policies and other HR resources available for conservation districts.

Fall Leadership Webinars are open to all conservation district personnel and partners. To register, visit Building for Tomorrow.

Save the Date: 2026 Management Summit

Thanks again to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Management Summit last month! Due to the number of other conferences and trainings in the works for next September, we’re moving the 2026 Management Summit to late October. Mark your calendars for the 2026 Management Summit, Tuesday, October 27 – Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the Wyndham Garden Conference Center, State College.

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.