Submitted by Gary Rinehimer, Agricultural Conservation Specialist, Columbia County Conservation District

On July 28, 2026, the Columbia, Montour and Luzerne County Conservation Districts, in conjunction with Haz-Wald Farms, held their annual Summer Soil Health Field Day in Sugarloaf, Luzerne County.

The day included presentations by host farmers Raleigh and Blakeslee Masters, who discussed Farming for Profit Over Yield, and Penn State Educators, who discussed manure utilization, saving $100 per acre when growing corn, and the state of the agricultural economy.

Sixty farmers and ag professionals attended, enjoying a freshly grilled lunch followed by a panel discussion on Bio-Nutrients, with three local farms sharing their experience with different types of bio-nutrient products. The day concluded with field-based demonstrations, featuring an air-seeder, used by the host farm for planting cover crops, as well as a demonstration of drone cover crop seeding.

This event was made possible through a Growing Greener Multi-County Soil Health Grant.

The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) elected a new slate of officers during its annual meeting on August 5, 2026, in Harrisburg, PA.

The 2026 PACD officers are:

• President: Emil A. Bove, Westmoreland Conservation District
• 1st Vice President: Barb Peace, Indiana County Conservation District
• 2nd Vice President: Thomas F. Herbert, Luzerne Conservation District
• Treasurer: Vince Pennoni, Delaware County Conservation District
• Secretary: Sonia Wasco, Lancaster County Conservation District
• NACD Director: Ron Rohall, Westmoreland Conservation District

Executive Board Members not up for election and continuing to serve their terms:

• North Central Region Director: Vacant
• North West Region Director & NACD North East Region Representative: Cliff Lane, McKean County Conservation District
• North East Region Director: Vacant
• South East Region Director: Piper Sherburne, Berks County Conservation District
• South West Region Director: Dennis Beck, Cambria County Conservation District
• South Central Region Director: Randy Leisure, Lebanon County Conservation District

 

The PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference was held at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. Several conservationists were recognized during the awards luncheon on August 6, 2026.

The 2026 PACD honorees are as follows: 

President’s Award

• Barbara Peace, PACD 1st Vice President, Director, Indiana County Conservation District

Conservation District Employee Excellence Award

• Tom Ulrich, Agricultural and Erosion and Sedimentation Technician, Washington County Conservation District

Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Awards

• Years of Service
• Jim Coslo, Manager, Centre County Conservation District
• Debra Dressler, Administrative & Financial Assistant, Juniata County Conservation District

30 Years of Service

• Beth Futrick, Ombudsman/Grants Coordinator, Blair County Conservation District
• Jackie Ritko, Resource Conservation Supervisor, Cambria County Conservation District
• Tracey Crawford, Manager, Crawford County Conservation District

Click here to read the entire press release.  

The Conservation District Trash Challenge pits districts against each other to compete to see who can collect the most trash in the months of April and May. The award is sponsored by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. 

As the first prize winner, the Washington County Conservation District collected 1,168 tires and 800 trash bags for a total of 30,000 pounds of trash.

This year, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful also awarded a runner-up prize for volunteer hours. Westmoreland Conservation District won a runner-up prize for most volunteer hours, putting in 200 hours of hard work!

Pounds of trash and tires collected from all districts for the 2026 challenge:

Washington       30,000

Westmoreland    20,084

Pike              440

Mifflin            360

Clarion           240

Venango          240

Juniata           180

Jefferson         120  

The total pounds of trash and tires reported was 51,664!

 

 

PACD is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 “Soil. Where it all Begins” statewide poster contest.

The winners and the county conservation district that submitted the posters are:

Category: Kindergarten through First Grade

• Maelyn Spiece, Columbia County Conservation District

Category: Second through Third Grades

• Kaelyn Duncan, Greene County Conservation District

Category: Fourth through Sixth Grades

• Cora Petrunak, Lehigh County Conservation District

Category: Seventh through Ninth Grades

• Emma Rickabaugh, Blair County Conservation District

Category: Tenth through Twelfth Grades

• Ella Shultz, Columbia County Conservation District

Each state-level winner will be submitted for judging in the upcoming national competition this winter. The national contest is sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts. Visit https://www.nacdnet.org/contests for more information.

Click here to view the individual posters.

 

During the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference, PACD released its 2025-26 Annual Report. The report features program highlights and a financial overview.

Click here to view the report.

On August 4, 2026, State Conservation Commission’s Director of Financial and Technical Assistance Programs Justin Challenger hosted a Conservation Cookout. Conservation district staff, directors, and partners enjoyed the opportunity to socialize in an informal setting. Many thanks to Justin and his family for their generosity and hospitality!

 

Twenty-nine participants toured the Dickinson College Farm, an 80-acre, USDA-certified organic farm and a living laboratory where students are involved in all aspects of both farming and research. The farm serves as an outdoor classroom where the next generation of conservationists learn about renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. The highlight of the farm is the Waste-to-Energy Biodigester that converts local food waste and manure from a neighboring dairy into methane-rich biogas.

Twenty-two attendees toured the Pennsylvania State Capitol as part of the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference on August 4, 2026. The guided tour shared architectural and artistic highlights. State Representative Joe Kerwin treated attendees with a visit to the House floor and answered questions about being a representative.

 

Registration is now open for the 2026 Management Summit & PreCon October 27 to 29 at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center in Boalsburg. This year’s program features a dedicated New Manager Training on Tuesday, a Wednesday keynote and panel on individual and collective voices, and a staff retention focus on Thursday. All district management staff and partner staff are invited to attend. Visit Building for Tomorrow for the agenda, registration, and room block information.

August Board Development Video: Strategic Planning

The 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. In the August installment we review the basics of strategic planning and share an update on the 2026-27 Strategic Planning Grants Program.

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.