Berks County Conservation District celebrated its 75th anniversary on August 9, 2021, at the Oley Fairgrounds. Attendees enjoyed great food and live music, all while honoring those who strived for conservation in Berks County this year!
PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the event.
On August 24, 2021, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania will hold a public hearing on the negative impact of invasive species in PA. The webinar will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The meeting is virtual, but you must register to attend. This is a Senate Committee Meeting.
This hearing is crucial to show the PA General Assembly the importance of developing and funding a statewide invasive species program.
Click here to register.
Two conservation district staff will testify during the session.
Panel 1
Secretary Redding, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Secretary Dunn, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Executive Director Shaeffer, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Panel 2
Jayson Harper, Professor of Agricultural Economics, The Pennsylvania State University
Tom Kase, Resource Manager, Kane Hardwood
Dean Spencer, Owner, Shanesville Fruit Farm
Brian Pilarcik, Watershed Specialist, Crawford County Conservation District
Panel 3
Sara Grove, Professor of Political Science, Shippensburg University
Sarah Whitney, Director, Pennsylvania Sea Grant
Jody Groshek, Communications & Outreach Director, McKean County Conservation District
Josh Thiel, Invasive Species Section Chief, New York Department of Environmental Conservation
Closing Remarks: Secretary Redding
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.
Ag Progress Days, Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition, was held August 10-12, 2021, at The Pennsylvania State University’s Research Farms in Rock Springs. PACD and conservation districts from Berks, Cambria, Clinton, Huntingdon, and Lycoming Counties met hundreds of landowners and farmers to discuss local conservation during the three-day event.
Thank you so much to all who volunteered to share the great work of conservation districts with the public!
During the July 29, 2021, Executive Council meeting, three new officers were elected.
President: Kelly Stagen, Pike County
1st Vice President: Dennis Beck, Cambria
2nd Vice President: Emil Bove, Westmoreland
PACD Treasurer Sonia Wasco and Secretary Charles Duritsa continue to serve in their current positions. Outgoing President Mike Price was presented with a gavel plaque during the meeting. We thank Mike for his two years of leadership as PACD President!
Conservation district staff and partners attended the PACD Executive Council Meeting on July 29. During the meeting, several individuals were recognized.
The 2021 honorees are:
Legislator Leadership Award
President’s Award
Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation
Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award
Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
Conservation District Trash Champion
Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Awards
30 Years of Service
35 Years of Service
Click here to read the entire press release.
PACD is pleased to announce the five state-level winners of the National Association of Conservation Districts 2021 “Healthy Forests Healthy Communities” poster contest.
The winners in each age category are:
K – 1st Grade: Cora Petrunak, Lehigh County
2nd – 3rd Grade: Riley Thomas, Cambria County
4th – 6th Grade: Brock Wharton, Cambria County
7th – 9th Grade: Evelyn Warner, Cambria County
10th – 12th Grade: Kathryn Polstra, Columbia County
To promote the importance of trees, students from kindergarten through twelfth grades entered posters conveying their thoughts and ideas through original artwork. Submissions were judged based on the entry’s conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality, and universal appeal.
PACD thanks all of the participants in the contest for their interest and dedication to conservation. Best wishes to the state-level winners in the upcoming national judging competition.
For more information about the NACD poster contest, visit http://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/contests.
Click here to read the press release.
The Westmoreland Conservation District has been working diligently to install best management practices and green infrastructure in the community. These projects, implemented with the help of local partners including local municipalities, school districts, watershed organizations, farmers, and the Westmoreland County Community College, have made great strides in preventing water and erosion issues.
To showcase the phenomenal work completed, the district created a BMP portfolio that highlights 45 of the many projects. The portfolio organizes the projects within four categories – watershed restoration; stormwater management; agriculture; and dirt, gravel, and low volume roads.
Click here to read the entire article and here for the BMP portfolio.
On July 16, 2021, Bradford County Conservation District (BCCD) held its 65th anniversary celebration at Mt. Pisgah State Park. PACD Director of Communications and Education Shannon Wehinger attended the event.
Visit the BCCD Facebook page for more photos of the event. Click here to read a press release.
Registration is open for the 2021 Building for Tomorrow Fall Leadership Webinar series, scheduled for Wednesdays, October 27, November 3, and November 10. The webinars are open to all district personnel and partners. District directors and managers are especially encouraged to attend. This year’s program features a two-part workshop on Succession Planning & Management and a presentation on Environmental Justice. Registration is separate for each of these programs. Please visit Building for Tomorrow for more information.
District managers, assistant managers, and team leaders can still register for the 2021 Management Summit September 15-16 at the Wyndham Garden State College Conference Center. This year’s Summit focuses on staff development and retention with sessions on coaching and mentoring, employee lifecycle management, and employee policy in the post-COVID era. Visit Building for Tomorrow for agenda and registration.
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.