At the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) in July the Association elected a new slate of officers. Among them was Pike County Conservation District Director Kelly Stagen who was elected as President.

Previously, Stagen served as the First Vice President and Secretary of the Association. In addition to being President, she remains the alternate representative to the National Association of Conservation Districts.

“I am thankful for Pennsylvania’s conservation districts for electing me to represent their interests as their President,” said Kelly Stagen. “I look forward to moving the association forward and to supporting the important work of environmental education that districts provide across the state.”

The 2021 PACD officers are as follows: 

1^st Vice President: Dennis Beck, Cambria County Conservation District
2^nd Vice President: Emil Bove, Westmoreland Conservation District
Secretary: Charles Duritsa, Westmoreland Conservation District
Treasurer: Sonia Wasco, Lancaster County Conservation District

 

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced $2.1 million in new technical assistance grants to nearly 60 conservation districts in 23 states and territories. In Pennsylvania, Cambria County Conservation District received a grant.

The funding supports resource technicians, conservation planners, program support specialists, and technical specialists based on local needs and priorities.

Click here to read more. 

Berks County Conservation District celebrated its 75^th 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

 

• The Strategic Planning Grants program for 2021-22 is accepting letters of intent through November 19. Interested districts should review the program requirements and submit a letter of intent by November 19.
• Managers, assistant managers, and team leaders can still register for the 2021 Management Summit, September 15-16 in State College.
• Registration is open for the 2021 Fall Leadership webinar series in October and November. All conservation district personnel are welcome to attend these 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.

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

1^st Vice President: Dennis Beck, Cambria

2^nd 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

• Senator Gene Yaw (PA 23rd District)

President’s Award

• Lisa Jo Suhr

Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation

• Cindy Adams Dunn

Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award

• Bob Robinson (Wyoming County)

Conservation District Employee Excellence Award

• Matthew Golden (Washington County)

Conservation District Trash Champion

• Washington County Conservation District

Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Awards

30 Years of Service

• Brian Sneeringer, Adams County Conservation District
• James Coslo, Centre County Conservation District
• Debra Dressler, Juniata County Conservation District
• Donald Williams, Somerset Conservation District

35 Years of Service

• Anthony Quadro, Westmoreland Conservation District

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 – 1^st Grade: Cora Petrunak, Lehigh County

2^nd – 3^rd Grade: Riley Thomas, Cambria County

4^th – 6^th Grade: Brock Wharton, Cambria County

7^th – 9^th Grade: Evelyn Warner, Cambria County

10^th – 12^th 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.