Monday Annual Meeting Newsletter

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

NACD 2012 Annual Meeting
January 30, 2012 | Las Vegas, NV

Monday General Session
Leadership Lunch
Poster and Photo Contest Winners
Upcoming Events

1. Monday General Session

More than 800 people gathered in the spirit of conservation at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada for the opening session of the National Association of Conservation Districts’ (NACD) Annual Meeting.

NACD President Gene Schmidt reflected on his first twelve months leading the organization, and asked the attendees to use that number in their outreach efforts. “Will you commit to this organization to deliver the conservation message to no less than twelve organizations or individuals you have never reached before?” Schmidt asked.

Locally-led conservation is the key to achieving large-scale success, he said, comparing local actions to individual pieces of a puzzle that fit together. The theme of citizen action was echoed by keynote speaker Patrick Haggerty of the weekly television program “This Week in Agribusiness.” According to Haggerty, citizens must be engaged in the political process to make a difference.

NACD CEO John Larson’s also stressed the importance of sharing the conservation message with friends, neighbors and lawmakers. The morning program also featured reflections on conservation by Vern Wilker, longtime soil and water conservation district leader from Minnesota.

2. Leadership Lunch

Conservation districts from around the U.S. and its territories were saluted for their support of NACD at Monday’s Leadership Lunch.

Keynote speaker Jon Radtke, water resource manager for Coca-Cola North America, provided insights about the corporation’s extensive water stewardship efforts.

“We want to be the leader in water stewardship,” Radtke said.

The company focuses on plant performance, watershed protection, sustainable communities and global awareness and actions. Coca-Cola cooperates with conservation districts and other partners to achieve water quality and quantity goals, and he invited more districts to become involved in partnerships.

Eight state associations were recognized for achieving 100 percent district membership participation. NACD Second Vice President Jack Majeres paid special recognition to the West Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts for achieving 61 years of 100 percent participation and the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts for 59 years.

Ten states were recognized for their financial contributions to NACD. Ohio was the top state, with Indiana and Arkansas second and third, respectively. Sixteen states were recognized for developing and implementing statewide district official training programs, meeting at least 50 percent of the minimum training elements identified by NACD and the National Association of State Conservation Agencies.

Attendees also reviewed three videos from districts seeking the National Conservation Foundation/NACD Presidents’ Association annual grant. They were asked to vote on projects in the El Dorado County & Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation District, Placerville, California; Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, Occidental, California; and Kent Conservation District, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

3. Poster and Photo Contest Winners

2011 Photo Contest Winners

Conservation Practices: Youth
First Place: Caitlin Crowder, SC
Laurens County Soil and Water Conservation District

Conservation In Action: Youth
First Place: Danielle Higgins, OK
OK Association of Conservation Districts

Conservation In Action: Youth
Honorable Mention: Heather Bayne, IN
Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District

Ag/Conservation Across America: Youth
First Place: Andrea Kutemeier, IN
Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District

Ag/Conservation Across America: Youth
Honorable Mention: Jessica Beyer, MN
Fillmore County Soil and Water Conservation District

Close up Conservation: Youth
First Place: Ty Cary, CO
Montrose County

Close up Conservation: Youth
Honorable Mention: Mary Kate Harrod, IL
DeKalb County SWCD

Conservation in Action: Adult
First Place: Roxie Couch, UT
Box Elder Conservation District

Conservation in Action: Adult
Honorable Mention: Amber Frecuf, CO
Northeast Powers Conservation District

Close up Conservation: Adult
Laura Fleeger, CO
Delta Conservation District

Close up Conservation: Adult
Honorable Mention: Kathie Rondeau, KS
Pawnee County Conservation District

Ag/Conservation Across America: Adult
1st Susan Raymond, CO
Delta Conservation District

Ag/Conservation Across America: Adult
Honorable Mention: Tom Meek, KS
Clay County Conservation District

Conservation Practices: Adult
First Place: Debra Slade, IL
Ford County SWCD

Conservation Practices: Adult
Susan Henning, OK
Kay County Conservation District

2011 "Forests For People" Poster Contest Winners

K-1
1st: Domminick Alber, IL, Stephenson County SWCD
2nd: Austin Buchanan, OK, Oklahoma County Conservation District
Honorable Mention: Emily Waugh, IN, Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District

2-3
1st: Thomas Buchanan, OK, Oklahoma County Conservation District
2nd: Emma Wang, NJ, Hudson, Essex, Passaic Soil Conservation District
Honorable Mention: Caroline Rose Olsen, IA, Jones County Soil and Water Conservation District

4-6
1st: Joseph Hammett, MS, Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission
2nd: Abbey Jackson, LA, Sabine Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Honorable Mention: Rafael Bitanga, AK, Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District
Honorable Mention: Cameron Miller, GA, Catoosa County Soil and Water Conservation District

7-9
1st: Josie Barone, MD, Talbot County Soil Conservation District
2nd: Deborah Bitanga, AK, Kodiak County Soil and Water Conservation District
Honorable Mention: Rebecca Hu, NJ, Morris County Soil Conservation District
Honorable Mention: Abra Shirley, KS, Marshall County District

10-12
1st: Jodie Parsons, WV, West Fork Conservation District
2nd: Joshua Eaton, WY
Honorable Mention: Chase Doughty, VA, Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District
Honorable Mention: Jessica Casas, OR, Oregon Association of Conservation Districts
Honorable Mention: Patrick Price, IL, Dekalb County Soil and Water Conservation District

4. Upcoming Events

Be sure to check back tomorrow for an NACD Live Auction update and more! The action-packed conference agenda will continue through Wednesday. Upcoming speakers include NRCS Chief Dave White; Las Vegas Weathercaster Nate Tannenbaum; National Association of Farm Broadcasters President Tom Steever; and many more.