National Association of Conservation Districts

The North Dakota Partners recently hosted a conservation tour for state leaders during the Northern Plains Region Leadership Meeting. In the photo at left, NRCS District Conservationist Jay Fuhrer shows NACD Board Members Jon Starns (KS) and Orval Gigstad (NE) the outstanding soil health achieved by award-winning landowner Gabe Brown through natural biological processes. Leaders from the region gathered to discuss local priorities, explore funding opportunities and participate in a USDA-hosted Resources Conservation Act listening session.

NACD Second Vice President Earl Garber, pictured right (center) recently testified before the House Agriculture Committee regarding pending Climate Change legislation. A producer and crop consultant from Basile, Louisiana, Garber addressed the potential of carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions from agriculture and forestry. Garber also emphasized the importance of locally-led conservation and highlighted the work conservation districts are already doing in several states to verify carbon offsets.

The Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts recently held an Olin Sims Living Legacy tree planting at the Wyoming State Fair Grounds in Douglas, WY. Fifty friends and family gathered to plant a Plains Cottonwood tree in memory of 2007 NACD President and fellow Wyomingite Olin Sims.

NACD Stewardship and Education Coordinator Susan Schultz travelled to Orlando, Florida early this month to present at the Project WET conference. Project WET is a nonprofit organization that focuses on worldwide water education. Pictured at left with Schultz are Project WET State Coordinators Karla Beatty, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Joey Breaux, Louisiana Office of Soil and Water Conservation, and Joni Scharfenberg, Alaska’s Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District.

The National Watershed Coalition recently recognized both NACD and Director of Legislative Affairs Keira Franz at their recent national conference. The NWC awarded NACD a Partnership in Excellence Award and presented Franz with an Extra Mile Award. The awards recognized Franz and the Association's efforts on behalf of watershed project sponsors, as well as NACD's support for the revitalization of NRCS watershed programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Franz is pictured above with Past NACD President Bill Wilson, NWC Immediate Past Chairman Don Underwood and NWC Executive Director Dan Sebert.

The Alabama Conservation District Employees Association (ACDEA) held a Living Legacy tree planting in honor of 2007 NACD President Olin Sims. ACDEA planted the Autumn Blaze Red Maple at the Guntersville State Lodge in Guntersville, Ala. in conjunction with their annual spring workshop.

The Lingle-Fort Laramie Conservation District planted a tree in Lingle, Wyoming early this week in memory of 2007 NACD President and fellow Wyomingite Olin Sims. The District board and a local third grade class planted a Rocky Mountain Juniper in the District's Botanical Park on Main Street in Lingle. Districts and partners around the country are planting trees to help build a living legacy in Sims' memory.

NACD Director of Communications Lisa Lerwick planted a tree in Wyoming as part of the Olin Sims Living Legacy project. Lerwick and her family members planted an Autumn Blaze Maple tree on her parents’ farm outside Albin, Wyoming to remember fellow Wyomingite and 2007 NACD President Olin Sims. Districts and partners around the country are planting trees to help build a living legacy in Sims’ memory.

NACD Secretary/Treasurer Jack Majeres is shown in the photo above with a group of third-grade students from the Dell Rapids St. Mary Catholic School in Dell Rapids, SD. Majeres led the students in an activity that shows the affects of rainfall on bare soil and how plant matter and mulch can prevent erosion and improve the water quality of the runoff.

NACD Second Vice President Earl Garber is shown in the photo to the left with a group of students from the St. Francis Elementary School in Iota, La.  doing a hands-on soils activity following a Stewardship Week lesson.

NACD First Vice President Gene Schmidt and Indiana conservation representatives celebrated 2009 Stewardship Week in in Indianapolis with the dedication of a white oak tree to the Olin Sims' Living Legacy Program. Pictured in the photo are (l-r) Roger Cult with NRCS, Schmidt, Paula Baldwin with the Indiana Association of SWCDs and Anne Hazlett with the Indiana Department of Agriculture.

As part of the 2009 Stewardship Week, themed "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil," NACD President Steve Robinson participated in a Living Legacy tree planting ceremony in Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District in Ohio. Robinson is pictured in the photo above with property owner Jude Mollenhauer and Franklin County SWCD Supervisor Katie Renner.

As part of the 2009 Stewardship Week, themed "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil," NACD Education Coordinator Susan Schultz leads 25 second grade students in a soil painting exercise at Fort Hunt Elementary in Alexandria, Va.

The Walton County Soil & Water Conservation District recently planted a State of Georgia Pecan Tree as part of the Olin Sims Living Legacy project. NACD Past President John Redding is chair of the Walton County SWCD. Redding is pictured at left with fellow district board members Dan Bennett, Nathan Malcom and Cliff Harrison; District Conservationist Jose' Pagan; and Crista Carrell, Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Conservation district Supervisors. Districts and partners around the country are planting trees in memory of 2007 NACD President Olin Sims. For more information on the Olin Sims Living Legacy program and how you can get involved, click here.

York County Conservation District (YCCD) in Pennsylvania recently organized a tree planting in honor of 2007 NACD President Olin Sims. The event was held in tandem with a National Agriculture Day celebration at the Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education in York, Pa. As a living legacy to Sims and their shared commitment of good stewardship of the land, the District planted a native Red Maple. Similar tree plantings are happening across the country to honor Sims,  a Wyoming rancher whose passion for the land inspired all who knew him and whose legacy continues to live on in our hearts and minds. For more information on the Olin Sims Living Legacy program and how you can get involved, click here.

NACD Secretary-Treasurer Jack Majeres participated in the 25x’25 Alliance’s 5th National Renewable Energy Summit in Washington D.C. last week. This year’s summit focused on the role of agriculture and forestry in a carbon-reduced economy, community wind, sustainability, and the further development of woody biomass. NACD has participated as a national partner with the 25x’25 initiative for several years, and Majeres has represented NACD at a number of the Alliance’s activities. Majeres is pictured in the photo above with the 25x’25 Alliance Steering Committee co-chairs Bill Richards and Read Smith. Click here for more information about the 25x’25 effort.

Several Kentucky conservation district officials travelled to Washington, D.C. last week to meet with their Congressional delegation. During the visit, the Kentucky Conservation Partnership hosted their annual Congressional breakfast hosting Congressional staffers, representatives from the Governor's office and other partners. NACD CEO Krysta Harden, Director of Communications Lisa Lerwick and Grassroots Manager Jeremy Peters represented NACD at the event. While in town, the group visited NACD's Headquarters to see the results of the recent building renovations. Kentucky districts, members and employees have generously donated more than $7,500 toward the cause. For more information and current totals on the 509 Capitol Court Campaign, click here.

Representatives from NACD, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the National Association of Conservation District Employees (NCDEA), the National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA), and the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils (NARC&D) met last week for the quarterly Conservation Partnership meeting. Leaders discussed issues of common interest, including NRCS’ implementation of the economic stimulus funds, farm bill conservation program regulation status, the NRCS audit, and plans for a 2010 national training session. Pictured at left are (back, l-r) NRCS Acting Chief Dave White, NCDEA President Connie Richmeier, (front, l-r) NACD President Steve Robinson, NARC&D President Joan Smith Freeman and NASCA President Mike Brown.

NACD members from around the country stopped by the NACD headquarters office in Washington, D.C. last week while they were in town on business. Pictured in the photo to the left is NACD Virginia Board Member John Peterson and Virginia State Association Past President Daphne Jamison with NACD CEO Krysta Harden and Grassroots Manager Jeremy Peters. Peterson and Jamison were in town for Hill visits and to see the “Dig It!” Smithsonian soils exhibit. Additional visitors included representatives from Alaska, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington and Georgia. If a delegation from your district or state has plans to travel to D.C., we hope you stop by the NACD office at 509 Capitol Court, NE. We would love to see you.

The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts held its annual Leadership Institute trip to Washington, D.C., March 1-5, 2009. While in D.C., the group’s 26 participants spent time with NACD staff to discuss a variety of topics including NACD’s policy development process, grassroots engagement and communication, and natural resource priorities in Minnesota. The group also took advantage of opportunities to meet with members of Congress, federal agency leaders, and to tour our nation’s capital. The Leadership Institute participants are pictured above visiting with staff at the NACD office.

NACD’s 2009 Officer Team was in town last week to plan the year and meet with staff and partners. While in town, they also welcomed several visitors to the newly renovated office, including members from Washington, Oregon, New York, Kentucky and Georgia. Pictured from left to right are Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) Deputy Executive Director David Eigenberg, GSWCC Executive Director Brent Dykes, NACD First Vice President Gene Schmidt, NACD CEO Krysta Harden, NACD Second Vice President Earl Garber, NACD Secretary/Treasurer Jack Majeres, NACD President Steve Robison and GSWCC Vice Chairman and Conservation District Supervisor Steve Singletary.

NACD was represented early this week by Second Vice President Earl Garber at a meeting of the U.S. EPA Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC) in Washington, D.C. Garber has served for the past year on the advisory committee, which advises the EPA Administrator on issues related to agriculture and the environment. The Committee just completed its first year of work, which has largely focused on developing advice related to EPA’s biofuels strategy. Pictured from left are NACD Grassroots Manager Jeremy Peters, Garber, U.S. EPA Acting Counselor to the Administrator for Agricultural Policy Sally Shaver and FRRCC Chair and Indiana producer James Moseley.

At the 2009 NACD Annual Meeting in New Orleans, La. earlier this month, NACD leadership, partners, and meeting attendees gathered on Poydras St. in New Orleans to plant a tree in memory of 2007 NACD President Olin Sims. The planting is one of many happening across the country as part of the Olin Sims Living Legacy program, which encourages districts and conservationists to plant a tree to honor his strong leadership and passion for conservation. NACD leadership is pictured below at the New Orleans tree planting with Tammie Sims from Wyoming and Joey Breaux from the Louisiana Conservation Commission. Click here for more information on the Living Legacy program and how you can get involved.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture invited friends and partners to the Department grounds this week to unveil to location of and break ground for the People’s Garden. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the group, highlighting the need to enhance and conserve land and water resources. He then chipped away at a paved walkway that will be eliminated to create a community garden. NACD joined several conservation and environmental groups at the event. Pictured at left are NACD Chief Executive Officer Krysta Harden, NRCS Acting Chief Dave White, NACD Director of Legislative Affairs Keira Franz and NACD Grassroots Manager Jeremy Peters.

The National Association of Conservation Districts installed a new slate of officers at the Appreciation Banquet of the 2009 NACD Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Leading the association over the next two years will be (l-r) President Steve Robinson from Marysville, Ohio; First Vice President Gene Schmidt from Hanna, Indiana; Second Vice President Earl Garber from Basile, Louisiana and Secretary/Treasurer Jack Majeres from Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Conservation district leaders from across the country joined together for four days of networking, learning and fun at the 2009 conference. For more photos of the conference, click here.

Last week NACD Communications Associate Mary Hammon traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation District’s (OFSWCD) annual meeting. On the eve of the national inauguration, Ohio celebrated the inauguration of the new OFSWCD President Lawrence Burdell and the nearing installation of fellow Ohioan Steve Robinson as NACD President. NACD thanks Ohio for their strong leadership and continued support. Hammon is pictured in the photo above with Ohio conservation leaders.

Last week NACD Secretary/Treasurer Gene Schmidt participated in the Louisiana Association of Conservation District’s Annual Meeting in Lafayette, La. Schmidt met with the board, addressed the full group and discussed conservation issues with leaders from state government. Schmidt also thanked the group for their work in preparing for NACD’s Annual Meeting, which will be held in their state next week. He is pictured in the photo above with Louisiana leadership.