National Association of Conservation Districts

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NACD RECOGNIZES NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

HOUSTON, TEXAS—February 2, 2006—The National Association of Conservation Districts President Bill Wilson presented the association’s national awards this year at NACD’s 60 th Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas. “NACD is pleased to honor individuals and organizations that have made a significant difference in the conservation movement in America,” said Wilson, a rancher-surveyor from Kinta, Okla. “These folks make a true difference on the ground, and they greatly influence the legacy we leave behind for our children.”

Shonny Nordland received NACD’s Distinguished Service Award. Nordlund is very involved in youth education in her home state of Montana and serves as a coordinator for the state Envirothon Program. She also consistently goes to the Montana legislature to educate lawmakers about conservation and the importance of youth education. Fergus County Conservation District was named Montana’s Outstanding Conservation district in 2005, thanks in large part to Nordlund’s efforts as administrator.

The 2005 Friend of Conservation Award was presented to EDCO Publishing of Auburn, Mich. Over the past seven years, EDCO has provided natural resources education to more than 800,000 Michigan Students through the Learn from the Past, Appreciate the Present and Preserve our Outdoor Heritage program. EDCO created the LAPs program in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The program was specifically designed to encourage kids to spend more time outdoors and increase knowledge, appreciation and conservation of Michigan’s natural resources.

President Wilson also began a new award this year to recognize an individual that has been especially helpful during his term. The first annual President’s Award recognized Joe Lomax, an NACD Executive Board Member from Cape May Courthouse, N.J. Lomax serves unofficially as a historian, a business advisor and financial advisor to NACD’s staff, officers and executive board.

“Districts and conservation-related organizations are doing excellent work all across America,” Wilson said, “but the award winners we’re recognizing this year are among the best and should be honored.”

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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For almost 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. NACD’s website is at www.nacdnet.org.