Agriculture & Sustainable Energy STEM Career Academy Tricities 11/02/2023
[caption id="attachment_51313" align="alignleft" width="224"] A STEM Career Academy student flies his drone.[/caption] Benton Conservation District (BCD) is a proud recipient of the Friends of NACD Grant in 2023. BCD partnered with Benton PUD, Washington Grain Commission, Franklin PUD, Grant PUD, Energy Northwest, Franklin Conservation District, Walla Walla Conservation District, Pacific Northwest National Labs, Washington State…… Continue reading →
Conservation Districts Collectively Leverage Resources to Deliver STEM Academy Program to Local Students in Washington’s Tri-Cities Area 08/01/2023
Evolving organically from long-standing local partnerships, the Foundation for Water & Energy Education Ag. & Sustainable Energy Career Academy Tri-Cities was designed to connect students to hands-on, professional-led, career-focused experiences in the energy, agriculture, and conservation industries. The Benton Conservation District Board has long recognized the importance of river services to the local community’s quality…… Continue reading →
Maine SWCD coordinates Arbor Day event for elementary students 05/31/2022
Maine’s Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District helped coordinate a tree planting event on Arbor Day with elementary students from Lisbon Community School. “We planned a full schedule so all students would have time to be outside, learn about their local forest ecosystem, and participate in planting a native tree,” said Emma Lorusso, Androscoggin…… Continue reading →
Kentucky’s Henry County CD hits their stride with grant from NRCS 07/30/2020
By Candice Abinanti In Henry County, Ky., “tobacco paid the bills for a long time,” remarks Curtis Coombs (pictured left), a soil conservation technician covering Henry and Oldham Counties. Located northeast of Louisville and bordered on the east by the Kentucky River, Henry County’s primary crop used to be tobacco. Over the years, tobacco has…… Continue reading →
Seeking Leaders in Windy Times 09/04/2019
By Sunni Heikes-Knapton and Ray Ledgerwood When the winds of life blow our way, what do we do? It depends on who you are. Some complain. Others wait for change. The truly wise ones understand the conditions for what they are, and they adapt to persevere. These realists are our modern-day leaders, and they learned…… Continue reading →
Maryland District Promotes Next Generation of Conservation Leaders 08/19/2019
By Katrina Vaitkus Prince George’s Soil Conservation District (PGSCD) in Maryland is leading the way in educating the next generation of conservation leaders. Since joining the district in 1986 as an engineer, District Manager Steve Darcey has seen the district expand its programs to become more involved with the county’s youth. The district currently participates…… Continue reading →
NACD Supports Boot Camp Bridge 07/15/2019
By Teresa Matteson Thanks to NACD funding, I attended NRCS Conservation Planning Boot Camp in Lincoln, Neb., in May of 2018. Entering a room of 34 classmates, many of whom were less than half my age, was a bit daunting. During the first week of the course, Darnell Dunson, one of my younger classmates, initiated…… Continue reading →
Caribe Soil Conservation District reinstates Youth Board and inaugurates irrigation system 06/05/2019
By Gelyan Reyes In 1992, Caribe SCD became the first district in Puerto Rico to ever have a Youth Board. The Youth Board consisted of eight members (five Board Supervisors and three Vocals) and was a self- sufficient and complete team with its own regulations and bylaws. The Caribe SCD Youth Board operated from 1992-2000…… Continue reading →
A Reflection on the 2019 Conservation Careers Workshop 06/01/2019
By Sunni Heikes-Knapton The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) welcomed 10 students from universities across the United States to participate in the 2019 Conservation Careers Workshop at NACD's 73rd Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. This workshop was aimed at introducing college students to the history, trends and…… Continue reading →
Conservation District Hosts National Land and Range Judging Contest, NRCS Chief 05/29/2019
[caption id="attachment_30902" align="alignright" width="342"] NRCS Chief Matt Lohr, pictured far right, with competitors.[/caption] Every year in May, nearly 1,000 4-H and FFA students and coaches from over 34 states gather for the National Land and Range Judging Contest. Students test their skills in judging the adaptability of the land for various purposes, including farming, range…… Continue reading →