North Central Region
NACD's North Central Region representative is Beth Mason. Beth is based in Indiana and can be reached at beth-mason@nacdnet.org
Executive Board Member: Samantha Steiner, Loveland, OH
Region Chair: Kris Swartz, Perrysburg, OH
Region Vice Chair: Randy Smith, Adams, MN
National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA)
National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA) State Representatives
Staff: Beth Mason, Indianapolis, IN
North Central Region Partners – San Diego, CA, February 11, 2024
Check out our region photos on our Flickr page! Submit any region photos to beth-mason[at]nacdnet.org for inclusion!
Announcements:
Upcoming Events:
- March 25, 2026: NACD Spring Fly-In – Washington, DC (or at your legislators’ home office if you can’t attend!)
- July 17 – 22, 2026: NACD Summer Conservation Forum & Tours – Grand Rapids, MI
Region Specific Resources:
USFWS & NACD North Central Region Work Plan – Draft (2/12/26): This draft workplan is out for comment and edits from the state leadership for implementation in each state and throughout the region to develop a productive relationship between the USFWS Midwest Region and the NACD North Central Region. This is built off the national NACD/USFWS MOA which was signed in 2023. Please contact North Central Region Representative Beth Mason with any questions or comments on the draft.
Regional Infographics By the Numbers – April 18, 2025
NACD North Central Region Survey Report – 7.16.25
NACD North Central Region Survey Report with Appendices – 7.6.21
NACD North Central Kurt Beckstrom Scholarship: In honor of our late friend Kurt Beckstrom and his dedication to conservation, the NACD North Central Region provides scholarships for local conservation district board members attending the NACD Annual Meeting or NACD Summer Meeting for the first time. Please contact North Central Region Representative Beth Mason for more information by emailing her at beth-mason[at]nacdnet.org.
Pictured on the right – Kurt Beckstrom – former NACD Board Member, North Central Region Vice Chair and NACD Soil Health Champion from Milaca, MN
Grants:
Technical Assistance (TA) Grants
- Currently under review. Awards will be announced after the review process is complete.
- For more information on the Technical Assistance Grants, please visit the NACD website.
Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Grant Initiative
- This program is currently on pause. Stay tuned for any updates.
- For more information on this grant opportunity, please visit the NACD website.
Friend of NACD Grants
- The Friends of NACD Grant Recipients were announced on 2/17/26 at the NACD Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX. Check back in the fall of 2026 for the next round.
- For more information on this grant opportunity or to donate to this program, please visit the NACD website.
Meeting Minutes:
- 2026 Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX: February 16, 2026 (subject to approval by the North Central Region Board at the NACD Summer Meeting in Grand Rapids, MI)
- 2026 North Central Region Partners Meeting, Indianapolis, IN: January 13 – 14, 2026
- 2025 Summer North Central Region Meeting, Milwaukee, WI: July 25 – 29, 2025
- 2025 Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT: February 9, 2025
- 2025 North Central Region Partners Meeting, Des Moines, IA: January 9, 2025
- 2024 Summer North Central Region Meeting, Boston, MA: August 11, 2024
- 2024 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA: February 11, 2024
- 2024 North Central Region Partners Meeting, Springfield, IL: January 11 – 12, 2024
- 2023 Summer North Central Region Meeting, Bismarck, ND: July 16, 2023
- 2023 Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA: February 12, 2023
- 2023 North Central Region Meeting, Minneapolis, MN: January 5 – 6, 2023
- 2022 Summer North Central Region Meeting, San Juan, PR: July 17, 2022
- 2022 Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL: February 13, 2022
- 2022 North Central Region Meeting, Lewis Center, OH: January 10 – 11, 2022
- 2021 Summer North Central Region Board Meeting, Chicago, IL: July 25, 2021
- 2021 Annual Meeting – Virtual: February 4, 2021
- 2021 North Central Region Meeting – Virtual: January 6, 2021
- 2020 Summer North Central Region Meeting – Virtual: July 8, 2020
- 2020 Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV: February 9, 2020
- 2020 North Central Region Meeting, St. Charles, MO: January 6 – 7, 2020
Presentations:
NACD’s Introduction to Grant Funding for Conservation Districts (PDF) – Beth Mason, NACD North Central Region Representative, Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Meeting, December 2, 2025, Osage Beach, MO.
NACD: Advocating for LCDs and Districts Nationally as One Voice (recording) – What is NACD and how do they support Wisconsin’s Land Conservation Departments and conservation districts nationwide? Join Beth Mason, North Central Region Representative, National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), as she presents on the value and benefits of this nonprofit organization and how they advocate as the national voice for all Land Conservation Departments/conservation districts. Included in this presentation is a governmental affairs update. Presented as a webinar for the Wisconsin Land + Water Association on June 14, 2023.
NACD: Advocating for Districts Nationally as One Voice(recording) – Beth Mason, NACD North Central Region Representative presents on the value and benefits of the organization and how they advocate as the national voice for all conservation districts. Included in this presentation will be a legislative/government affairs update. Presented online at the Indiana Association of SWCD’s Lunch and Learn on April 12, 2023.
NACD Grant Opportunities for Districts (recording) – Beth Mason, NACD North Central Region Representative and Meg Leader, NACD Projects and Partnerships Coordinator, Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Grant and Funding Opportunity Series, virtual; April 21, 2022.
State Certification Programs, 2022 North Central Region Board Meeting, Lewis Center, OH: January 10 – 11, 2022:
- Illinois – Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (S.T.A.R.)
- Michigan – Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)
- Minnesota – Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP)
- Ohio – Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative (OACD)
Ecosystem Services Marketplace – Tim Palmer, NACD Past President, 2022 North Central Region Board Meeting, Lewis Center, OH: January 10 – 11, 2022
In the Spotlight:
Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) President and NACD Board Member David Hutsell was interviewed about his cattle operation, his ability to adapt, and the state’s cost-share practices of the Soil and Water Conservation Program. Paying It Forward: The Lasting Legacy of Missouri’s Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax
Dr. Jerry Miller (NACD Board Member from Michigan) was awarded the NACD Distinguished Service Award at the NACD Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX. (Pictured on the right at the Appreciation Banquet)
Region Chair Kris Swartz from Ohio was showcased for his cover crop research in the “NW Ohio Grain Node: Testing Cover Crops Strategies Led by farmer Kris Swartz”
Successful Farming’s Podcast “15 Minutes with a Farmer” was 15 minutes with NACD 2nd Vice President Ryan Britt (MO) on How Soil Health builds ROI and what beef producers can learn from dairy (YouTube video).
From Poor Fields to Top Yields: An Indiana Farmer’s Soil Transformation Journey; Successful Farming – Board Member/Region Vice Chair Roger Wenning of Indiana
NACD Second Vice President, former North Central Region Executive Board Member, and NACD Soil Health Champion Ryan Britt and his family were showcased in the “Farm Bureau News.” (includes a great video!)
Former IN Board Member Ray McCormick: Success story published September 17, 2025 “Building Better Soil with Producer Ray McCormick: How farmers in Knox County, Indiana, are using NRCS programs to influence soil health, benefit wildlife, and create profitability.”
On the Road with Your North Central Region Representative Beth Mason:
If you would like to request Beth Mason to attend your meeting as a speaker, please fill out this Speaker Request Form or contact her to discuss options for presentations/trainings.
- July 17 – 22, 2026, Grand Rapids, MI – NACD Summer Conservation Forum and Tours: more info to come!