NACD Awards

NACD Friend of Conservation Award

The Friend of Conservation Award recognizes an individual, business, organization, or agency outside the association for outstanding contributions to the conservation of our nation’s natural resources. Any individual, business, organization, or agency that is not directly associated with conservation districts at the local, state, or national level is eligible to receive this award. Nominations can be made by any individual, organization, agency, or conservation district. The Friend of Conservation Award recipient will be selected by the NACD Awards Committee.

The award recipient will be honored at the NACD Annual Meeting in February. They will also receive complimentary meeting registration, two complimentary tickets to the Appreciation Banquet, a plaque, and national recognition in NACD publications. All nominations will receive certificates of honorable mention from the NACD president.

Nominations for the 2023 Award are closed.

NACD Distinguished Service Award

The NACD Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual within the association, a conservation district, or a state association that has made significant contributions to the conservation and proper management of our nation’s natural resources. Nominees can be involved with districts or the association at any level, including past NACD officers. Nominations are also accepted for individuals posthumously and may be submitted by any individual, organization, agency, or conservation district. The recipient will be selected by the NACD Awards Committee.

The award recipient will be honored at the NACD Annual Meeting in February. They will also receive complimentary meeting registration, two complimentary tickets to the Appreciation Banquet, a plaque, and national recognition in NACD publications. All nominations will receive certificates of honorable mention from the NACD president.

Nominations for the 2023 Award are closed. 

NACD President’s Award

Chosen by the NACD President, this award recognizes an individual or organization that has been especially dedicated to advancing conservation during the president’s term. The award recipient will be honored at the NACD Annual Meeting this coming February.

Hugh Hammond Bennett Award for Conservation Excellence

Sponsored by the National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP) whose members include the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA), National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) and the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils (NARC&DC)

Invoking the leadership and dedication of Hugh Hammond Bennett, the father of the modern soil conservation movement and the first chief of the Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation Service), the Hugh Hammond Bennett Award for Conservation Excellence (Bennett Award) recognizes a producer and conservation planners from within the NCPP and our partners who have exemplified outstanding service through development and implementation of sound conservation planning and other conservation techniques.

More information about the award and how to apply can be found on NCPP’s website.

Nominations for the 2023 Award are closed.

Olin Sims Conservation Leadership Award

On December 7, 2007, conservation lost a friend and outstanding leader in NACD President Olin Sims. Sims was a rancher from McFadden, Wyo., who devoted years of distinguished service to conservation initiatives at the state and national levels. In tribute to Sims’ memory, and to help further promote and recognize outstanding conservation leadership at the state and local levels, NRCS and NACD jointly established the Olin Sims Conservation Leadership Award. The award will be presented at the NACD Annual Meeting this coming February to one up-and-coming leader who demonstrates excellence in promoting and leading voluntary conservation on private lands.

Please reach out to your NRCS State Conservationist for instructions on how to submit your nomination for 2023.

Please email awards[at]email.nacdnet.org for more information.