Last week, NACD welcomed nearly a thousand conservation professionals to the 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Hosted in partnership with the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts, the meeting explored the theme "Local Resiliency, National Community." We are excited to share a recap of the meeting in this special edition of eResource!

To explore the daily newsletters, see photos, read press releases, revisit presentations, and more - see the meeting's media page.

NEW NACD LEADERSHIP ELECTED

While in New Orleans, a new slate of NACD Officers and Executive Board members were elected and later sworn in during Tuesday's Appreciation Banquet.

Kim LaFleur was sworn in as NACD President. She has served in several leadership roles at NACD since 2007, including as a board member, executive board member, and most recently as an officer as NACD’s First Vice President and President-Elect. She also serves as the Board Chair of the Plymouth County Conservation District. LaFleur is the State Advisor and Program Director for the Massachusetts FFA Association, which is part of the nation’s largest agricultural youth leadership development organization. 

President LaFleur is the first woman to serve as NACD President, saying in her opening address, "I am not the first woman qualified to do this job, I am just the first one given the opportunity."

The NACD Board of Directors also voted to elect the other members of the leadership team. Gary Blair of Mississippi was elected as First Vice President, and Bill Simshauser of Kansas, was elected as Second Vice President. Mark Masters of Georgia, a graduate of the National Conservation Foundation's Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) inaugural 2020 cohort, was elected to serve as Secretary-Treasurer. Immediate Past President Michael Crowder of Washington, and NACD Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Peters round out the national association’s officer team.

NACD also welcomed new region representatives of the Executive Board: 

• Ryan Britt - Missouri, North Central Region Rep.
• Karl Jensen - South Dakota, Northern Plains Region Rep.
• John McAlpine - Arkansas, South Central Region Rep.
• Cliff Lane- Pennsylvania, Northeast Region Rep.
• Josh Smith - New Mexico, Southwest Region Rep.
• Michael Aguon - Guam, Pacific Region Rep.

These district officials join re-elected Southeast Region Representative Franklin Williams of North Carolina in rounding out regional representation on NACD’s Executive Board.

SECRETARY VILSACK GIVES KEYNOTE ANNOUNCING CONSERVATION FUNDING

During Monday's Leadership Luncheon, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack provided a keynote address for the session and made an announcement regarding the availability of Inflation Reduction Act funding to support oversubscribed voluntary conservation programs.

“The reality is, we can’t get it done without you. There needs to be a strong partnership between USDA and conservation districts. You’re the trusted source in your communities,” remarked Secretary Vilsack. “Now, for the first time in a long time you’re going to have significant resources to drive adoption, get producers ready to participate in climate-smart markets, and quantify and measure those outcomes. This is the moment for people to understand what you’ve been advocating for a long time – conservation. This is your opportunity.”

In Fiscal Year 2023, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will make $850 million available for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NACD applauds this investment in voluntary and locally-led conservation efforts. It is critical for the conservation districts to have the tools needed to face the challenges of the future.

To read more about Secretary Vilsack's remarks and announcement, visit NACD's newsroom.

CONSERVATION PARTNERS SHARE WITH KEYNOTES AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS

The first General Session of the NACD 2023 Annual Meeting opened on Monday, February 13 with addresses from NACD President Michael Crowder and NACD CEO Jeremy Peters. They gave updates on the association and discussed the meeting's theme of "Local Resiliency, National Community," including the opportunities and challenges on the horizon for conservation districts.

Lt. General Russel L. Honoré gave an engaging keynote address, highlighting the the key principles of leadership and the challenges that leaders face in a world of emerging natural resource concerns and natural disasters.

Tuesday morning’s General Session of the 2023 NACD Annual Meeting featured keynotes and panels with a variety of conservation and natural resources experts from private and federal partners.

Addressing the importance of partnerships in her keynote address, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams highlighted the need for collaborative approaches to implementing conservation and natural resource management.

Following the opening keynote, the first panel of the general session discussed governance, social, and environmental issues and was moderated by Agri-Pulse Communications Managing Editor Spencer Chase. Panelists included Steven Wall with Sygenta, Brooke Wynn with Smithfield Foods, and Robert Zemenchik. This was followed by a panel focusing on collaborative approaches to natural resource stewardship and included Martha Williams with Fish and Wildlife Service, Kristin Thomasgard with the Department of Defense, Deputy Under Secretary Gloria Montaño Greene, and Charles Sutcliffe with the Louisiana Governor's Office as panelists. Each panelist shared their unique experiences, perspectives, and insights with the audience.

Tuesday also featured a viewing of the "Wings Over Water" film and a panel discussion about the importance of conservation to managing wildlife habitats. The panel was moderated by Will Primos, founder of Primos Hunting, and included NACD Past President Michael Crowder, Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation President and CEO Charles Potter, Audubon Chief Conservation Officer Marshall Johnson, and Ducks Unlimited Chief Operating Officer Nick Wiley as panelists.

NGLI CELEBRATES 2022 COHORT GRADUATION AND WELCOMES 2023 COHORT

The National Conservation Foundation's (NCF) Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) wrapped up the 2022 Cohort with a graduation celebration on Monday, Feb. 13 at the Leadership Luncheon. NGLI was established to equip leaders with skills and resources related to personal, civil, and organizational leadership development. These cohort members have spent the last year learning and preparing to serve as the conservation leaders of the future.

The 2023 Cohort of the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) also met for the first time at the Annual Meeting. These NGLI participants will meet for four training sessions throughout the year, with a capstone session and graduation at next year's annual meeting.

The 2023 Cohort participants are:

• Daryl Donohue – Kansas
• Eric Hansen – South Dakota
• Craig Myers – North Carolina
• Angela Rosol – Iowa
• Dawn Salcito – Arizona
• Donald Stephens – Oklahoma
• Michael Stewart – South Carolina

To learn more about the NGLI Program, visit the National Conservation Foundation's website!