Last week, NACD welcomed over eight hundred conservation professionals to the 2024 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA. Hosted in partnership with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, the meeting explored the theme "Operation Conservation." 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.

USDA ANNOUNCES WORKING LANDS CLIMATE CORP AT LUNCHEON

On Monday, February 12, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary for Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small and Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie announced the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) establishment of a new Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC) during NACD's Leadership Luncheon.

The WLCC aims to provide skills-based training for careers in conservation. Its establishment is reflective of the critical role of voluntary, incentive-based conservation in meeting our climate goals.

“USDA is proud to partner with the National Association of Conservation Districts in the development and implementation of the Working Lands Climate Corps,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. “This new program will provide technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people and help deliver climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers, ranchers, and producers across the United States now and in the future.”

Conservation districts have a long history of partnership with USDA, NRCS, and the original Civilian Conservation Corps. Together, we share nearly a century of history tackling our country’s most pressing conservation needs through a voluntary, locally led, incentive-based approach.

“Climate change is this generation’s Dust Bowl, presenting us with new challenges to agriculture, ranching, and forestry,” said NACD President Kim LaFleur. “Preparing the next generation of conservationists to tackle issues such as soil erosion, drought, water quality and quantity, biodiversity, and habitat restoration is critical. NACD is pleased to collaborate with the USDA and NRCS to provide training support to the host sites that will be providing day-to-day mentorship, on-the-job training, and job experiences for a new generation launching careers in conservation.”

GARY BLAIR ELECTED AS NACD PRESIDENT-ELECT

While meeting in California,the NACD Board of Directors elected Gary Blair of Starkville, Mississippi to serve as the association’s President-Elect. He will serve a one-year term as President-Elect alongside current NACD President Kim LaFleur and will assume the role of NACD President in 2025. 

Blair has served NACD in a number of roles since 2015, including as a board member, executive board member, and most recently as an officer in the role of First Vice President. He also serves on the board of his local conservation district, the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District, and is a former president of the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts and Mississippi Forestry Association. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to take the helm and move NACD and its mission forward during this very important time in the history of soil and water conservation,” said NACD President-Elect Gary Blair. “We promote conservation practices on Every Acre, for Every American, Every Day, with our almost 3,000 conservation districts across this great nation. I look forward to leading NACD by continuing to work collaboratively with my fellow officers, board members, and conservation districts.”  

Blair will be sworn in as President in February 2025 at NACD’s 79th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

OPERATION CONSERVATION INCLUDES KEYNOTES AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS

The first General Session of the NACD 2024 Annual Meeting opened on Monday, February 12 with addresses from NACD President Kim LaFleur and NACD CEO Jeremy Peters. They gave updates on the association and discussed the meeting's theme of "Operation Conservation," including the opportunities and challenges on the horizon for conservation districts. NRCS Chief Terry Cosby also spoke, reviewing the past year for NRCS, highlighting conservation activities supported by the Western Water and Working Lands Framework, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Farm Bill.

Carlos Suarez, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for California was the opening keynote speaker on Tuesday and introduced the California Conservation Planning Partnership, which is getting more conservation on the ground by increasing and streamlining the delivery of technical assistance to producers. 

Following Suarez, Agri-Pulse Communications Managing Editor Spencer Chase moderated two discussion panels. The first panel identified obstacles, challenges, and barriers underserved producers face in accessing resources, and how to overcome these challenges. Panelists included: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Senior Advisor for Racial Equity Dr. Dewayne Goldmon, Seanicaa Edwards Herron with the Freedmen Heirs Foundation, Jeanette Lombardo with the Farmer Veteran Coalition, Gary Matteson with Farm Credit, and Nancy Wahl-Scheurich with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.

The second panel, with panelists Alyssa Charney of the White House

Office of Domestic Climate Policy, Terry Baker with the Society of American Foresters, Kris Johnson, Ph.D. with The Nature Conservancy, and Rachel Petitt with the Southern California Soil & Water Hub, discussed ecosystem service tradeoffs, how companies are meeting environmental and social goals, and the impact of data collection impact on producers. 

President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council Krysta Harden closed out the general sessions with a keynote on how dairy can provide a sustainable source of nutrition and help meet environmental stewardship goals.

NGLI CELEBRATES 2023 COHORT GRADUATION AND WELCOMES 2024 COHORT

The 2023 cohort of the National Conservation Foundation’s (NCF) Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) graduated at this year's leadership luncheon. The NGLI program prepares cohort members for conservation leadership roles. The 2023 cohort members that graduated from the yearlong program, having completed the curriculum and a capstone project to benefit their home districts, are: Daryl Donohue of Kansas; Donald Stephens of Oklahoma; Angela Rosol of Iowa; Dawn Salcito of Arizona; Craig Myer of North Carolina; Eric Hanson of South Dakota; and Michael Stewart of South Carolina.

The 2024 Cohort of 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 2024 Cohort participants are:

• Vincent Thomas – Kentucky
• Excell La Fayette, Jr. – Oklahoma
• Kelli Bowen – North Dakota
• Kirk Daniel – Tennessee
• Glen Takai – Guam