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Don't forget to secure your spot at NACD's 2024 Summer Conservation Forum & Tours by registering today! Hosted this year in conjunction with the Northeast Region Meeting, the NACD Summer Meeting will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, this August 9-14.
Early bird registration is only open until THIS FRIDAY, June 30, so don't delay. Save $50 per person by registering now!
Experience Boston with us by joining the tours! Included in the cost of registration are an Urban Agriculture and Conservation Tour on Monday that will explore urban agriculture in downtown Boston and an Agriculture Conservation Tour on Tuesday that will explore agricultural education, aquaculture, and more.
Learn more about the Summer Meeting, see the agenda, and reserve your spot amongst the action now!
| REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL AGROFORESTRY TRAININGS |  | |
In partnership with the USDA Forest Service National Agroforestry Center, NACD is excited to debut virtual agroforestry training sessions for conservation districts and partners!
Demand for trained agroforesters is expected to increase as agroforestry-related Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities projects and Inflation Reduction Act-funded projects are implemented. Three upcoming virtual regional trainings will introduce agroforestry and provide an educational foundation to help conservation districts and partners provide agroforestry technical assistance to landowners. The three trainings will be held on the following dates.
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July 16, 2024 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET for the Northeast and Southeast Regions | Register here
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August 27, 2024 from 12:00 – 400 p.m. CT for the North Central, Northern Plains, and South Central Regions | Register here
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October 22, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT for the Southwest and Pacific Regions | Register here
These virtual trainings will include an overview of geographically relevant agroforestry practices, soil and water conservation and management, funding opportunities and federal program navigation, and planning and design considerations. They are designed for conservation districts and their partners and will include case study examples on incorporating agroforestry into existing conservation district program offerings. The trainings will also include navigation of state and federal programs to support land managers in accessing agroforestry financial assistance.
Questions? Want to attend but can't make it to your region's session? Contact Annica McGuirk, NACD Forestry Program Manager.
This work is made possible by a grant from the USDA Forest Service, National Agroforestry Center, under the authority of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978.
| JOIN NACD FOR WEBINAR ON OUTREACH EFFORTS | |
NACD will host an upcoming webinar to help conservation districts expand outreach to unreached producers.
The webinar will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, June 26 at 2:00 p.m. ET. The focus will be on developing a diversity, equity, and inclusion plan. Register here.
An equity or board succession plan is a requirement for the 2023 NACD Outreach and Technical Assistance (TA) grantees. This webinar is geared to TA grantees, district officials and employees, and association executive directors. A second webinar will be held later this summer focused on developing a board succession plan to enhance conservation districts’ current efforts and attract conservation leadership talent and expertise.
Questions may be directed to Dr. Loutrina Staley, NACD’s Equity and Outreach Program Analyst.
| SOUTHEAST REGION MEETS IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA | |
Last week’s 2024 NACD Southeast Region Meeting, organized by the Florida Conservation District Employee Association, brought together representatives from all 11 states and territories to Gainesville. Attendees delved into topics such as the farm bill with NRCS Assistant Chief Kenneth Walker and participated in state and territory round robin discussions and training opportunities.
During the meeting, ten individuals who have shown unwavering dedication to conservation were honored and celebrated for their contributions and inducted into the NACD Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame. (Photo provided by NRCS Florida.)
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Congratulations to the 2024 inductees: Dr. William Puckett, Alabama; Archie Matthews, Florida; Jerry Holcomb, Georgia; John Chism, Kentucky; Jerry Smith, Mississippi; Max Ralston James, North Carolina; Jeff Wilson, South Carolina; Marvin Whitworth, Tennessee; Deborah B. Cross, Virginia; and Winston Ledee, Virgin Islands.
Attendees also engaged in two insightful tours: an aquaculture tour to Cedar Key, FL, and a conservation tour to Nutrien Ag Solutions. These tours provided hands-on experiences and insights into the latest advancements in conservation.
The meeting served as a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and recognition within the conservation community. By addressing key issues, showcasing exemplary individuals, and offering immersive tours, the event fostered collaboration and innovation among participants from NACD’s Southeast Region.
View photos from the 2024 NACD Southeast Region Meeting on NRCS Florida’s Flickr page.
|  | WILKES COUNTY SWCD BUILDS MOBILE SOILS CLASSROOM WITH FRIENDS OF NACD GRANT | |
In 2023, the Wilkes County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Wilkes County, North Carolina, used funds from the Friends of NACD District Grants Program to support the expansion and mobilization of their wide-reaching conservation education program.
The Mobile Soils Classroom is a one-of-a-kind classroom on wheels that is more than just a place to learn—it's an immersive "underground" experience that ignites curiosity and appreciation for this vital resource. Stepping inside the Mobile Soils Classroom is like stepping into a new world. Interactive displays and captivating artwork bring the properties of soil to life, transforming a seemingly simple substance into a captivating subject. Wilkes County SWCD will use the Mobile Soils Classroom to enhance and expand the learning experiences of the 10,000+ students that it reaches across 12 counties.
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"The Mobile Soils Classroom will be a great teaching tool for all ages. Three-dimensional, larger than life visual aids will help to bring excitement into learning about our natural environment, especially for visually impaired individuals,” said Rick McSwain, Western Regional Coordinator for the Division of Soil & Water Conservation Districts with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. “The mobility of the classroom will make it easily transportable for the Wilkes County SWCD to use in their educational programs such as field days, Envirothon events, and other festivals. It will also be available to other soil and water conservation districts in North Carolina for their programs."
Read more about this project in this on NACD's blog.
The Friends of NACD District Grants Program is a grassroots-funded program for conservation districts to conduct new activities or test novel approaches to their operations. Consider becoming a member of Friend of NACD to help provide more grant opportunities like this to districts across the country!
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NACD Seeks Northern Plains Region Rep | |
NACD is seeking a Northern Plains Region Representative. This full-time position is responsible for providing assistance to the member conservation districts and NACD Board of Directors to advance conservation, resource development, and to assist in the implementation of the association’s policies in the region.
This is a remote position based in KS, MT, ND, NE, or SD. See the full job description and apply by July 12, 2024 at NACD's website.
| NCPP Offers Conservation Planning Training | |
The National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP) is offering Conservation Planning Part 2 training to Technical Service Providers (TSP) and Conservation Partners who need this course for either TSP or Conservation Planner Certification. This course meets the requirement for conservation planning procedures core competency as a conservation planner for all states and U.S. territories.
This training will be offered in four locations - NC, OH, MO, and ID in July, August, or September. Registration closes 35 days prior to each session. Participants can attend any location regardless of the state(s) in which they seek certification. Participants only need to attend one event, but must complete all five days of one event to successfully complete the course.
Learn more and register here.
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SUFC Hosts Workforce Development
Town Hall
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The Sustainable Urban Forest Coalition (SUFC) is holding their inaugural Town Hall focused on workforce development on Thursday, June 27
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET!
Join SUFC for a 90-minute learning and networking session bringing urban and community forestry partners together in a virtual setting.
Participants will hear from an exciting array of industry, NGO, and government sector speakers. Speakers will be announced soon.
Registration is free for all. To secure your spot, please register here.
| Urban Producers Invited to Attend Federal Advisory Committee | |
USDA is inviting urban producers, innovative producers, and other stakeholders to virtually attend a public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on July 11 from 12-5 p.m. ET.
The committee will deliberate and vote on proposed recommendations and address public comments during the meeting. USDA will share the agenda between 24 to 48 hours prior to the meeting on the Committee’s webpage.
Written comments can also be submitted via UrbanAgricultureFederalAdvisoryCommittee@usda.gov by July 25 at 11:59 p.m ET.
Learn more here.
| Hugh Hammond Bennett Award Nominations Open Next Week! | |
The Hugh Hammond Bennett 2024 Award nominations open July 1!
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 recognizes a producer and a conservation planner from within the NCPP who have exemplified outstanding service through development and implementation of sound conservation planning and other conservation techniques.
The national producer and conservation planner 2024 award winners will be formally recognized at the NACD Annual Meeting next February.
More information about the award and how to apply can be found on NCPP’s website.
| Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day, or other events on NACD's Calendar of Events! | |
