NACD’s Annual Meeting has something for everyone!

NACD’s Annual Meeting is only two weeks away! As you prepare to arrive in Nashville, visit our Annual Meeting website to plan your stay.

While you’re in Nashville, you won’t want to miss our incredible speakers! During Monday’s General Session, you’ll hear an inspirational keynote from country singer Shea Fisher and rodeo star Tyson Durfey. At the Leadership Luncheon that afternoon, Living Lands and Waters Founder and President Chad Pregracke will provide a presentation overviewing the significance of land stewardship.

Tuesday morning’s General Session will feature Dr. Sam Clovis, Senior White House Advisor to the United States Department of Agriculture, and a Farm Bill Policy and Sustainability Panel, moderated by National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) President Tom Cassidy. The panel will consist of National Wild Turkey Federation Director of Government Affairs Joel Pedersen; Ducks Unlimited National Government Affairs Director Dan Wrinn; Field to Market President Rod Snyder and 9B Group Partner Pelham Straughn.

And, of course, it’s not called Music City for nothing! Our 72nd Annual Meeting will feature performances by The Sunshine Girls, a bluegrass band, during Monday’s Leadership Luncheon and Shea Fisher (pictured here) during Tuesday’s Appreciation Banquet.


NACD attends state meetings

NACD representatives traveled the country to attend state meetings last week.

NACD First Vice President Tim Palmer and NACD South Central Region Representative Keith Owen attended the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts. Palmer addressed the meeting with a NACD Report and sat on a 2018 Conservation Title panel discussion with Dr. Mike Strain, DVM Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Ag and Forestry and Kevin Norton, NRCS State Conservationist for LA. The meeting included breakout sessions covering a range of topics, including “Saving Our Coast, the Future of Water Use in Louisiana” and an Education and Stewardship track.

The LACD meeting recognized local leaders in conservation, including a Master Farmer Awards Lunch celebrating outstanding individuals in agriculture who have worked to become certified through the program, and an LACD Awards Dinner for outstanding Board Members, District Employees and other conservation partners.

First Vice President Tim Palmer also attended the 74th Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, held January 7 – 9 in Durham. He addressed meeting attendees, describing NACD’s recent Technical Assistance grants and their farm bill requests. Palmer also sat in on resolutions development meetings for NCASWCD.

NACD Director of Government Affairs Coleman Garrison traveled to Indianapolis for the 2018 Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs. Garrison provided an update on NACD’s programs, including an overview of the Members Only section of the website, and led a breakout session detailing how districts can advocate for conservation legislation.



Ramsey Conservation District, Minnesota

The Ramsey Conservation District (RCD) partnered with local non-profit Urban Roots on a demonstration project for urban agriculture education. The site is coordinated through Urban Roots’ youth leadership program, which targets teens from East St. Paul for paid internships in growing, harvesting and preparing produce. The program helps young people create a more sustainable and independent food system in their neighborhood.


In addition to the establishment of the demonstration site (pictured), the RCD built a network among the major urban farms and community gardens within Ramsey County. The farm and garden managers met with RCD staff to discuss their needs, accomplishments, and share information for future collaboration. The RCD assisted these managers in seeking certifications that make them eligible for future funding through the NRCS and Department of Agriculture. The RCD also provided grant funds to the farms and gardens for intensive soil building, a high efficiency composting program, pollinator habitat and more.


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