NACD visits Nevada, North Dakota, and Kansas!

Secretary-Treasurer Kim LaFleur represented NACD at Nevada’s state association annual meeting where state leaders announced a pilot local working group project. Per the project, six Nevada districts will be selected to go through a planning and reporting process, with the end goal of creating a plan for other districts to follow.

The conference also included sessions on managing sage grouse and its historical habitat, invasive species like wild horses, and district involvement in partner programs. “It was a great meeting of energetic individuals,” LaFleur said.

LaFleur is now in North Dakota, where she provided an update presentation on NACD communications and other activities. Check out NACD’s Facebook for recent posts from the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts’ annual convention.

NACD First Vice President Tim Palmer (pictured) made his national association update this weekend at Kansas Association of Conservation Districts' annual meeting. "It was a fantastic opportunity to interact with the great conservationists in Kansas and their partners," Palmer said. "I visited with people that I've known for a while, met other stewards of our land, and talked about what NACD does for conservation districts to help make them successful."

Beacom attends Partners in Community Forestry conference

NACD Forestry Specialist Mike Beacom attended the Partners in Community Forestry Conference last week in Tulsa. More than 400 attendees – representing diverse local, state, and national stakeholders – participated in the two-day conference. Tours showcased how Tulsa has incorporated green space into civic planning (pictured above) and a closing listening session explored how the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC) and Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition (SUFC) are bringing partners together to advance urban forestry opportunities. NACD is a longtime member of SUFC.

To learn more about the Partners in Community Forestry Conference, visit https://www.arborday.org/programs/pcf. To learn more about SUFC, visit http://urbanforestcoalition.org.

Deadlines approaching for NACD's 2018 Annual Meeting

NACD's 72nd Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, is just over two months away - have you reserved your seat yet? Our hotel block is expected to sell out, and early bird registration ends December 15. Register online today to take advantage of these discounted prices, and you'll save $15, too!

If you'd like to boost exposure for your company, agency, or organization's programs, products, or services, consider participating in our Conservation Expo from January 28 - 30. With targeted hours this year, we're maximizing traffic to the expo hall, where networking events, coffee breaks, and Sunday night's Welcome Reception all take place. You only have until December 1 to claim your booth, and spaces are limited. Contact NACD Director of Development Melisa Augusto for more details.

December 1 is also the deadline to become a sponsor for our 72nd Annual Meeting. Interested in supporting the event? View the prospectus online for ideas - creativity is encouraged! NACD would like to thank Case IH, Bob Warner, Agri Drain, W-W Livestock, WorldView Solutions, Prince George's Soil Conservation District, and CHS for their generous commitments thus far.

Visit NACD's Marketplace to order your 2018 Annual Meeting shirt, pictured here. You only have until December 30 to place your order! These 100% cotton t-shirts are available in adult sizes S-4XL in a flattering stone blue hue. Your annual meeting t-shirt will be available for pick-up in the Conservation Expo Hall when you arrive in Nashville.

NACD attends field to market annual meeting, sustainable agriculture summit

Last week, CEO Jeremy Peters, Director of Development Melisa Augusto, and Northern Plains Region Representative Laura Demmel represented NACD at the Field to Market Annual Meeting and subsequent Sustainable Agriculture Summit in Kansas City, Missouri.

NACD has been a longtime member and supporter of Field to Market. During this year’s meeting, NACD was elected to a three-year term representing the Civil Society Sector on the board of directors. In this capacity, NACD will represent its membership, as well as the organizations of the sector to ensure that the national policies and work of Field to Market continues to include the input of local landowners.

During the Sustainable Agriculture Summit, NACD had an exhibit space and talked to attendees about the work of conservation districts and shared information about the work being done with NRCS’ Resource Stewardship Evaluation Tool (RSET). Demmel also presented on a panel during a breakout session on RSET entitled “Driving the Sustainability Conversation Forward from Producer to Consumer with the Resource Stewardship Evaluation Tool.” The other presenters on the panel were Paul Hishmeh from Field to Market and Aaron Lauster from NRCS.

Only two weeks left to apply for the 2018 District Share Fair!

The District Share Fair, part of NACD's 72nd Annual Meeting in Nashville this January, provides an opportunity for conservation districts to showcase their work and accomplishments!

Interested in participating? Space in the share fair is limited and only open to NACD 2018 conference attendees who complete this share fair application and submit it to NACD’s Stewardship and Education Coordinator Diana Blackwood by December 8, 2017. The share fair will be held following the general session on Monday, January 29, 2018, and there is no cost to participate.