National Association of Conservation Districts

08/25/2026

We want to put you in the spotlight in the City of Lights! 📣💡

Calling all districts and partners, NACD is now accepting breakout and training session proposals for our 2027 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas on February 6-10, 2027!

Breakout and training sessions are some of the most popular activities among meeting attendees and provide a platform for districts and partners to share their initiatives with one another and build skills.

Help spread the word about this opportunity, learn more, and submit a proposal by October 2!

➡️ https://cfp.sched.com/speaker/3UsBVSUNIX

08/25/2026

As you prepare for a new school year, consider giving your students an opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom. 🌎🌿

Envirothon connects high school students with real-world conservation challenges through hands-on learning and friendly competition. It’s a chance to spark curiosity, build confidence, and introduce students to careers in natural resources while helping them develop skills they’ll carry with them long after graduation.

Interested in starting your own Envirothon team? Your first step is to contact your state/provinces representative. They can provide the information you need to start a team in your area!

https://bit.ly/4bvcr1w

08/24/2026

There is only one week left to submit nominations for the 2026 NACD Service Awards! Celebrate a conservation leader from your community by nominating them today ⬇️

We are acceting nominations for 2026 NACD Service Awards!

🤝 The Friend of Conservation Award recognizes an individual, business, organization, or agency outside the association/conservation district family for outstanding contributions to the conservation of our nation’s natural resources. Any individual, business, organization, or agency that is not directly associated with conservation districts at the local, state, or national level is eligible to receive this award.

🏆 The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual within a conservation district, a state association, or NACD that has made outstanding contributions to the conservation and proper management of our nation’s natural resources. Nominees are individuals involved with districts or the association at any level — board members or staff — and can be nominated posthumously.

Nominations can be made by an individual, organization, agency, or conservation district. Recipients will be honored at NACD’s Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, NV.

Submit a nomination by August 31 at https://www.nacdnet.org/membership-resources/nacd-awards/.

08/24/2026

Thank you to Southern Guam Soil and Water Conservation District for hosting the Southwest/Pacific Region Meeting! We are already having a great time.

08/20/2026

What if woody debris, crop residue, and other organic materials often treated as waste could instead become a tool for healthier soil, stronger crops, and more resilient farms?

At this year's NACD Summer Meeting, South Central Region members explored these questions at a session led by Jessica Kusmiz from the American BioChar Company. It was more than an introduction to a new product. It was an opportunity to ask practical questions, connect soil health principles to on-the-ground conservation, and consider how conservation districts could help producers evaluate biochar based on their soils, resource concerns, and production goals.

Across the nation, many other districts have already been implementing biochar operations, including the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Carlton SWCD.

Learn more about these conservation district projects and the benefits of biochar in NACD's latest blog post: https://www.nacdnet.org/2026/08/18/from-learning-to-local-action-south-central-region-explores-biochar-at-nacd-summer-meeting/

08/19/2026

Applications will open in September for the 2027 NCF-Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) Cohort! The NCF-NGLI program is for any conservation district official looking to strengthen leadership skills, expand conservation networks, and collaborate with peers from across the country. This year-long experience is a proven platform aimed at preparing local conservation leaders to move up to state and national leadership positions.

Learn more and start getting your application materials together today. ⬇

https://www.nationalconservationfoundation.org/ngli/apply/

Ready to grow as a conservation leader? 🌱

Applications will open in September for the 2027 Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) cohort! If you’re a conservation district leader looking to strengthen your leadership skills, expand your network, and collaborate with peers from across the country, this year-long program is for you. Learn more and start getting your application materials together today.

https://bit.ly/4xj4mW1

08/18/2026

NACD is excited to unveil the official 2027 Stewardship Week theme, "From Source to Sea: Every Drop Has a Journey." 💧 🌧️ 🌊

Water is one of our most valuable natural resources, and every drop has a story to tell. This year, students will discover the incredible path water takes through the water cycle and across the landscape. From mountain streams and rivers to wetlands, lakes, estuaries, and the sea, every lesson explores another step along the way while demonstrating the important role each of us plays in protecting our water resources.

Materials are available for download or purchase on NACD's marketplace. Stay tuned through the fall as more are released! ⬇

https://nacdnet.app.neoncrm.com/giftstore?catalog=32&

08/13/2026

We are acceting nominations for 2026 NACD Service Awards!

🤝 The Friend of Conservation Award recognizes an individual, business, organization, or agency outside the association/conservation district family for outstanding contributions to the conservation of our nation’s natural resources. Any individual, business, organization, or agency that is not directly associated with conservation districts at the local, state, or national level is eligible to receive this award.

🏆 The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual within a conservation district, a state association, or NACD that has made outstanding contributions to the conservation and proper management of our nation’s natural resources. Nominees are individuals involved with districts or the association at any level — board members or staff — and can be nominated posthumously.

Nominations can be made by an individual, organization, agency, or conservation district. Recipients will be honored at NACD’s Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, NV.

Submit a nomination by August 31 at https://www.nacdnet.org/membership-resources/nacd-awards/.

08/10/2026

Don't miss our next Conservation Coffee this Thursday, August 13, at 3:00 p.m. ET! ☕

Presented by Dr. Cassandra Olds from Kansas State University, learn about early detection, prevention, and treatment options for Asian Longhorned Tick in cattle. Walk away primed with immediate next steps to implement and information on can you can expect next.

Register for the coffee here: https://nacdnet.app.neoncrm.com/forms/conservation-coffee-learning-opportunities-t-registration

08/07/2026

Today, NACD announced Laura Wood as the association’s interim Chief Executive Officer.

Wood is a former NACD employee who served as the Director of Government Affairs from 2011 to 2014. Recently, she has been a consultant to the association as President of LWP Consulting, Inc. Wood understands that leadership in the agricultural industry requires a deep understanding of America’s working lands and the indispensable role that conservation districts play at the county level.

“I am honored to serve as interim CEO on behalf of the nation’s locally led conservation districts at a time when America’s agricultural economy faces significant challenges and opportunities,” said Wood. “My leadership practice is dedicated to helping organizations navigate change, accelerate results, and strengthen collaboration. I look forward to working alongside NACD’s Board of Directors, our national team, and partners across the country to advance the organization’s mission and support the thousands of local leaders whose stewardship is essential to the natural resource management of America’s working lands.”

Wood will begin serving as NACD’s interim CEO on August 17, 2026. Read more in NACD's latest press release here: https://www.nacdnet.org/newsroom/nacd-announces-interim-ceo/.