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Front Page: Your Weekly News & Updates
Introducing Jann McNamara, news from Susquehanna County, free soil health coloring books, and free food safety seminar for producers. 

Save these Dates for 2018 Boot Camp Training

Mark your calendars for the Agricultural Conservation Technical Training ("Boot Camp" Basic level and Level II). Conservation district staff are encouraged to take advantage of these free, week-long training opportunities which include both classroom learning and experience in the field.
  • Agricultural Conservation Technical "Boot Camp" Training - Basic Level
    April 2-6, 2018, Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
  • Agricultural Conservation Technical Training - Level II
    April 23-27, 2018, Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
  Questions? Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.
 
These training opportunities are made possible by the following sponsors: Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

Introducing Jann McNamara! 
By Jann McNamara, PACD Administrative Assistant, jmcnamara@pacd.org

Before coming to PACD, I worked for five years with the Department of Agriculture providing administrative support to the Deputy Secretaries and the Legislative Director (which was PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh!). At the end of my career with the Department, I had the opportunity to work with the Bureau of Markets working with commodities and the Fair Fund Program.

On a personal note, except for a brief stint in San Antonio when my husband was in the Air Force, I have lived in the Harrisburg area. My husband Kevin and I have three children and we are officially "empty nesters" with our youngest starting his freshman year in college in August.

I am thrilled to be back working with Brenda and the rest of the awesome staff at PACD and look forward to helping the districts however I can with all the great work you do!
 
Editor's Note: Jann joined PACD after former part-time Administrative Assistant Sandy Austin moved on to pursue full-time employment. We wish Sandy well and thank her for her six years of dedication to PACD.
Celebrating 70 Years of Conservation
Submitted by Susquehanna County Conservation District

The Susquehanna County Conservation District (SCCD) held its 70th Anniversary Banquet with over 100 people from the community attending. The SCCD was created by County Commissioner proclamation on May 12, 1947. Since that day the SCCD has endeavored to conserve the soil and water of Susquehanna County.
 
During a delicious meal prepared by the staff of the VFW, a slide show of past pictures of district directors, district staff, cooperators, and projects reminded attendees of the the district's past successes in conservation. In a short presentation, Dairy Princess Michayla Stahl and Alternate Princess Victoria Clark extolled the virtues of dairy products for good health. After the crowd moved to the upper level of the VFW banquet facility, District Manager Jim Garner narrated a PowerPoint timeline of the district's 70 years. The banquet also featured two special guest speakers. Richard Fritsky, Wildlife Diversity Biologist with the PA Game Commission, spoke on owls, farming, and the PA Game Commission. Denise Coleman, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist, gave a presentation on Conserving Pennsylvania's Private Lands. Each was well received by the audience.
 
After the speakers, the district honored several awardees for their contribution to conservation in Susquehanna County. Awards presented were:
  • Envirothon Donors - Forest Lake Township, Bob Warriner (In Memory), Chief Oil & Gas, Repsol, and Bluestone Gathering
  • Dirt and Gravel Road Cooperator - Apolacon Township
  • No-Till Cooperator - Edward Chianese
At the close of the meeting, Emcee Jim Kessler disbursed the beautiful centerpieces and presented the speakers with a gift of maple syrup.
 
Photo caption: Guest speaker Richard Fritsky spoke on owls, farming, and the PA Game Commission.

USDA Unveils Soil Health Coloring Book

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service has a new resource available. The "Mighty Mini Microbe's Tale" coloring books are available now for pre-order. Conservation districts can pre-order up to 50 soil health coloring books per month. 
 
The coloring book is designed to encourage the next generation of real-life hero farmers, conservationists, and scientists to further unlock the secrets in the soil.
 
Click here to order for free  and click here to read more about the campaign: 

Food Safety Modernization Act/Risk Management Seminar

The Pennsylvania State Council of Farm Organizations, in cooperation with the PA Department of Agriculture, will be holding a community service seminar on December 14, 2017, from 10am-2pm. The seminar will inform farmers/agriculture producers about their compliance requirements under the federal Food Safety Modernization Act, as well as tools for risk management.
 
The event will be held at the Kutztown Grant Hall, Kemp & James Streets, Kutztown, PA. The target audience is vegetable/produce growers. The community service outreach seminar is free of charge to all who attend. A light lunch will be provided.
 
For more information, please contact Vince Phillips at PSCFO 717-232-9665, xenobun@aol.com.
 
Click here to read more. 
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Conservation Districts in the News 
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Upcoming Events

January 17-18, 2018
Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center, State College, PA
 
January 23, 2018
DCNR Bureau of Forestry, Clarion, PA  

PA Association of Conservation Districts | 717.238.7223 | pacd@pacd.org | www.pacd.org
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