Front Page e-Newsletter
February 8, 2021
PACD Director of Operations Lisa Jo Suhr Retiring after 19 Years
PACD Announces Staff Changes

Best wishes to PACD's longtime Director of Operations, Lisa Jo Suhr! Lisa is retiring after nineteen years with the association. A retirement Zoom will be held for Lisa on her last day, Friday, February 12, 2021, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Email Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org for the link if you wish to drop in. If you cannot attend, well wishes can be emailed directly to Lisa at lsuhr@pacd.org before 3:00 p.m. on February 12.
 
PACD Program Manager Amy Brown will take over the Director of Operations position starting on February 15, 2021.
 
Holly Miller is PACD’s new program manager. Holly’s first day is February 8, 2021. She can be reached at hmiller@pacd.org. See the article below for more about Holly. 
Holly Miller Joins PACD Staff as Program Manager
By Holly Miller

Before joining the Harrisburg team, I worked with PACD as the Executive Assistant for the National Conservation Planning Partnership. Before that, I was the district manager for the Sullivan County Conservation District, working with district programs and operations.
 
I grew up on a farm in Luzerne County, where I became interested in agriculture and conservation and graduated from Bloomsburg University with a BS in Environmental Biology.
 
I enjoy hunting, fishing, art, and spending time with my husband, our beautiful daughter, and our dog.
 
I am very excited to work with conservation districts again, and I look forward to this new adventure!
Save the Date: 2021 Virtual Conservation District and PA Agency Ag Staff Meeting
Formerly limited to the Chesapeake Bay, this year’s virtual event will be open to agricultural staff from conservation districts and PA agencies statewide March 16-17, 2021. Mark your calendars and look for registration and agenda information in an upcoming issue of Front Page!
Conservation District Directors – Register Now for the 2021 Board Leadership Webinar Series
There's still time to register for the Board Leadership Series. This year's Director Training features a two-part workshop focusing on ethical principles for boards, conflict of interest, and the PA Ethics Act, as well as a workshop on board committees and planning. The series also includes networking opportunities with colleagues from across the state, with Director Forum meetings scheduled during the day and in the evening for your convenience. Please click here for more information and to register: https://www.paleadership.org/register-now-for-the-2021-board-leadership-webinar-series/.
 
Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.
Final Reminder to Register: Native Plants and Pollinators Technical Training for Conservation Districts
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is offering free technical training to Pennsylvania's conservation districts on native plants and pollinators. The webinar will take place Thursday, February 18, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
 
Training Description:
Proper plant selection is the first step to ensuring the success of ecological conservation and habitat development projects for native wildlife and pollinators. In this Pennsylvania-focused technical training, conservation district participants will learn about multiple agencies' resources to help improve planning for native species plantings. Participants will receive an overview of Pennsylvania-specific climate adaptation resources that can be used to make an informed decision on plant selection. Participants will also gain an understanding of at-risk pollinator and wildlife species needs and user-friendly modeling that can be used to aid in proper planning and better communication with landowners.
 
Click here to register by February 16, 2021.
PA Farm Bureau, Sand County Foundation, Partners Now Accepting Nominations for PA Leopold Conservation Award
The PA Farm Bureau, The Heinz Foundation, and the Sand County Foundation are now accepting nominations for the 2021 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award. The deadline for nominations is August 5, 2021.
 
The $10,000 prize and the award are given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold. The award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private, working land.
 
Previous winners in Pennsylvania include Ben and Sharon Peckman, Franklin County, in 2020; Dean and Rebecca Jackson, Bradford County, in 2019; and the DiFebo Family, Northampton County, in 2018.
 
The Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award is made possible through generous support from American Farmland Trust, The Heinz Endowments, PA Farm Bureau, Sand County Foundation, Pennsylvania USDA NRCS, PA Department of Agriculture, and the PA Association of Conservation Districts.
 
The Leopold Conservation Award will be presented at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January 2022.
For all the details and how to apply, visit the 2021 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award webpage.
NRCS Announces Funding for Wetland Restoration, Protection
Apply by March 1, 2021

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Pennsylvania now has $1.9 million in funding available through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to help private landowners, land trusts, and other groups wanting to restore and protect critical wetlands and protect agricultural lands and grasslands.
 
Click here to read more.
2021 Virtual Riparian Forest Buffer Summit
The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy are partnering to host the 2021 Riparian Forest Buffer Summit virtually on March 10 and 11, 2021.
 
All riparian buffer professionals, decision-makers, and volunteers are encouraged to join! Attendees will enjoy sessions on the latest forest buffer science, outreach and implementation strategies, funding options, and more. Registration is now open and will be $15/individual for the virtual event: detailed agenda and additional information to come. Attendance will be limited to the first 300 registrants, and the registration deadline is February 26.
 
Click here to register.
 
Additionally, nominations are being sought for the 2nd annual Watershed Forestry Leadership Award from DCNR, which will be presented at the summit. You can read more about this award and nominate individuals or teams here. Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m. February 19.

Grazing Support Available in Susquehanna River Watershed 
Using managed livestock grazing provides benefits for livestock, soil health, water quality, the farmer, and the farm's bottom line. Twenty-five years ago, grazing methods returned to popularity, but information was limited. There are considerably more resources available now, but it can be difficult to know what methods, infrastructure, and livestock options will work best in any one farm operation. Grazing Advisors through Capital RC&D's Grazing Advisor program can help new and experienced farmers evaluate this information and implement practices to help graziers succeed.
 
Capital RC&D's Grazing Advisor program started in 2008 with a focus on providing one-to-one technical advice to graziers throughout Pennsylvania, all at no cost to the farmer. Capital RC&D expanded the grazing advisor team in 2020 to include four advisors, including Ann Basehore, Donna Foulk, Duane Hertzler, and Titus Martin. Together, they have over 90 years of experience in pasture management and grazing of dairy and beef herds, small ruminants, and equines. The advisors are available to work with graziers throughout the Susquehanna River watershed and can help with livestock, pasture, and soil health, as well as infrastructure and record-keeping. They can also provide support when transitioning from confinement or to more managed grazing systems.
 
Click here to read more. Questions about the grazing advisor program can be directed to Susan Richards at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or via email at srichards@capitalrcd.org.
Conservation Districts in the News
Upcoming Events
February 15, 2021
February 16, 2021
February 17, 2021
February 23, 2021
February 24, 2021

February 18, 2021 | 10:00-11:30 a.m.