Front Page Newsletter May 22, 2023

The next issue of Front Page will be June 5, 2023.

PACD Hiring Agricultural Conservation Technician in Bloomsburg Office

As the Conservation Technician for the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) in the North East Region, the incumbent will provide technical assistance to the Growing Greener program and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

This position will: provide technical assistance to area partnership Growing Greener personnel and the NRCS in the planning, design, and construction of engineering practices; prepare designs of agricultural conservation practices and water quality best management practices (BMPs), which are site-specific and require coordination among various groups and individuals; and provide engineering assistance in conducting preliminary investigations.

Salary Range: $40,000 to $42,000. Benefits include health insurance, a 401k retirement plan, and accrued PTO leave.

Click here for the full job description. Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter to PACD at jobs@pacd.org. The deadline to apply is May 30, 2023.

$80,000 Available for CREP Mini-grants!

PACD is now accepting mini-grant applications for up to $3,000 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) work. Projects should focus on CREP enrollment, re-enrollment, and/or CREP maintenance.

Applications are being accepted and approved on a rolling basis. The deadline for final reports is extended until December 1, 2023.

Project examples:

-Walkabouts/field days

-Farmer and landowner workshops

-Riparian buffer workshops

-Workshop series with several topics

-Developing educational materials like brochures, flyers, fact sheets, or even billboards

-Hire interns to provide CREP outreach

Eligible expenses include staff wages, promotional items, mileage, postage, office supplies, room rental for workshops, food & beverages, materials, transportation, etc.

The guidelines and application for the CREP mini-grant program for conservation districts are posted here. Questions should be directed to Holly Miller at hmiller@pacd.org.

Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.

Volunteers Needed: Ag Progress Days 2023

Penn State Ag Progress Days will be held August 8-10, 2023, at the Russell E. Larson Agriculture Research Center, 2710 West Pine Grove Rd., Pennsylvania Furnace.

We are looking for volunteers for the Conservation District Exhibit for this event. If you'd like to schedule a shift, send your name, contact information, and preferred shift to Brenda Shambaugh.

The remaining open shift is:

Wednesday, August 9: 5:00 pm - 7:00 p.m.

When available, a final volunteer schedule, parking passes, and other show information will be sent to volunteers. For more information on Ag Progress Days, visit their website at http://agsci.psu.edu/apd.

Watershed Specialist Wins 2023 Champions of the PA Wilds Award

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship Inc. (PA Wilds Center) announced the 2023 Champions of the PA Wilds Awards recipients. Kelly Williams, the watershed specialist at the Clearfield County Conservation District, was selected to receive the 2023 PA Wilds Conservation Stewardship Champion Award.

Williams was involved in improving water quality in the Deer Creek Watershed, which was impaired by Acid Mine Drainage and could not support any aquatic life for over 70 years. Wild trout can now be supported in this beautiful area of the PA Wilds, thanks to the efforts of Williams and her colleagues at Clearfield County Conservation District. Williams is a past recipient of the Golden Reel Award from the Allegheny Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Click here to read more.

2023 Leopold Conservation Award Seeking Nominees

Are you a Pennsylvania farmer or forestland owner improving soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on your working land? You can now apply or nominate for the 2023 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award®.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 25 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. The $10,000 award in Pennsylvania is presented with state partners: The Heinz Endowments, Horizon Farm Credit, and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.

Click here for more information.