NACD is continuing our celebration of 80 years with our 2026 Summer Conservation Forum & Tours! Hosted in partnership with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, our meeting will take place on July 17-21, 2026. Join us for meetings, a forum, and conservation tours to continue exploring the theme from Annual Meeting, "Deep Roots, Bold Horizons."

Registration is now open! Act now to get an early bird discounted rate, only available through June 29.

Book your stay at the Amway Grand Plaza! Room rates start at $189/night plus taxes and fees. Make an online reservation here. Reserve your room early for the best availability. Rooms in NACD’s room block are first come, first served, and there may be limited or no availability as the deadline for the room block nears. The last day to reserve available rooms in the room block is Friday, June 26, 2026.

During the meeting, NACD will host the Conservation Forum, featuring guest speakers from Michigan and around the country. Hear about natural resource issues affecting conservation districts and perspectives from our leadership and partners.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience local conservation initiatives through our tours. On Monday, take a Grand River guided walking tour and visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. On Tuesday, join the Michigan Conservation Tour, set to stop at five local conservation sites around Grand Rapids, including: Mast Young Plants, Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm Market, Schwallier’s Country Basket, Plainsong Farm, and Cannonsburg State Game Area.

Learn more about what to expect by exploring our meeting agenda and see detailed descriptions of each tour here. All the details on registration can be found on the Summer Meeting webpage.

JOIN COFFEE ON DAIRY FARM CONSERVATION PLANNING

Join NACD's next Conservation Coffee webinar on "Funding and Tools to Support Conservation Planning on Dairy Farms," on Thursday, May 14, at 3:00 p.m. ET. Register for free here.

Presented by Bridgett Hilshey, Senior Director of Sustainability Projects at Dairy Management Inc., hear about their Dairy Conservation Navigator (DCN). The DCN is an online platform with science-based information on dairy conservation topics, practices, and technologies. This webinar will introduce several key DCN resources. These include the Learning Hub, which offers webinars, slide decks, handouts, and web-based materials for learning, training, and outreach.

The webinar will also cover the Practice and Technology Library, a searchable database with more than 80 practices and technologies, including information on implementation, economics, and environmental impacts. In addition, the webinar will highlight DCN’s new free Funding Opportunities Database, which includes more than 170 programs—many for dairy and beyond—and can be filtered by eligibility, funding status, farm focus, and funding objective.

CONSERVATION PLANNING TRAINING PILOT TO BE HELD AT NACD'S SUMMER MEETING

Applications are now being accepted for the next Conservation Planning Training Pilot. Brought to you by the National Conservation Districts Employee Association (NCDEA), the training pilot will be hosted July 20-23 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in conjunction with NACD's Summer Meeting.

This streamlined, hybrid training experience is designed to help participants reach certification faster and receive step-by-step support along the way. Attendees will complete two required courses in one coordinated experience: Conservation Planning, Part 2 (CP2) and Soil Health & Sustainability.

“You hear trainings and typically your mind goes to paperwork and to documents and to filling things out. But this training is really focused on hands-on work and getting your boots on the ground," said Kaylee Smith, Natural Resources Specialist and previous program participant.

Because this is a pilot, space is limited. Priority will be given to those who:

• Are actively pursuing NRCS Level 3 Conservation Planner Certification
• Need to complete CP2 and Soil Health & Sustainability
• Have organizational support to pursue certification

If this sounds like you, apply before the May 29 deadline! Learn more and apply here.

SOUTHWEST REGION BRINGS UNIFIED VOICE TO D.C.

NACD’s Southwest Region had great success meeting with federal agencies during last year’s NACD Spring Fly-In. They built on that momentum by organizing additional meetings again this year a day ahead of the event, bringing district leaders together with federal agencies and key committee staff. The NACD Spring Fly-In is a nationwide event where conservation districts from across the U.S. meet with their members of Congress to advocate for local priorities.

All states in the Southwest Region—Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—participated. They brought both shared priorities and state specific perspectives to Washington. In addition to meetings with congressional offices, Southwest Region representatives met with the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Public Lands Council, and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff.

These meetings created an opportunity to share on-the-ground perspectives. They also strengthened relationships with federal partners responsible for program delivery and policy implementation. Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts Executive Director Holly Kennedy emphasized this impact, stating, “There is power in a collective voice, and the region being able to have a collective voice in D.C. is powerful.”

While the region spoke with a unified voice, each state also highlighted its own priorities and challenges. This balance ensured that federal partners heard both shared concerns across the West and the specific needs within individual states.

“When agencies and policymakers hear consistent priorities across multiple states, it helps elevate those issues while still allowing individual state concerns to be recognized,” said Josh Smith, Southwest Region Executive Board Member.

Southwest Region Chair Frank Krentz added, “This kind of coordination takes time and effort, and I want to recognize those who made it happen. Their work ensures the Southwest Region shows up prepared and strengthens our impact in Washington.”

The NACD Spring Fly-In remains a cornerstone for conservation district advocacy. The Southwest Region’s approach demonstrates the value of combining a strong regional voice with state-specific perspectives to inform federal decision-making.