Stewardship Week 2025 is fast approaching! Held from April 27 – May 4, this year’s theme, "Home is Where the Habitat Is," focuses on protecting and restoring native and managed habitats across the U.S. and its territories. This celebration kicks off our full year of providing natural resource outreach to the youth and adults in our communities.

The NACD Stewardship and Education program offers free downloadable resources for 2025, including fun placemat activity sheets, student journals, lesson plan guides, and outreach kits to help districts engage schools and communities in conservation. These resources are ink-friendly for easy in-house printing and can also be ordered at low-cost printed options. Printed materials must be ordered by Friday, April 18 to arrive by Stewardship Week.

Ready to share how your district is celebrating? On our Stewardship webpage, you will find a Media Toolbox, which includes a press release, radio and TV PSA, and a proclamation template. A newly released Social Media Toolkit also has suggested posts and templates for your district's Facebook, Instagram, and other pages!

Make sure your district has everything they need for a successful Stewardship Week here, or reach out to our education team at stewardship@nacdnet.org with any questions.

EARN REVENUE THROUGH PF/ QF PARTNER SEED PROGRAM

Last week, NACD and our District and Partner Relations Committee hosted a Conservation Coffee with Michael Retterer of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (PF/QF). Retterer shared information about the PF/QF Nationwide Habitat Program for Rights-of-Way and Partner Seed Program. View the recording of the session on NACD’s YouTube channel.

The PF/QF Partner Seed Program provides affordable, high-quality habitat mixes that meet and exceed USDA conservation standards and specifications. Through this program, conservation districts can serve as points-of-sale for regionally specific seed mixes and earn unrestricted revenue in the process. In addition to the 10% of sales earned by local districts participating in the seed program, PF/ QF will provide 1% of all sales by new district partners directly to NACD. Learn more about the specialty and state specific mixes available at the PF/QF Seed Store. For more information on how to get involved contact Keith Owen, NACD Director of Education.

PF/QF is a charitable, science-driven, nonprofit organization that employs the most wildlife biologists on private lands in the country. The organization is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy. Through a unique partnership, PF/QF Farm Bill biologists are located in local USDA service centers alongside conservation districts across the country. During the 2025 NACD Annual Meeting, NACD and PF/QF signed an agreement to further habitat development and accelerate voluntary, incentive-based conservation on private lands.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON? GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

The Trump Administration has introduced a new policy initiative, Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP), which will replace the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. Key changes include a mandate that 65% of USDA funding must go directly to producers and a focus on expanding supply chains. NACD’s climate-smart grant with USDA will be terminated, with an invitation to submit a revised proposal that aligns with the goals of the AMP. For more details, refer to the USDA’s press release.

The USDA has announced several presidential appointments this week, including:



• Seth Christensen as Director of Communications
• Dr. Jaye Hamby as Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Natalie Ihrman as Press Secretary

The House of Representatives has approved a budget resolution aimed at advancing many of President Trump’s legislative goals, including the extension of his 2017 tax cuts. The resolution passed by a narrow 216-214 margin. The House and Senate will now work together to reconcile differences in proposed spending cuts, with the Senate suggesting $4 billion in reductions and the House proposing $1.5 trillion.

MUSKINGUM SWCD BUILDS COMMUNITY INTEREST IN BEEKEEPING

Since its inception in 2017, Urban Greens, a program of Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), has experienced significant growth. However, their mission has remained the same; growing food, growing community, and growing with purpose. This mission also remains at the forefront of their work. During the past two growing seasons, Urban Greens partnered with local food pantries to bring over 32,000 pounds of fresh produce to the community.

Last year, with the support of a $2,500 Friends of NACD grant, the Muskingum SWCD in Ohio collaborated with a local bee farm to secure two beehives and the necessary equipment to care for them. The purchase of these hives has allowed Urban Greens to expand their reach, engage with local partners like Central State University Extension, and introduce the basics of beekeeping to 250 individuals. Most importantly, this initiative has sparked important conversations about food systems, sustainability, and the critical role of pollinators in the food we eat every day.

Community members have shown an overwhelming interest in learning more about beekeeping, and Muskingum SWCD plans to offer an in-depth beekeeping educational series later in 2025. Staff say that other districts considering a similar project should employ the use of a demonstration hive. This can offer a safe, accessible way for children or individuals that may be uneasy around bees to learn about the inner workings of a hive.

Staff also say it's essential to maintain a close relationship with a local beekeeper to provide ongoing support. Having an expert to provide guidance and troubleshooting throughout the season can make a significant difference in the success of the project. Muskingum SWCD’s relationship with Nature’s Image Farm helped them deal with unexpected challenges and fostered a deeper connection with the beekeeping community.

This is a perfect example of how a Friends of NACD grant can enhance an already successful initiative and provide lasting value to a district and the community they serve.

Interested in learning about other success stories? Read more about Friends of NACD and how you can support creative projects like this here. See this full story on NACD's blog.