The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is asking you, conservation leaders, to support the advancement of programs and partnerships to deliver locally-led conservation solutions and to develop the next generation of conservation leaders through their spring fundraiser. The campaign aims to raise $25,000 for conservation education by the end of April!

Your financial support is needed to help programs like the NCF-Envirothon and the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) continue to shape the next generation of conservation leaders that will bring solutions to the table.

Show your support with a donation today!

DISTRICT STAFF ATTEND PROJECT LEARNING TREE

By Chanda Cooper, Richland SWCD

Several conservation district employees, including Amanda Hulet with the Clear Creek Conservation District in Buffalo, Wyoming; Chanda Cooper with the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District in Columbia, SC; and Molly Gillespie with the Alaska Association of Conservation Districts (Wasilla District) participated in the 2023 Project Learning Tree (PLT) Annual Conference in Stevenson, Washington, March 27-30.

PLT is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators, parents, and community leaders working with youth from preschool through grade 12. Conservation district employees frequently use the PLT curriculum to design, enhance, and deliver their youth conservation programs. Many conservation district employees serve as PLT facilitators and train teachers and other educators in their districts to use the curriculum. 

The PLT Annual Conference brought together over 100 thought leaders in environmental education to learn best practices, network, and increase the delivery of PLT programming in classrooms and communities across the country. The conference focused on providing professional development for PLT’s environmental education leaders, who collectively reach over 15,000 educators annually with an estimated reach of over 5 million students each year.

During the Conference, Cooper was named one of PLT’s 2023 Leadership in Education award recipients. PLT’s Leadership in Education Award honors those who make significant contributions to advance PLT programs and initiatives at the state or regional level.

To learn more about PLT, visit www.plt.org/.

LOUSIANA DISTRICTS

HOLD AREA MEETING

The Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts held their Area One Supervisors meeting and District Leadership and supervisor training on March 30, 2023. The meeting was hosted by the DeSoto Soil and Water Conservation District at the DeSoto Parish Sheriff Facility. Area 1 Vice President Pat Boudreaux led the meeting with a welcome and invocation offered by Jason Richardson, DeSoto Parish Sheriff. Attendees heard from guest speakers such as District 7 State Representative Larry Bagley, Lillie Adams Wiley of the Louisiana Department of Ag & Forestry (LDAF), Joey Breaux Assistant Commissioner LDAF, Scott Breedlove with Louisiana NRCS, and Wesley Gibson NACD South Central Region Representative. After a catered lunch provided by the Desoto Parish Sheriff Facility and Sunrise Cookies District Supervisors also heard from Pig Brig Trap Systems Representative Aaron Sumrall and viewed an outdoor demonstration of the system and its strengths.

For more information about Louisianas Conservation Districts please visit LDAF’s website here.

Keith Ohlinger raises Heritage Breeds on his 22-acre farm in Howard County, Maryland, with his wife and two daughters. Currently they are raising Irish Dexter Cattle, but in the past, they’ve also raised Hog Island Sheep, Gloucestershire Old Spot Hogs, White Chinese Gees, rabbits, and honeybees.

Porch View Farm is not a large operation, but Ohlinger has been dedicated to managing every part of the farm with regenerative practices, scaled specifically to his operation in a system that is uniquely his own. Most of the practices he utilizes, Ohlinger admits, are not found in manuals. But he’s learned what works for his operation through experience, other farmers, books, and the National Agriculture Library.

Each practice Ohlinger implements on his farm rolls right into another aspect of the operation and worsk to address other resource concerns. His Soil Health Champion profile, which is posted on the NACD website, outlines these practices, why he utilizes them, and the benefits they provide. For his limited acreage, he’s created a system where everything has its purpose.

Like most farmers, Ohlinger knows he is getting closer to retirement age and must look at succession planning. Whether it stays in the family or not, Ohlinger is dedicated to his regenerative farming system, and he continues to make management decisions that will benefit future generations.

One of the programs Ohlinger participates in is called “Million Acre Challenge.” The goal of this program is to achieve one million agricultural acres in Maryland using healthy soil techniques by 2030, while sharing best practices and making healthy soil connections throughout the Chesapeake watershed. As a part of this work, Ohlinger was interviewed on a podcast called “Global Foodies Podcast.” His episode was titled “Regenerative Farming” where he shared information on the Keyline design and living fences throughout his farm and their benefits.

For more of the details of Ohlinger’s farming system, visit the NACD website for his Soil Health Champion profile.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the NACD Soil Health Champions Network, please contact Beth Mason at beth-mason@nacdnet.org or visit the NACD website.