Tomorrow, May 20, is your chance to support conservation education programs with the National Conservation Foundation's (NCF) Day of Giving!

Your gift will help support the eight new members of the 2026 Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) cohort as they build the skills, relationships, and confidence to serve their communities as conservation leaders. 

It will help 250 students as they prepare to compete at the national NCF-Envirothon Annual Competition in Mississippi to address the current issue, Non-Point Source Pollution: It begins at home!, through hands-on science, teamwork, and real-world problem solving. 

The future of conservation leadership is already growing. It is growing in students who are learning to think critically about the land and water around them. It is growing in emerging leaders who are preparing to serve locally led conservation in new ways. And it is growing through supporters like you.

Every donation is an investment in people—students, educators, volunteers, district leaders, and the communities they serve. Your support helps keep programs like NCF-Envirothon and NGLI strong and growing.

On Wednesday, the conservation community will come together for one shared purpose: to help the next generation of conservation leaders thrive. We hope you’ll be part of it.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON?

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

In a recent press release, NACD expressed its gratitude to Aubrey Bettencourt upon her departure as Chief of NRCS and congratulated Colton L. Buckley on his selection to lead the agency.

Congress continues work on Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations as USDA conservation program implementation remains underway. The House Appropriations Committee’s FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill would provide $800 million for NRCS Conservation Operations, including $636.243 million for Conservation Technical Assistance. The bill also includes funding for the Snow Survey and Water Forecasting Program, Plant Materials Centers, Soil Surveys, the Urban Agriculture Office, and community project funding. This is not the final word on Conservation Operations funding, as the Senate has not yet released its FY27 USDA funding proposal. NACD will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also finalized its rescission of the 2024 Conservation and Landscape Health Rule. The final rule eliminates the restoration and mitigation leasing framework created under the 2024 rule and restores the prior Areas of Critical Environmental Concern framework. BLM stated that existing authorities and tools remain available to address conservation objectives through established land management processes.

USDA conservation deadlines are also approaching. NRCS has set a May 29 deadline for entities to apply for FY26 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program funding, with up to $200 million available for agricultural land easements. The Farm Service Agency is also accepting Grassland Conservation Reserve Program offers through May 29.

TIPS FOR IMPACTFUL STORYTELLING TO CONNECT AND INSPIRE

It is important to be able to translate the technical assistance work your district carries out into stories that connect with your constituents and beyond. You probably already do this through your website, newsletters, and social media. Below are some tips and resources to help you tell impactful, personal stories that will connect with your audience and inspire further engagement. 

Explain Why This Work Matters 

We know how important the work is that we do, but we can’t expect everyone to know if we don’t talk about it. Providing appropriate and effective technical assistance is the primary goal of conservation districts, and a well-told story to share the successes of these efforts adds to their value. A compelling story is a great way to attract new participants and expand your reach in the community.  

When the work you carry out is rooted in applying best management practices to the land, it’s easy to get lost in technical jargon, complicated paperwork, and confusing acronyms. A good story should answer why this work matters in easy-to-understand ways. Why does it matter that you helped a local farmer switch to reduced tillage operations? Or, if you created a farm plan that allowed someone to apply for EQIP funding? Or, if you helped a landowner access cost-share funding to better manage stormwater drainage? It is incumbent upon us to explain why conservation is important and the value it brings to our communities. 

Use Data and Personal Stories 

We all know that data is crucial in grant reporting and proving your district is making an impact. It is also important when telling a story. Talk about the number of kids you educated on soil health last year and write about a special moment you had with a class, or even a specific student. Who really benefited from the session? Describe the 400 acres of cover crop you cost-shared through an interview with the farmer. Is she a new producer looking at ways to make her farm more economically viable, or a third-generation farmer who wants to continue to take care of the land that has served her family for decades? 

Spread the Word 

Your district’s website, social media, and newsletters can all be used to tell your story and spread the word about your district. Newsletters and blogs are great places for longer form writing and interviews, while social media is great for quick snippets showing your impact. Check out this outreach training session on Leveraging Social Media.  

Get in touch with local newspapers or magazines to ask about writing a story for their publication. Publishing a story in your local paper is a great way to connect with individuals outside your usual sphere of influence and grow your reach even further. 

You should also consider reaching out to NACD if you have a story to tell on the national stage. We love hearing about your locally led conservation successes, and we especially enjoy hearing about projects supported by our Friends of NACD and Technical Assistance Grants. Please reach out to us at info@nacdnet.org with your story idea, and we’ll get back to you to let you know if it would be a good fit for our blog or eResource newsletter. 

Read more on NACD's blog.