National Association of Conservation Districts

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NACD RECOGNIZES CONSERVATION HEROES

ORLANDO, FLA – Feb. 3, 2010 – The National Association of Conservation Districts honored some of its best at an appreciation banquet here Tuesday.

Pat Sueck, a district board member on the York County Conservation District Board in Pennsylvania and the NACD Northeast Region Chair, received the President’s Award for her tireless service to conservation districts and the national association. The President’s Award is one of highest forms of recognition bestowed by the nation’s largest private lands conservation organization. It recognizes a group or an individual that has been especially helpful during the President’s term.

“Pat is a cheerleader and a positive influence who always wants to help find solutions,” said NACD President Steve Robinson. “She truly has conservation in her heart.”

NACD’s Distinguished Service Award went to Dr. James S. Shadel, founder and leader of the Schuylkill Conservation District in Pennsylvania. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the conservation of natural resources.  Dr. Shadel has served his local district and state association for 55 years and led efforts to enhance private lands conservation and preservation, and environmental education.

The Friend of Conservation Award went to the National Wild Turkey Federation. The award recognizes a person or group outside of the conservation district community that has made a significant contribution to the work of districts and NACD. The 500,000-member NWTF works with NACD and conservation districts across the country on wildlife habitat improvement projects and other efforts.

The NACD/NRCS Olin Sims Conservation Leadership Award went to longtime Mississippi conservationist Jack Winstead. The award is given annually in memory of the late Olin Sims, a conservation leader and NACD president from McFadden, Wyoming. It recognizes superior service to the conservation community in promoting and leading conservation on private lands. The award was presented by Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White.

In a special presentation, White accepted a plaque from Robinson recognizing the 75th anniversary of NRCS, the USDA’s conservation agency.

The National Wild Turkey Federation District of the Year Award went to The Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District of Zanesville, Ohio. Gary Burger of NWTF cited the districts’ work in educating youth and enhancing wildlife habitat. The district’s youth education program cooperates with NWTF’s JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) program for young people.

Association of Equipment Manufacturers/NACD Awards went to two districts. Nick Yaksich, Vice President of Global Policy for the Association, presented awards to the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation of Auburn, New York, and the Seneca Soil and Water Conservation District in Tiffin, Ohio.

The Cayuga District received the Excellence in Conservation Equipment and Technology Use Award for extensive use of equipment in its on-the-ground conservation projects. Receiving the award on behalf of the District were Ronald Podolak, Executive Director, and Sandy Huey, Watershed Program Manager.

The Seneca District received the Defining Conservation Equipment Needs for the Future Award for use of computerized digital technology to dramatically reduce time required in the county’s ditch maintenance program.  Tia Rice, Program Administrator, accepted the award.

Other awards presented by NACD during its 64th annual conference included the NACD/NRCS Earth Team Award, which went to the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District, Holdrege, Nebraska.

Jerry Schele of the Spokane Conservation District in Spokane, Washington, received the NCDEA Outstanding Conservation District Board Member Award.

Receiving the National Conservation District Employee Association Outstanding Conservation District Employee Awards were Robert Dobbs of the Camden County Soil and Water Conservation District in West Berlin, New Jersey, and Tommy Brooks of the Lee Soil and Water Conservation District in Sanford, North Carolina.

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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For almost 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. NACD’s website is at www.nacdnet.org.