News & Notes August 2005

PACD Gives Awards for Soil and Water Stewardship

Each year the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) hosts a conservation awards program to acknowledge land and water stewards. The recipients were recognized at PACD's annual awards luncheon on July 26 in Erie, PA. The awards luncheon was held jointly with the State Conservation Commission awards program.

During the PACD portion of the awards ceremony, the following received recognition:

Ray and Jean Thrush of Jet Rae Farm, Cumberland County--Conservation Farmer of the Year. This award is given to a farmer who has furthered conservation through the establishment and maintenance of soil, water and nutrient management practices. This award is sponsored by the PA Farm Bureau's Friends of Agriculture Foundation.

Westmoreland CleanWays --Conservation Organization of the Year. This award is given to an organization that has made a noteworthy contribution to the conservation of Pennsylvania's soil, water and related natural resources. This award is sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission.

Robert E. Wagner, Lancaster County--Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation Award. This award is presented to volunteers who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the conservation of Pennsylvania's natural resources.

Jeremy Deysher, Berks County--Conservation Educator of the Year. This award is presented to a teacher who has demonstrated a strong commitment to conservation education programs and activities in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Edwina Coder, Lancaster County--William Lange Urban Conservation Award. This award is presented to an individual or organization that has made a unique and outstanding contribution to the conservation of natural resources in an urban area of Pennsylvania.

Jack & Suzanne Murray, Lycoming County--M.K. Goddard Forest Resource Management Award. This award is presented to a woodland owner who has a written woodland management plan in operation for at least five years, has demonstrated the wise use of their forest resources and is a conservation district cooperator. This award is sponsored by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative of Pennsylvania.

John Turack, Westmoreland County--Elected Official Recognition Award. This award is presented to an elected official who has consistently supported conservation issues and has made outstanding contributions to the conservation of Pennsylvania's natural resources.

Dauphin County Conservation District--Annual Report of the Year. This award is presented to the conservation district that submits the most informative, concise, readable and attractive annual report. Second place went to Warren County and Lancaster County received third place. Berks County Conservation District was awarded an honorable mention.

Also during the awards luncheon, three Pennsylvania farm families, representing three different regions, were recognized as the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Farm Award recipients. This award was presented to Scott & Herb Kreider & Sons of Lancaster County, Ben and Dean Jackson of Bradford County and David and Terry Rice of Blair County. The award recognizes farmers who strive to protect local water quality and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay by implementing exemplary farm management practices, such as controlling soil erosion and limiting nutrient and pesticide runoff into surface and ground waters. The Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Education Office administers this award.

PACD President Jarrett Miller presents David and Terry Rice of Blair County with the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Farm Award at the PACD/SCC Awards Luncheon on July 26, 2005 in Erie.

Each year, PACD hosts a poster contest for school children in grades K-12. The PACD Auxiliary sponsors the contest prizes. This year's winners were presented with their awards at the luncheon. They are:

• Emma Sawyer (Carbon County) - Kindergarten to First Grade;
  
• Chelsie Souto (Bradford County) - Second to Third Grade;
  
• Mark Frederick (Blair County) - Fourth to Sixth Grade;
  
• Alison Terndrup (Cambria County) - Seventh to Ninth Grade; and
  
• Jolan Strickland (Delaware County) - Tenth to Twelfth Grade.

The PACD Auxiliary also awards a scholarship to a college student from Pennsylvania for the support of Agricultural and Environmental Education. Thomas Gibson of Delaware County was this year's recipient. Thomas will be a senior at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia this fall where he majors in environmental studies.

Finally, outgoing PACD President Jarrett Miller and Auxiliary President Luetta Gross both received recognition at the luncheon for their dedication and service to the organization.

Submissions for the Annual Report of the Year and the Poster Contest are being accepted until May 30, 2006. For more information and guidelines for the PACD Conservation Awards Program visit http://www.pacd.org/about/award_progr.htm.

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