News & Notes March 2003

NACD President J. Read Smith challenged America's conservation districts to imagine a future in which they meet a broad range of resource needs for their constituents and to face change head-on. "Embrace these changes, and share in their development," he said.

"Despite what some people think, we are not an ag organization. We are a conservation and natural resource organization. Our fastest growing customer base across this country is non-ag or certainly very small ag. We will always be well grounded in agriculture, but you districts near or in suburban and urban America have a special obligation to include those resource concerns in your district priorities. Embrace the contributions of the non-traditional customers; there is great opportunity there. It is never too late for you and your district to capture the opportunities that lie before us."

Smith concludes, "It is ok to dream and imagine the future…if we could learn that lesson, and not be always running the existing programs, but rather imagining what could be: what you think about, you can bring about."

J. Read Smith made great strides in his five years as an elected leader. However, among the business at hand was electing new officers. New President Gary Mast, will carry the torch and expects to continue the good work expected of the organization's leadership. President Mast, a dairy farmer from Millersburg, Ohio said his priorities are to work toward full funding of the Farm Bill conservation programs; to prevent the dismantling of base programs to support new programs, and to bring the conservation security program to life.

Other officers elected:
First Vice President - Bill Wilson, Oklahoma
Second Vice President - Tim Reich, South Dakota
Secretary/Treasurer - Marc Curtis, Mississippi

With new leadership comes energy and fresh ideas for the future. NACD Chief Executive Officer, Ernet C. Shea, also spoke about imagining the future. "Although we have accomplished much, the real work of conservation lies ahead and the future is calling. We have a critical role to play in helping the nation achieve its environmental goals as I have said, expectations are high." CEO Shea expressed that conservation districts are not in the business of implementing programs, rather they are about improving the environment and our quality of life. It is the future that should be the conservation district's concern.

To help accomplish this, a new logo and tagline, "Conserving Natural Resources for Our Future," were unveiled. These new graphics will be used to launch the Farm Bill Conservation Outreach materials and help to generate local recognition. Districts can expect to receive a CD with these new tools in the coming weeks.

Also in attendance was Bruce Knight, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief. He said that trust and accountability are big words when it comes to conservation, adding that Congress has placed a tremendous amount of trust on NRCS and partners like America's conservation districts. "That will also require more accountability, " Knight said.

More information on the meeting can be found at http://www.nacdnet.org.

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