Traveling from various parts of the Commonwealth, nearly 200 individuals comprised of conservation district staff, state officials and legislative partners convened to discuss progress, needs, and issues in addressing conservation efforts in Pennsylvania at the 66th Joint Annual Conference in King of Prussia.

The multi-day meeting, which is hosted yearly by the PA Association of Conservation Districts and the State Conservation Commission, began July 15 and kicked off with a presentation on Lyme disease prevalence in Pennsylvania followed by a workshop on public policy and legislative effectiveness.

“With each of the districts focusing on issues specific to their county’s needs throughout the year, this conference allows them to come together and discuss projects they are spearheading as well as best management practices they have been able to implement,” said Robert Maiden, PACD Executive Director. “This forum offers them the opportunity to learn from one another and to make decisions that will allow them to press forward in this conservation movement as a collective unit.”

During an awards luncheon at the conference, PACD honored multiple individuals for their work in conserving natural resources across the state. Two of the 2013 PACD award winners are from Chester County.

Legislator Leadership Award

This award is presented to legislators recognized for their outstanding efforts to further the activities and accomplishments of the state’s conservation districts or PACD on a statewide basis. 

Sen. John C. Rafferty Jr. (R-Montgomery), Majority Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, is this year’s Legislator Leadership Award recipient.

Sen. Rafferty led the fight in securing dedicated funding for the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program in Senate Bill 1, the Transportation Funding Bill. The bill will be taken up again in the House when the legislature returns this fall. 

If passed, this funding will allow conservation districts, along with their partners, to continue working toward a more environmentally and economically sustainable rural road system.

President’s Award

Selected by PACD Executive Board President, this award is given to an individual, organization or agency in recognition of their outstanding efforts that have resulted in furthering the accomplishments of PACD.

This award is being given posthumously to Harold Kulp from Chester County. 

Throughout his life, Harold was heavily involved with both the Chester County Conservation District and the PACD Executive Board.  He was a dairy farmer on his family farm for more than 50 years and served as a farmer member on the Chester Conservation District board for nearly 40 years. 

He was devoted to the state’s environment and a staunch advocate for the conservation districts.  He is remembered fondly by the conservation community.

The conference concluded with a tour of Walnut Green Farm, one of Chester County’s premier horse-breeding farms, and Marlboro Mushrooms, the only solar-powered mushroom farm in the world as well as being the oldest continually operated mushroom farm in North America.

7/22/2013