2025 WACD Annual Conference & Business Meeting
Conference News
Common Sense Conservation
Schedule
Hotel Registration
WACD is excited to be hosting our 2024 Annual Conference and Business Meeting at the Northern Quest Resort and Casino this year from Monday, December 2nd to Wednesday, December 4th. We’ve secured a group rate at the state per diem amount of $126 for conference attendees.
To secure the discounted rate, you will have to call the Northern Quest Casino Reservation Department at 1-877-871-6772 and reference either the “Washington Association Conservation Conference” group rate or mention the Group Discount ID 29908. You can only utilize the discount over the phone, it will not be possible to make hotel reservations with the group discount online.
Our group rate at the Northern Quest runs until Friday, November 8th.
Conference Registration
Registration for the Annual Conference on Monday and Tuesday and for the Business Meeting on Wednesday, whether you’re planning to participate online or in-person, can all be done on one form – just click here.
WACD is offering a single price for conference registration and meals at $500 per person. The cost to attend virtually will be $75/per person. If your district sends 3 or more supervisors to attend in person, your entire district can attend virtually for only $75.00.
As in years past, we are discounting registration for new supervisors to encourage their attendance and meet the statewide community. There will be a dedicated new supervisor and manager training session on Monday morning for new managers/executive directors and supervisors elected or appointed in 2022, 2023, or 2024.
Regular registration ends November 22nd.
Speakers
Scroll down to learn more about our featured speakers!
Dr. Subhadeep Bhattacharjee, Wolf and Grizzly Bear Policy Lead, WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Dr. Subhadeep Bhattacharjee (preferred name ‘Shubh’ – sounds like Shoob) is a Wildlife Biologist by education and training. He has more than two decades of professional experience working on management issues related to the large carnivores (Tigers, leopards, lions, wolf, etc.) and their interaction with the local communities across India, South Africa and in the US. In the United States for the last four years, Dr. Bhattacharjee worked in the University of Arizona as a ‘Cooperative Extension Senior Professional’ and later on, he worked with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks as a ‘Wolf Management Specialist’. He joined Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in May 2024 as the “Wolf and Grizzly Bear Policy Lead”, where currently he supervises the wolf program and coordinates with various agencies and stakeholders for grizzly bear related policy planning and implementation in the Washington State. Dr. Bhattacharjee has significant experience in working with multiple stakeholder engagements towards a holistic approach for wildlife management (especially for big game and predators) and sustainable developments of the local communities.
Cory Briar, Senior Research Associate, WA State Institute for Public Policy
Cory Briar is a senior research associate at the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) and team lead on the study of conservation district elections in Washington. He studied economics at Western Washington University before completing his PhD in economics at the University of Oregon in 2022. In his three years at WSIPP, he has completed reports on a wide range of public policy topics including the underground economy in the construction industry, the impacts of a Buy-American Steel policy in Washington, and the needs of farmworkers in the state.
Vicki Carter, Director, Spokane Conservation District
Vicki Carter currently serves as the Director of the Spokane Conservation District. Her management experience includes over 30 years in human resource management, accounting and financial management, project and program development, and governmental insurance programs. She provides input to policy and legislative matters at local and state levels.
Vicki is active in the veteran community of Spokane through her work as Director of Vets on the Farm. VOTF has gained statewide and national attention by emphasizing the growing need to fill a gap in our agricultural production with Veterans ready for a new mission. Vicki was instrumental in the formation of the Farmer Veteran Coalition Washington State Chapter and serves on the national Farmer Veteran Coalition Board of Directors.
Over the last six years, Vicki has been instrumental in the development of a 50-acre former rock quarry in the heart of Spokane. The site is transforming into a conservation campus which is now home to the new office of the Spokane Conservation District. Future plans include conference and event space, a permanent year-round farmers market, guided hiking trails, and outdoor educational classrooms and demonstration areas.
Roylene Comes At Night, State Conservationist, NRCS
Roylene M Comes At Night, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist (formerly Rides at the Door) is the 5th generation raised on her family’s cattle and horse ranch located on the Blackfeet Nation in northwestern Montana. Her family continues to reside on the original allotment the government assigned to her great-great grandfather, Rides at the Door.
Comes At Night graduated from Montana State University (MSU), where she majored in Range Science and minored in Soils Science. She grew up in a traditional environment on her family’s ranch and was raised with cultural values of caring for the land. Her father’s work in natural resources and her mother’s role as a science teacher contributed to what she felt was her destiny – a career in conservation. Roylene enjoys mentoring up and coming employees in NRCS. She also enjoys and participates in many tribal ceremonies.
Roylene began work with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 32 years ago as a student trainee. After graduation, she worked full-time as a Soil Conservationist in several local field offices in Montana working with local ranchers, farmers, landowners, and tribes. Her leadership career began when she was promoted to District Conservationist in Shelby, Montana where she supervised employees and directed operations of the local county office. Roylene’s next career move took her to Phoenix, Arizona where she was asked to serve as one of the nation’s first State American Indian Tribal Liaisons. Comes At Night continued her leadership development through a promotion to Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations where she led the operations for 21 local field offices and supervised directly and indirectly 63 employees in South East Oklahoma.
In 2005, Roylene was selected as NRCS’s first American Indian Female State Conservationist of Rhode Island. In this capacity, she worked with the Governor’s office and partners to expand conservation efforts especially involving conservation easements. In 2008, Comes At Night was named State Conservationist of Washington State. She has strengthened agricultural and conservation partnerships, improved outreach to underserved communities and bridged together Tribes, agriculture and conservation partners to better preserve the lands of Washington State. Roylene currently serves as the second longest standing State Conservationist in the nation and resides in Spokane, WA with her husband, Michael and two cocker spaniels Rex and Cody.
Becca Hebron, District Manager, Foster Creek Conservation District
Becca Hebron is currently serving as the District Manager of Foster Creek Conservation District in Waterville, Washington. Before becoming the District Manager two years ago, she moved her family from North Dakota in 2019 to start her career at Foster Creek as the soils program technician. During this time, she worked to build the agricultural program and to establish soil sampling across Central Washington to help understand the impact of management changes applied in the semi-arid farming environment. She provided support to other conservation districts in various capacities and helped develop multiple projects and programs that are still underway today while in this position. She also served as the education and outreach coordinator where she was able to expand educational reach throughout the community and partner collaboration to build meaningful programs like Camp Sagebrush, a sleep away summer camp for middle schoolers set within the shrub steppe environment that just saw its third season of camp. Known for her outward enthusiasm and passion, she loves to build connections with people. She is humbled by the role she gets to play in landowner and producer’s stories, learning their resource goals and helping them achieve those goals through connection to resources and technical assistance.
Before moving to Washington, Becca grew up between Eastern Montana and Eastern North Dakota, getting to understand the appreciation for balance of resource use and stewardship that drives the way of life for many rural communities. Once the oil boom hit Western North Dakota her passion spurred, and she attended Montana State University (MSU) and North Dakota State University (NDSU) where she earned her dual Bachelor’s in Natural Resource Management and Soil Biological Systems, and managed a soil lab collecting data related to management changes. Outside of working in conservation, Becca worked with individuals who are developmentally disabled for four years, as well as senior citizens in a retirement home for two years, all of whom taught her the art of communication and making meaningful connection on individual levels, which she applies in her daily life.
When she’s not looking at the dirt or talking, Becca and her family are always out enjoying all things nature whenever they can, she’s an avid forager, hiker, fisherman, camper, gardener, and snowboarder.
Dean Hellie, District Manager, Steven County Conservation District
Dean started working for Conservation District in 2005 as a resource technician hired to work with Livestock and Production Agricultural practices primarily AFO/CAFO and CNMP. He became the district manager in 2010, still providing technical assistance to Livestock and Crop Producers. Dean graduated from WSU with dual BS degrees in Animal Sciences and Agricultural Economics. Worked as farm operations manager for several purebred beef and farming operations in the Columbia Basin for 15 years. Additional experience as fish barrier technician and timber cruising for a forestry consultant. Dean went to High School in Douglas County, Mansfield WA, where he was active in 4H and FFA with beef projects.
Sarah Groth, Chief Financial Officer, Washington State Conservation Commission
Sarah joined the State Conservation Commission in January 2015 as a fiscal analyst. She was promoted to her current role as the director of accounting and budget in 2019. In this position, she holds responsibility for all financial and budgetary affairs at SCC and supervises the six-person fiscal team. Sarah boasts an impressive background of over two decades of financial expertise in both the public and private sectors.
Her wealth of knowledge encompasses the intricacies of state government operations, with a particular emphasis on budgeting. Before her tenure at SCC, Sarah served as a Fiscal Analyst in the Department of Enterprise Services, specifically within the Small Agency Client Services division. She also gained experience working for the state printer.
She currently resides in Olympia, Washington, with her husband, two daughters, and two rambunctious pups. Sarah also serves on the Olympia Education Foundation board of trustees and enjoys traveling with her family.
Alexandra Johnson, Research Associate, WA State Public Policy Institute
Alexandra Johnson is a research associate at the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) and team member on the study of conservation district elections in Washington. She studied environmental justice at the University of Washington before completing a Master of Public Health and a Master of Public Affairs at Brown University in 2023. Since starting at WSIPP in July of this year, Alexandra has been working on the conservation districts project, an implementation assessment of recovery navigator and law enforcement-assisted diversion programs, and a meta-analysis of the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program.
Representative Jacquelin Maycumber, 7th Legislative District
Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber was elected by voters in a November 2017 special election and has served Northeast Washington’s 7th Legislative District ever since. After redistricting, her district includes Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties, and parts of Douglas, Grant, and Spokane counties.
Maycumber is currently serving her third term as the House Republican Floor Leader where she has guided floor debates and helped organize floor amendments to legislation.
Jacquelin earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and spent time as a biomedical research scientist. She is a former law enforcement officer and elected school board member, and has volunteered with her Chamber of Commerce.
Maycumber has a passion for rural economic development. She advocates for common-sense solutions to education funding and state budgeting, making sure all children have equal access to education and successful careers, and for utilizing Washington’s abundant natural resources.
As a fourth-generation landowner in Northeast Washington, Jacquelin has deep roots in the 7th Legislative District. She and her husband Marty live in Republic with their three children.
Laura Meyer, Vice President of Creative Strategy, KR Creative Strategies
Laura learned about conservation districts while finishing her Master’s degree in Environmental Communication. Since then, she’s devoted her career to promoting CDs and their importance. Laura is Vice President of Creative Strategy for KR Creative Strategies (KRCS), a Washington-headquartered communications company that specializes in serving clients in natural resources and agriculture. She’s the lead for all KRCS conservation clients, including many conservation districts across the country. Prior to joining KRCS, Laura served as Communications Director for the Washington State Conservation Commission and chaired the Communications Committee for the National Association of State Conservation Agencies. She lives in Decorah, Iowa with her husband and long-haired Weimaraner, and she enjoys regular trips back to Washington — a state she proudly called home for 13 years.
Sara Morrison, Business Development & Workforce Training, Associated Industries
Sara joined Associated Industries in 2021, bringing extensive experience in Sales, Employee Development, Corporate Training, and Human Resources. Her diverse background enables her to effectively navigate the complex challenges that employers face in today’s ever-evolving workplace.
In her role, which focuses on business development and workforce training, Sara works closely with the HR advisor and legal teams at Associated Industries to help member businesses achieve compliance with federal and state regulations. She also develops customized training programs tailored to each business’s unique needs, ensuring they are equipped with the tools and knowledge to thrive in a competitive environment. Sara is passionate about fostering cultures of respect, collaboration, and growth within organizations.
Diane Murray, LCSW, Director of Innovation, HDESD, Certified Dare to Lead ™ Facilitator, Leadership Consultant
Diane is an experienced leadership coach and executive director with a demonstrated history of working in both the public and private sector. She is a strong community and social services professional skilled in executive leadership, operations, human resources, team building, and public speaking. Diane has been described as a dynamic and insightful leadership coach and speaker who uses genuineness, humor, and challenging candor to inspire individuals and organizations to engage in meaningful work. Diane focuses on uncovering fundamental issues impacting performance, then creates practical and results-oriented solutions that meet the unique needs of the leader, team, and organization.
Clients represent executive and mid-level leadership in both private and public organizations and include a variety of industries including health care, energy, law, technology, financial services, retail, and professional services. Recent corporate leadership work includes US Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Fluid Market Strategies, CLEAResult Marketing, American Express, Northwest Bank, and National Veterinary Associates.
Craig Nelson, Executive Director, Okanogan Conservation District
Craig Nelson has served as the Executive Director for the Okanogan Conservation District since December 1996. He and his district have extensive experience with community collaborative projects, voluntary conservation, and disaster resiliency and recovery. During his time with the district Craig has served in many leadership roles with the Washington Association of District Employees, National Conservation District Employee Association, Washington Association of Conservation Districts, and several other organizations.
Craig earned a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Land Use Planning from Central Washington University in 1995 and is a 2006 graduate of the Washington State Agricultural and Forestry Education Foundation Leadership Program. In his off time, he enjoys spending time with his family traveling or enjoying his hobby of sports photography.
Representative Marcus Riccelli, 3rd Legislative District
Born and raised in Spokane, Representative Marcus Riccelli graduated from Gonzaga University with a Bachelors of Business Administration, and from the University of Washington with a Masters of Public Administration. From 2007 to 2010, Marcus served as U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell’s Eastern Washington Director. Then from 2010 to 2012, he served as Senior Policy Advisor to Washington State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown. Elected to the state legislature in 2012, Marcus serves as chair of the Health Care & Wellness Committee, which he vice-chaired for three years and was elected chair starting in the 2023 session. He also serves on the Appropriations and Local Government committees. He previously served in the leadership role of Majority Whip from 2016 until 2022. He was appointed to and serves on the Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight and the Universal Health Care Commission, and is also a member of the Washington State Telehealth Collaborative. Previously he served as chair of the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee and on the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues.
Outside his duties with the legislature, Marcus is a Community Relations Manager for CHAS, the Community Health Association of Spokane, where he has worked for the past five years, previously as a Project Manager. He has also been an adjunct instructor at Eastern Washington University’s College of Health Science and Public Health and worked as Operations Manager for the Northeast Community Center.
Marcus is deeply committed to fostering opportunities for young people in Spokane. He serves as an advisory board member for the Northside YMCA and coaches youth sports.
A strong believer in putting his community and people first, Marcus worked with advocates and colleagues from both sides of the aisle to prime sponsor and pass legislation creating the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, which trains homegrown doctors to help fill the needs of our state’s rural and underserved communities. He also worked on the bipartisan transportation package that makes significant investments in the North Spokane Corridor, Central City Line and U-District Bridge, which will expand employment opportunities in the Spokane region and reduce travel time by several million hours each year. He championed funding to expand oral health access to an additional 60,000 people, increasing dental visits by 150,000 annually. He also passed multiple bills expanding access to free school meals, benefiting 670,000 Washington students.
Marcus lives in Spokane with his wife, Amanda, and their two children.
Sabrina Sawyer, VP of HR & Business Solutions, Associated Industries
In her role as Vice President of HR & Business Solutions, Sabrina brings a wealth of experience and expertise. Her career is rooted in leadership, strategic planning, organizational management, and organizational development. Sabrina is skilled at identifying and addressing challenges with creative, results-driven solutions and systems. She has a passion for helping companies build effective processes to drive organizational success and increase profits, with a particular emphasis on nurturing high-performing teams.
In her current role, Sabrina leads the HR team, manages member projects, and provides innovative HR solutions to enhance operations. Sabrina graduated from Whitworth University summa cum laude with a degree in Organizational Management, which proves as an asset to her role in improving member processes and internal HR operations and collaborating on strategic planning and product development. Sabrina’s extensive experience and unwavering commitment make her a valuable asset to Associated Industries and its members.
James Thompson, Executive Director, Washington State Conservation Commission
James joined the SCC in December of 2023, a native of Castle Rock, grew up working in his family’s local newspaper business. Through college he spent several seasons as a contract logger, which led him to appreciate the importance of natural resource conservation. He studied history and political science at Whitman College and has worked in personnel management and leadership roles at state government agencies. Previously he worked as Director of International Trade and Logistics for the Terex Corporation, North American Transportation Manager for Starbucks, and Operations Manager for International Paper. James comes to SCC from the Washington Public Ports Association, where he spent nearly ten years — three as executive director. James is an avid sea kayaker, an active member of the Mountaineers, and lives with his family in Olympia.
Tova Tillinghast, District Director, Underwood Conservation District
Tova Tillinghast has a BA degree in Politics and Environmental Studies from Whitman College and 24 years of professional experience in community environmental education, project management, and natural resource restoration.
A member of the Washington AgForestry Class 33, Tova also has a certification in NRCS Conservation Farm Planning and a certification in River Restoration from Portland State University.
After a life-changing internship at Snohomish CD, Tova has been at Underwood Conservation District for 20 years and became District Manager there in 2007. Tova has stewarded and managed millions of grant dollars for ecological and public benefit.
In addition to leading and overseeing projects and programs at Underwood Conservation District, Tova plays the cello and enjoys spending time in the mountains and on rivers with her husband and three children.
Anthony Waldrop, Watershed Restoration Program Manager, Grays Harbor CD
Anthony is the Watershed Restoration Program Manager for Grays Harbor Conservation District. He’s been at Grays Harbor CD since 2018 and has enjoyed developing and implementing riparian planting, engineered log jam, and hand-built wood structure projects with landowners throughout the county. The most rewarding aspects of his job involve working collaboratively with his coworkers and a diversity of stakeholders. He also loves to obsessively check on the growth of the plants at District riparian restoration projects. In his spare time he loves to play board games, mow blackberry, watch/play sports, and watch his 8 month old daughter try new foods.
Alexa Whipple, Project Director, Methow Okanogan Beaver Project
Alexa is the Director of the Methow Okanogan Beaver Project. As a Restoration Ecologist, she works for sustainable, effective, and collaborative solutions to challenging environmental and social conditions. She is a co-chair of the WA Beaver Working Group, the WA Beaver Policy Group, and the National Beaver Working Group’s Policy & Management Committee. She is a 2020 graduate of BeaverCorps, the Beaver Institute’s Wetland Manager Beaver Coexistence training program. Alexa has called the Methow & Okanogan Watersheds of the Upper Columbia in northcentral WA State home since 2001 where she managed her family’s farm and groundwater well services business for 15 years. She has studied beavers, songbirds, carnivores, plant communities, sustainable agricultural practices, and post-wildfire recovery of western riverscapes. Alexa completed her BS in Wildlife Biology at Virginia Tech and MS in Ecology at Eastern Washington University where she focused on beaver-mediated restoration of degraded streams across western NA.
Ryan Williams, Executive Director, Cascadia Conservation District
Ryan has a combined 17 years of experience with Washington State Conservation Districts working on conservation programs. This includes 11 years at Snohomish CD, 2 years at Mason CD and 4 at Cascadia CD. Ryan began at Districts in water quality and riparian restoration and worked into management of Districts. He is the co-chair of the Center for Technical Development and is a graduate of the AgForestry Leadership program (class 40). At Cascadia CD he serves as the District’s Executive Director working to build impactful conservation programs with sustainable funding mechanisms.
Chevelle Yeckel, WADE President, Okanogan Conservation District
Chevelle Yeckel currently serves as the President of the Washington Association of District Employees (WADE), where she is actively learning the leadership ropes and embracing growth through experience. As a Riparian and Water Quality Planner for the Okanogan Conservation District, Chevelle is dedicated to serving her home in Okanogan County by empowering landowners with resources and guidance for water quality improvements and riparian habitat restoration. Chevelle is known for her compassion and finds inspiration in her mentor, Executive Director Craig Nelson, who, even after many years in his role, remains fiercely passionate, knowledgeable, and adaptable. She continues to collaborate with her coworkers and peers to deepen her understanding of the meaningful, lasting connections between people and the land we live on.
Sponsors
We welcome our sponsors for the 2025 WACD Annual Conference! Sponsor support of the Annual Conference helps us hold costs down for members and partners, meaning more people can attend and participate. Sponsors also provide great value through the information they share with attendees and the relationships they form with members and partners.
Sponsorship levels
| Sponsor level: | CHAMPION | LEADER | SUPPORTER | FRIEND | HELPER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship value: | $3,000 or more | $1,500 | $750 | $250 | $100 |
| Website (1 year): | Logo | Logo | Logo | Logo | Logo |
| Newsletter (1 year): | Logo | Logo | Logo | Logo | Logo |
| Conference materials: | Logo | Logo | Logo | Logo | |
| Showcase videos: | Up to 60 minutes of video | Up to 30 minutes of video | Up to 15 minutes of video | ||
| Sponsor table in hallway: | Yes! | Yes! | Yes! | ||
| Session Introduction: | Yes! Up to 10-minutes | Yes! Up to 5-minutes | |||
| Dedicated Zoom room: | 2 - 1 hour Zoom rooms | 1 - 1 hour Zoom room | |||
| Publish to the Hub: | Invited | Invited |
Sponsor descriptions
| Logo | Description |
|---|---|
 | Springbrook – CHAMPION sponsorOver 30 years ago, Springbrook’s founders recognized a need for the power of digital technology to create new efficiencies in the delivery and administration of local government services. From the first line of code ever written, Springbrook’s mission has been to develop tools that help people do their jobs more efficiently and accurately, and to make government work better, for the citizens. As a digital member of your office, Springbrook provides extra hands and eyes, with solutions designed to reduce the burden on personnel. Find out more at https://springbrooksoftware.com/. |
 | Conservation Commission – CHAMPION sponsorThe Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) works to conserve natural resources on all lands in Washington state, through voluntary and incentive-based programs, in collaboration with conservation districts and other partners. SCC is the coordinating state agency for all 45 conservation districts (CDs) in Washington State. Together, the SCC and CDs provide voluntary, incentive-based programs that empower people to practice conservation and ensure healthy natural resources and agriculture for all. Find out more at https://www.scc.wa.gov/. |
 | Enduris – LEADER sponsorEnduris is a member-owned, local government risk pool of over 500 special purpose districts in the state of Washington offering comprehensive property and liability coverage along with value-added risk solutions. Enduris serves members who serve their communities! Find out more at https://www.enduris.us |
 | Aspect Consulting a Geosyntec Company – SUPPORTER sponsorFounded in 2001, Aspect is hydrogeologists, geologists, and engineers focused on earth + water solutions. From seven Northwest offices, we provide earth science and engineering consulting services in five key practice areas: Environmental Services, Water Resources, Geotechnical Engineering, Stormwater, and Data & Mapping. Like our clients, we focus on implementation and outcome. Aspect delivers value.In 2023, Aspect Consulting joined Geosyntec Consultants—an environmental consulting and engineering firm founded in 1983, now with more than 2,600 professionals in 130 offices worldwide. This integration expanded our team in the Pacific Northwest to over 200 professionals while preserving what clients value most: the same trusted local experts, in the same offices, focused on delivering practical, outcome-driven solutions. Find out more at https://www.aspectconsulting.com/. |
 | Riparia Environmental – SUPPORTER sponsorRiparia Environmental, formerly Olson Environmental and now a subsidiary of MacKay Sposito, has a longstanding history of serving the Pacific Northwest with trusted expertise in environmental compliance, ecological restoration, stormwater management, and landscape services. Our experienced team is dedicated to building resilient ecosystems through responsible solutions. By collaborating with MacKay Sposito’s engineers, scientists, surveyors, and construction managers, we integrate a broad range of disciplines to meet clients’ diverse needs. Find out more at https://www.riparia-env.com/. |
 | Ducks Unlimited – SUPPORTER sponsorDU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America's drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent's waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited. Its mission: habitat conservationThanks to decades of abiding by that single mission, Ducks Unlimited is now the world's largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. DU is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities.Find out more at https://www.ducks.org/ |
 | BFI Native Seeds – SUPPORTER sponsorBFI Native Seeds LLC is committed to preserving local genetics and keeping native grass and forb source-identified seeds available for restoration.Over 1.4 million pounds of native, source-identified seeds have been provided to our customers over the last 5 years. You want to ensure that our habitats are responsibly taken care of, and using genetically-appropriate native seed is part of that goal. So thanks to, You, our customers, we do what you do. Full-service site and habitat restoration from project inception to final site monitoring and maintenance with all the steps along the way. Find out more at http://www.bfinativeseeds.com/. |
 | Bill Knutsen – FRIEND sponsorIn May 2024, Bill completed 18 years as a member and Chair of the King Conservation District Board of Directors. |
 | Plants of the Wild – FRIEND sponsorOur nursery was started in 1979 by a local farmer who saw a need for himself and other farmers in the area to be able to fulfill their Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. The contracts called for plants and seeds to be planted on farming acres that were being taken out of crop production, to get them back to a natural state. Since 1990, Plants of the Wild is proud to be a division of Seeds, Incorporated, a Kentucky Bluegrass processing company that is locally owned by Paul and Jane Dashiell & Ross Dashiell. The Seeds, Inc. company motto is “Progressive business with old-fashioned values”, and that trickles down through all parts of our company. Find out more at https://plantsofthewild.com/. |
 | AgWest – FRIEND sponsorAgWest Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative with more than a century of experience serving farmers, ranchers, timber harvesters, and aquatic producers throughout the West. We are committed to providing consistent, reliable credit, insurance and financial services to the people who feed and clothe the world, from Alaska to Arizona. We serve all of agriculture from the smallest operations to the largest – and everything in between. As your trusted source, we’ll share our knowledge, insights and financial acumen to help you build strong, thriving businesses that last generations. At AgWest, we are people and purpose first. We champion the growth and advancement of agriculture and the value of rural communities. We work alongside you—offering dependable credit, risk management tools, and business resources to solve tough problems and ensure your enduring success. We understand the challenges you face and celebrate the rewards you’ve earned. Find out more at https://agwestfc.com/. |
Virtual Presentations
WACD is pleased to present the following FREE virtual presentations to our entire conservation community. The presentations will cover a variety of topics and are brought to you by our Leader and Champion level sponsors.
Tuesday, November 19th
9:00 am – NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) Updates
Join Bobby Evans, State Resource Conservationist for NRCS WA, to learn about updates and ongoing work with the FOTG. Did you know there is a new version of Bio TN 29 that addresses Monarch Butterflies in eastern Oregon and Washington? How about the new Cover Crop Tool for multi-species cover crops? The new Virtual Fence scenarios that are scaled based on herd size and have funding alternatives for multiple years to help with the cost of the practice? Last but not least do you know what Turbo Fladry is? If any of these topics sound interesting this is just the tip of the iceberg of what our great partners at NRCS have been working on! Zoom in to find out more.
10:00 am – State Technical Advisory Committee 101
The State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) is a group composed of agricultural producers, owners/operators of nonindustrial private forest land, federal and state agency representatives, and other professionals who provide information, analysis, and recommendations to officials of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on implementing and establishing priorities and criteria for natural resources conservation activities and programs. The STAC has no implementation or enforcement authority, but USDA gives strong consideration to the STAC’s recommendations. The Washington STAC, which is chaired by the state conservationist, provides input to programs and initiatives, as well as annually reviews whether Local Working Groups are addressing state priorities and criteria for ranking program applications. STAC subcommittees provide recommendations to the STAC. The State Conservationist can convene or appoint subcommittees to address a variety of issues including natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and outreach. Join Nick Vira, Partnership Liaison for NRCS WA, to learn about the purpose, objectives, process and procedures of the State Technical Advisory Committee!
Register in advance for our November 19th Webinars:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpdOisqjMrHtDn4JbRCCy6SaaCJvQD1fwP
Wednesday, November 20th
9:00 am – Benefits of Soil Moisture Sensors for Plant Growth and Irrigation Management
Join Anna Barr with EarthScout and explore the basics of irrigation water management and learn how collecting data through the addition of in-field soil moisture sensors help growers make more informed irrigation decisions on the farm. Soil moisture sensors allow you to determine where, when, and how much to irrigate more efficiently. In this presentation we will dive into how to interpret this data, build confidence in irrigation decision making, all while conserving water without causing plant stress.
10:00 am – Long-term Invasive Annual Grass Control with Rejuvra Herbicide
Join Noe Marymor, Education Outreach and Grant Coordinator for Envu, learn about invasive annual grasses that are a major driver of landscape degradation across the western U.S. Species like cheatgrass, medusahead and ventenata increase wildfire risk, decrease wildlife habitat quality and reduce livestock forage available. Rejuvra Herbicide is a new product with long-term soil residual activity that can outlast the seeds of these invasive grass species in the soil seedbank. This webinar will explain more of the issues with invasive annual grasses, why seedbank management is critical to effective control, and how to use Rejuvra Herbicide for lasting restoration success.
Register in advance for our November 20th Webinars:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkce6qqToqGdL0AzbFHntwK71kwz_rMewZ
Partners
Partner reports
- National Association of Conservation Districts Partner Report (718 downloads )
- Natural Resource Conservation Service Partner Report (674 downloads )
- WACD Plant Materials Center Report (602 downloads )
- Washington Association of District Employees Partner Report (476 downloads )
- Washington Conservation Society Partner Report (523 downloads )
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Partner Report (596 downloads )
- Washington State University Partner Report (479 downloads )
Envirothon
Call for Envirothon Auction Items
The Washington State Envirothon Auction is back at the WACD Annual Meeting in Spokane on Tuesday, December 2, and we need your help gathering items. This is one of our few annual fundraisers, and your efforts directly support Envirothon programming, student learning opportunities, and travel for the winning Washington team to the North American Competition.
Last year, generous donors and bidders helped raise $9,506. Local business contributions have always been strong, but anything unique, useful, or memorable can help make this year’s auction a success. Please reach out to coworkers, board supervisors, and community contacts to grow the list of donations.
Experiences can be a great addition and don’t conflict with state audit rules, think guided tours, farm stays, workshops, drone flights or hosted dinners, along with tangible items like:
- Gift cards
- Outdoor gear
- Signed memorabilia
- Themed baskets
- Event tickets
- Resort or trip packages
- Local art or products
Feel free to use the donation form and auction item request templates in your local outreach. This printed copy of the donation form is also available, if needed.
Visit the Envirothon website to learn more: https://waenvirothon.org/support-envirothon/auction/
Awards
2025 award winners will be announced at the WACD Conference.
Find information about past award winners and nominations forms at https://wadistricts.org/wacd-awards.
Resolutions
WACD committees reviewed assigned resolutions and present one of three non-binding recommendations to the membership:
- Vote to recommend passage
- Vote to recommend passage with amendments; or,
- Recommend Do-Not-Pass
Policy Committee Recommendations
WACD’s Natural Resources Policy Committee and Legislative, Bylaws, and District Policies Committee met on November 4th to review the resolutions from the area meetings and vote on their respective committee recommendations. Sponsor districts and members were invited to participate in these discussions alongside the committee members.
These recommendations are non-binding, and serve solely as the opinion from some of the respected members of our community for the voters at the Annual Business meeting to consider.
Background Info on WACD Resolutions
- WACD Resolution Process
- NACD Resolution Process Flow Chart
- WACD Active Resolutions (5-year status table)
Resolution Recommendations by the Legislative, Bylaws, and District Policies Committee
- 2024-01 Updating and Modernizing Administrative Requirements for WSCC Grant Programs – Do Pass As Amended
- 2024-02 WACD Developing and Implementing a Board Supervisor Training Program – Do Pass as Amended
- 2024-03 Conservation Reserve Program signature requirements – Do Pass
- 2024-04 Increasing Access to WSCC Sustainable Farms and Fields – Do Pass
- 2024-05 Simplifying the WSCC Sustainable Farms and Fields Program – Do Pass
- 2024-06 Improving the USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant Scoring Process – Do Pass
- 2024-07 Wildlife Insurance Policy Problem – Do Pass
- 2024-08 Support WSCC budget requests – Do Pass
- 2024-09 The Role of FSA and NRCS in Managing CREP and CRP – Do Pass
- 2024-10 Salary for NRCS engineers – Do Pass as Amended
- 2024-11 Tribal Engagement Training – Do Pass As Amended
- 2024-12 CTD Funding – Do Pass
Resolutions Adopted by Area Associations
- 2024-01 Updating and Modernizing Administrative Requirements for WSCC Grant Programs (816 downloads )
- 2024-02 WACD Developing and Implementing a Board Supervisor Training Program (Version A) (716 downloads )
- 2024-02 WACD Developing and Implementing a Board Supervisor Training Program (Version B) (820 downloads )
- 2024-03 Conservation Reserve Program signature requirements (723 downloads )
- 2024-04 Increasing Access to WSCC Sustainable Farms and Fields (740 downloads )
- 2024-05 Simplifying the WSCC Sustainable Farms and Fields Program (888 downloads )
- 2024-06 Improving the USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant Scoring Process (697 downloads )
- 2024-07 Wildlife Insurance Policy Problem (574 downloads )
- 2024-08 Support WSCC Budget Requests (660 downloads )
- 2024-09 The Role of FSA and NRCS in Managing CREP and CRP (866 downloads )
- 2024-10 Salary for NRCS engineers (581 downloads )
- 2024-11 Tribal Engagement Training (612 downloads )
- 2024-12 CTD Funding (579 downloads )
2024 Business Meeting
8:30 am – 11:30 am
- 8:30 AM – Meeting called to Order/Roll Call of Member Districts
- 8:45 AM – Rules of Order & Meeting Procedures Briefing
- 9:00 AM – Approval of 2023 Business Meeting Minutes
- 9:05 AM – Public Comment Period
- 9:10 AM – Treasurer’s Report for FY2022 & Report on Current Fiscal Year
- 9:20 AM – Plant Materials Center Status Report
- 9:30 AM – Special Committee Reports
- 10:00 AM – Resolutions as Recommended by the Legislative, Bylaws, and District Policies Committee
- 2024-01 Updating and Modernizing Administrative Requirements for WSCC Grant Programs – Do Pass as Amended
- 2024-02 WACD Developing and Implementing a Board Supervisor Training Program – Do Pass as Amended
- 2024-03 Conservation Reserve Program signature requirements – Do Pass
- 2024-04 Increasing Access to WSCC Sustainable Farms and Fields – Do Pass
- 2024-05 Simplifying the WSCC Sustainable Farms and Fields Program – Do Pass
- 2024-06 Improving the USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant Scoring Process – Do Pass
- 2024-07 Wildlife Insurance Policy Problem – Do Pass
- 2024-08 Support WSCC budget requests – Do Pass
- 2024-09 The Role of FSA and NRCS in Managing CREP and CRP – Do Pass
- 2024-10 Salary for NRCS engineers – Do Pass as Amended
- 2024-11 Tribal Engagement Training – Do Pass as Amended
- 2024-12 CTD Funding – Do Pass
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Lunch Recess
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
- 12:30 PM – Resolutions (continued)
- 1:30 PM – Other Business (If necessary)
- 1:45 PM – WACD Proposed Bylaw Changes
- Removing References to Policies
- Removing Dues Notification Date
- Creating “Ways & Means” Committee
- 2:30 PM – Election of WACD Officers
- President (two-year term)
- Vice President (two-year term)
- 3:00 PM – Tentative Business Meeting Adjournment
Recordings
We are still processing conference recordings. You can access what we have uploaded to date here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11496159
Sponsors
