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2025 Stewardship Week & Education Stewardship Week, hosted by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of conserving natural resources. Celebrated since 1955, it remains one of the world’s largest conservation-focused observances. This year, Stewardship Week will occur from April 27 to May 4, from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May. This year’s theme, “Home is Where the Habitat Is,” celebrates 70 years of Stewardship Week and highlights the vital role that natural and managed habitats play in supporting biodiversity and ecological balance. Throughout the week, conservation districts nationwide will engage communities with activities like field days, educational workshops, and poster contests, encouraging year-round stewardship efforts to protect and enhance our environment. Overview of Stewardship Week 2025 Dates: April 27 to May 4, 2025 Theme: “Home is Where the Habitat Is” – Celebrating 70 years of Stewardship Week, this theme underscores the importance of natural and managed habitats in supporting biodiversity and ecological health. Purpose: Organized by the NACD, Stewardship Week promotes conservation awareness and encourages community action to protect natural resources. Resources for Stewardship Week NACD Stewardship Program Page: Find general information, background materials, and educational tools to learn more about Stewardship Week. Visit: NACD Stewardship Program Educational Materials: Access free downloadable resources like booklets, activity sheets, and lesson plans tailored to the 2025 theme. Available at: NACD Conservation Education Hub Past Themes and Resources: Explore materials from previous years for additional inspiration, such as forestry or soil health topics. Check out: NACD Stewardship Archives Local Conservation District Directory: Connect with your local district for region-specific resources and support. Find yours at: Map of District Zones Ways to Get Involved Contact Your Local Conservation District: Reach out to your nearest district to participate in or organize events like field days, workshops, or community cleanups. Click to find your local district. Volunteer: Many districts welcome volunteers for hands-on conservation projects during Stewardship Week and beyond. Inquire about opportunities through your local district. Spread Awareness: Share Stewardship Week details on social media using the hashtag #StewardshipWeek2025 or create posts with NACD-provided graphics from their stewardship page. Educational Outreach: Teachers and community leaders can host presentations or discussions using NACD’s free educational materials to engage students and residents. Activities and Events Poster Contest: Details: Open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade, the 2025 NACD Poster Contest invites participants to create artwork reflecting the theme “Home is Where the Habitat Is.” How to Participate: Submit entries through your local conservation district by their deadline (varies by district; national deadline is December 2, 2025). Winners are announced at NACD’s Annual Meeting in February 2026. Resources: Guidelines and entry forms are available at: NACD Poster Contest Prizes: National winners receive cash prizes ($200 for first, $150 for second, $100 for third). Photo Contest: Details: Amateur photographers (youth and adult divisions) can submit up to five photos in categories like “Agriculture and Conservation Across America” or “Conservation Practices,” aligning with the habitat theme. Submission Period: Opens March 30, 2025; details at the NACD contests page linked above. Prizes: First-place winners get $100, second-place $50. Community Events: Attend or organize local field days, tree plantings, or habitat restoration projects. Check with your conservation district for scheduled activities during April 27–May 4, 2025. Workshops: Participate in educational workshops offered by districts, often featuring topics like habitat preservation or sustainable land management. Additional Tips Stay Updated: Bookmark our website or follow us on Facebook for the latest Stewardship Week announcements. Get Creative: Encourage kids to join the poster contest or families to document conservation efforts for the photo contest—great ways to blend creativity with environmental action!

Twin M Conservation District partners with landowners and local communities to conserve soil, water, and natural resources while supporting sustainable land management in central Utah. Twin M Conservation District Beaver County District Highlights Meeting Information Meeting Date: 2nd Thursday of the month, 7:00 pm Place: Beaver County Fairgrounds, 1400 UT-21, Minersville UT 84752 Contact Tyce Palmer to get involved or learn more about available resources Phone: 435-676-8189 Email: tpalmer@utah.gov “Disclaimer: Meeting dates and times are subject to change. UACD does not manage district schedules and may not receive updates when changes occur.”

Leadership Programs Conservation Gallery Educational Resources Hicken Leadership Initiative Scholarship Opportunities Utah conservation districts often provide individual district scholarships to local high school seniors to attend the college or university of their choice. The UACD Auxiliary Scholarship is awarded annually to a Utah State University junior or senior demonstrating academic achievement and financial need. This scholarship fund was endowed in the USU College of Agriculture in 1994. The UACD Auxiliary Scholar Program also provides a $500-$750 scholarship to graduating seniors in each UACD zone. Check back in January 2026 for the 2025-26 school year application for your area. Contact your local conservation district for more information. Educational Resources Hicken Conservation Leadership Initiative Hicken With the generous financial support and encouragement of Claude and June Hicken in 2008, the UACD revised and expanded its efforts in continuing education for all district officials. Claude and June are former members of UACD where Claude had served as chairman of the Wasatch Conservation District and as a member of the UACD Board of Directors. June served as the UACD Auxiliary President. The goal of the Hicken Conservation Leadership initiative is to educate and increase the leadership capacity of district officials to enable them to better understand and fulfill their statutory responsibilities. It includes the following elements: Annual new supervisor conservation leadership orientation held each spring Supervisor leadership instruction through sessions at the UACD annual convention, as well as at zone meetings and monthly district meetings as time permits Leadership and related educational materials available as internet based, self-taught packages and as conventional publications Incentives that recognize progress toward and completion of the nationally recognized NACD District Official Accreditation program Scholarships to encourage attendance at regional, state and national meetings Financial assistance for the Auxiliary Scholarship Fund for students pursuing a degree in agriculture and/or conservation majors For more information about the Hicken Conservation Leadership Initiative, please contact Kristy Davis, CFO, at 435.881.7688.

Northern Utah Conservation District works with landowners and local partners to conserve soil, water, and natural resources while supporting sustainable land use across northern Utah communities. Northern Utah Box Elder County District Highlights Meeting Information Meeting Date: 2nd Tuesday of the month 9:00 am NRCS Field Office 185 N Main St, Tooele, UT 84074 Contact Ben Law to get involved or learn more about available resources Phone: 435-753-5616 Email: blaw@utah.gov You could also email: daniewestbox@gmail.com *Disclaimer: Meeting dates and times are subject to change. UACD does not manage district schedules and may not receive updates when changes occur.*

Press Releases Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape and Utah Association of Conservation Districts partner with USU to create Conservation Easement Landowner Resource. Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air is partnering with the Utah Association of Conservation Districts and the Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape program to develop a conservation easement management guide for landowners. CLICK HERE Utah Association of Conservation Districts receives two new funding opportunities through the Department of Defense and NACD to improve the Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape area. the Utah Association of Conservation Districts announced two new funding opportunities through the Department of Defense and the National Association of Conservation Districts to support projects within the Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape. One project, in partnership with Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air, will develop a conservation easement management guide to help landowners with best practices for land management, ownership transitions, and available program support. CLICK HERE

The Evergreens page highlights available evergreen trees for conservation and landscaping, offering hardy options that support windbreaks, habitat, and long-term land stewardship in Utah. Evergreens Colorado Spruce Size: 7-15" Price: $30.00 per bundle Picea Pungens, pyramidal shaped evergreen with steel blue foliage. Prefers heavier soil, full and sun, and clean cultivation. Will reach a height of 6feet. Most drought tolerant Spruce. Eastern Red Cedar Size: 9-15" Price: $35.00 To 75' Zone 3. Densely pyramidal, easily pruned, a splendid ornamental. Wood used in cedar chests. Ponserosa Pine Size: 7-15" Price: $30.00/bundle of 10

UTAH'S SOIL HEALTH Previous workshops Clark Bown Why I Believe in Soil Health Drill Setup and Learning from our Mistakes Cameron Williams, Cody Cole, Dan Lakey Matt Yost - 10 to 20 year Impacts of Conservation The 5 Principles of Soil Health Don Reicosky Technical Speaker Brendon Rockey Keynote Speaker For more details on Utah Soil Health and to register for their events visit utahsoilhealth.org Follow Utah Soil Health on Facebook for news and updates.

Celebrate the winners of our Photo & Poster Contest Awards, highlighting outstanding creativity, conservation efforts, and community impact across Utah’s conservation districts. 2025 UACD Photo Contest Winners The Utah Association of Conservation Districts (UACD) proudly presents the winners of the 2025 Agriculture & Conservation Photo Contest. These entries showcase how agriculture and conservation work hand in hand across our state—capturing Utah’s farms, rangelands, wildlife, and stewardship in action. This year’s winning photos and posters were selected for their conservation message, visual impact, and creativity. Grand prize winners from each age division will advance to compete at the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) competition, representing Utah on a national stage. State Winner - Grant Prize Liza Dapper- "Close to Home" "Grazing, this picture was taken close to where I live next to some marshlands and shows me how close agriculture is to home." Auxiliary's Choice Larry Blain -"Grass is Getting Short" Artist Statement - Ranchers need to manage their Fall and Winter pastures in order to save on hay and keep mother cows ready to calve in the Spring. President's Choice Reina Staheli- "Heaven on Earth" Artist Statement - Example of an agriculture habitat conserved for range cows. Honorable Mention Aaron Gutierrez - "Horse" Artist Statement - A Horse grazes on a beautiful day in New Harmony Utah. Horses represent the connection between the earth and humans and they help produce food 2025 UACD Poster Contest Winners The Utah Association of Conservation Districts is proud to announce the winners of the statewide “Home Is Where the Habitat Is” poster contest, open to students in grades 2–6. This year’s entries showcased incredible creativity and a strong understanding of the importance of protecting Utah’s natural habitats. Our winning posters will now advance to the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) competition, where they’ll represent Utah on the national stage. Congratulations to all our talented young artists for their inspiring work and dedication to conservation! Grade 2-3 1st Place - Maelie Mortensen, Canyonlands CD Grade 2-3 2nd Place - Leo Anderson, Salt Lake CD Grades 4-6 1st Place - Samantha Lampman, Kane CD 2nd Place - Everette Hughes, Delta CD 3rd Place - Hannah Thope, San Pete CD -

Explore our Conservation Gallery showcasing Utah’s conservation districts, on-the-ground projects, and the people protecting soil, water, and natural resources statewide. CONSERVATION GALLERY Photos by Bruce Karen SOUTH-FORK-WATERSHED Describe your image UTAH-LANDSCAPE Describe your image HARVESTING Describe your image SOUTH-FORK-WATERSHED Describe your image 1/13

Explore UACD Supervisor Training programs for Utah conservation district supervisors, including resources, workshops, and education. Supervisor & District Reporting Training Resources The Utah Association of Conservation Districts offers training and video guides to help supervisors and staff understand their responsibilities and comply with required state reporting and transparency standards. Below you’ll find interactive modules, live video walkthroughs, and step-by-step guides grouped by topic and agency. Supervisor Training The Utah Association of Conservation Districts offers comprehensive continuing education modules to support supervisors and staff in understanding the core responsibilities and operations of conservation districts. Explore the training materials through the links below. Module 1 Conservation District History and Overview Supplemental Information Begin Now Module 2 Financial Training Part 1 Supplemental information Begin Now Module 3 Financial Training Part 2 Supplemental Information Begin Now Module 4 Financial Training Part 3 Begin Now Need Help? Should you require assistance navigating or learning Nearpod, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to assist you. Phone: 435-770-3035 Email: cfreeze@uacd.org

Blacksmith Fork Conservation District supports landowners and communities by conserving soil, water, and watershed resources while promoting sustainable land management in Cache Valley, Utah. Blacksmith Fork Conservation District Cache County District Highlights Meeting Information Meeting Date: Last Thursday of the month, 1:00 pm NRCS Field Office 1860 N 100 E Logan 84341 Resource Coordinator: Ben Law Phone: 435-753-5616 Email: blacksmithforkcd@gmail.com *Disclaimer: Meeting dates and times are subject to change. UACD does not manage district schedules and may not receive updates when changes occur.*

Dixie Conservation District partners with landowners and local communities to conserve soil, water, and natural resources while supporting sustainable land use in southwestern Utah. Dixie Conservation District Washington County Mission Statement "The Function of the conservation district – To take available technical, financial, and educational resources, whatever their source, and focus or coordinate them so that they meet the needs of the local land user for conservation of soil, water, and related resources." Programs & Projects Get Started: If you're a local producer interested in conservation, reach out to our Chair, Stuart Bowler , for guidance on getting started. Alternatively, visit our Programs page to explore whether you qualify for support through our partner initiatives. Agriculture Equipment Rental: We’ve added an ATV no-till drill and brush hog to our equipment inventory. These tools are available to rent for producers within our Conservation District boundaries. Contact us to schedule use and support your conservation goals! Addressing Grasshopper Challenges: This year the Conservation District has purchased a pallet of grasshopper bait to support local producers facing pest issues. 50 lb bags are available for those within the district boundaries. Irrigation Canal Conversion Underway: The Conservation District assisted a local irrigation company in securing an Agricultural Water Optimization grant. The project will pipe 3 miles of open ditch, improving water efficiency and delivery for area producers. Meeting Information Meeting Date: 4th Tuesday of the month, 1:00 pm Place: USU Extension 339 5500 W, Hurricane, UT 84737 Contact Tyce Palmer to get involved or learn more about available resources Phone: 435-676-8189 Email: tpalmer@utah.gov “Disclaimer: Meeting dates and times are subject to change. UACD does not manage district schedules and may not receive updates when changes occur.” Like Follow them on Facebook Board Members Chair, Stuart Bowler Vice Chair LIoyd Jessop Supervisor Sam Larson Supervisor Ken Richins Treasurer Kelly Blake Clerk Kristy Bowler Partner Lynn Kitchen Partner Paul Hill