Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts

Congratulations to Joe Caughlin of the Kay county Conservation district for serving as OACD president for two years. Your leadership is greatly appreciated. And congratulations to Ed Casey of the Nowata County Conservation district for being elected president of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts. We look forward to your leadership.

Big thanks to KOCO 5 News for featuring our Yard by Yard: Community Resiliency Project Grant Program as well as to Marcus Long from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to share the details. The Yard by Yard program was launched in 2020 as a collaboration between the Oklahoma County Conservation District, the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, and FRIENDS OF BLUE THUMB INC, in partnership with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. It was created to recognize individuals already practicing excellent conservation and habitat management while encouraging others to adopt voluntary, incentive-based conservation efforts. Thanks to generous funding from the KIRKPATRICK FOUNDATION INC, we are piloting the first round of our program in Oklahoma, Cleveland, and Canadian counties, offering $40,000 in support for habitat placement and conservation practices. The grant provides a voluntary, incentive based payment to reimburse participants and acts as an initiative to strengthen community resilience by mitigating flood and drought conditions and creating vital habitats. We are also thrilled to partner with Okies for Monarchs to expand our reach and impact. While the program is currently limited to three counties, the Yard by Yard program and our statewide pollinator conservation efforts continue to benefit communities across Oklahoma. Learn more @ https://lnkd.in/g4canMvJ https://lnkd.in/gttqvA9b

Big thanks to so many for making the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts 87th annual meeting a success! See all photos @ https://lnkd.in/gETcAUSm If you choose to share, please tag us along with #OKLandstewards + #RegenerateOK A special thank you to all of our sponsors ~ Oklahoma Conservation Commission, USDA-NRCS , Fusion AG, Prairie Dirt Solutions, Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society, OACDE, Noble Research Institute, Regenerative Land Management, ITC Holdings Corp., Shuterra, Minick Materials, Turner Seed Company, Freese and Nichols, Star Seed, The Nature Conservancy, Bamert Seed Company, Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Johnston Seed Company, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Green Cover Seed, Oklahoma County OSU Extension Service, TEXAS EARTH, INC., Brush Bullet.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Nicol Ragland Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, Creative Director [email protected] | 323.791.2536 Sarah Blaney, Executive Director, Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD), Elected President of the Association of Conservation Executive Directors (ACED) Salt Lake City, UT – February 24, 2025– The Association of Conservation Executive Directors (ACED) is pleased to announce the election of Sarah Blaney as its new President by unanimous . Ms. Blaney, who has served as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) since 2011, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership to ACED. In her role at OACD, Ms. Blaney has been instrumental in providing leadership, resources, and partnership opportunities for those who manage land to enhance natural resources. She co-created the Conservation and Agriculture Reach Everyone (CARE) program, a nationally recognized initiative designed to connect minority and veteran producers with conservation services. As President of ACED, Ms. Blaney will lead efforts to support and enhance the effectiveness of conservation executive directors across the nation. Her vision includes fostering collaboration among conservation leaders and promoting innovative programs that address the diverse needs of conservation districts. "I am honored my colleagues have elected me President of ACED and look forward to leveraging the power of partnership to advance conservation efforts nationwide," said Ms. Blaney. "Together, we can build upon our successes and ensure the sustainability of our respective organizations for years to come.” For more information about the Association of Conservation Executive Directors and its initiatives, please visit https://acedirectors.org/. About the Association of Conservation Executive Directors The Association of Conservation Executive Directors (ACED) is dedicated to supporting state association executive directors in their efforts to promote and implement effective conservation practices. ACED provides resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy to enhance the leadership and impact of conservation executives across the United States.

State meeting starts today! Looking forward to seeing you all soon. https://lnkd.in/gftEBAQB

Live in Oklahoma, Canadian or Cleveland county? The Oklahoma Association of Conservation District’s Yard by Yard program and Okies for Monarchs have teamed up with the KIRKPATRICK FOUNDATION INC to fund the purchase of plants when creating new wildlife habitat benefiting insects and birds. Two wings up to the Kirkpatrick Foundation for funding our first year of this program. Visit https://lnkd.in/gxPQdD4S to learn more. #OklahomaConservation

We're gearing up for our upcoming state meeting to include JASON BROWN from First Fruits Farm as a keynote speaker. A former NFL player turned regenerative farmer. After a celebrated career on the football field, Jason transitioned to farming with a mission to heal the land and build sustainable practices that restore soil health and community. His journey is an inspiring example of how commitment to conservation can transform lives and landscapes. We are excited to hear how Jason's work in regenerative agriculture aligns with the principles of conservation and how his efforts are making a tangible difference in the fight against land degradation. ALL INFO ~ https://lnkd.in/g_Ub8-cU See ya'll soon!

??Our friends from the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts Employees will be hosting a PHOTO BOOTH at our upcoming state meeting from February 23rd - 25th. Tag us along with the hashtags #OKstewards to #RegenerateOK and we'll share your photos. See ya'll soon! All INFO for the STATE MEETING ~ https://lnkd.in/g_Ub8-cU

Earlier this month, a group of 18 Oklahomans—media, conservationists, nature enthusiasts, and members of the Oklahoma Monarch Society visited Mexico’s monarch sanctuaries: Villa Allende, Sierra Chincua, and El Rosario. A story from the trip drops in the Okies For Monarchs newsletter on February 19th—stay tuned! Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden Kwtv News 9 Oklahoma Department of Transportation Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts Prairie Wind Nursery

Big congratulations to Excell LaFayette Jr. from Creek County Conservation District, who was recognized at the The National Association of Conservation Districts Leadership luncheon on Monday, February 10, 2025, for graduating from the NCF 2024 Next Generation Leadership Institute cohort. The NACD Leadership luncheon was part of the "Bee The Change" NACD 2025 Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Congratulations Excell!!