Texas Soil and Water Conservation District Directors Take Part in Leadership Development Workshop

TEMPLE – Over 100 participants from across Texas attended the Annual Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Leadership Development Workshop recently held in Temple. The workshop, hosted by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts (ATSWCD), is primarily structured for new SWCD directors and employees as well as new USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationists.

The workshop focused on the history and responsibilities of the Soil and Water Conservation District program in Texas along with the powers and duties of the SWCD directors.

In addition, the workshop focused on the partnership of state, federal and local entities of government working together to deliver financial and technical assistance to the 216 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Texas.

Tim Palmer, President of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) delivered the keynote address. Tim operates a 1,200-acre row crop and cow/calf to finish operation near Truro, Iowa. He has served on the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District since 2003, and has held the titles of director, vice president and 2010-2011 president of the Conservation Districts of Iowa, the state’s district association.

Participants also learned about state and federal soil and water conservation programs administered by the TSSWCB and the USDA-NRCS to help landowners with a voluntary program to implement soil and water conservation practices on their land.

As leadership and conservation practices continue to change it is essential the stewards of the natural resources in Texas stay abreast of the latest trends. TSSWCB recognizes the importance of education and outreach efforts and strives to provide learning opportunities.

For more information on the workshop, please visit https://www.tsswcb.texas.gov/programs/public-information-and-education/soil-and-water-conservation-district-leadership or contact Clyde Gottschalk at 254-773-2250.