Recognized by both the Pennsylvania State House and Senate, April 20-26, 2025 has been declared “Conservation District Week.”

We all know the importance of clean water and healthy soil to keep our families fed. Did you know that your local county conservation district is working in your community to ensure there is enough clean water and healthy soil for future generations?

Conservation Districts were created in PA in 1945 in response to the dust bowl of the 1930’s to improve soil and water conservation.  County governing bodies became authorized to declare their county a conservation district by a simple majority vote after receiving a petition from the public. Within those counties, a district board of directors was given responsibility for assisting farmers in implementing voluntary erosion control plans.

The first meeting of the McKean County Conservation was held on August 19, 1959 with Russell Comes as Chairman, Paul Ostrander as Vice-Chairman and Helen Engstrom as Secretary-Treasurer.

Conservation districts are concerned with the management of land and water resources. Each conservation district is involved in a variety of programs that are developed to fit the district’s specific strategy in meeting the needs of the county.

Much of the success of the District comes from the partnership developed with government agencies, private organizations, businesses and others to accomplish our mission of helping landowners to conserve our natural resources.

For the McKean County Conservation District to serve the landowners and local governments of McKean County, they rely on state support to assist with conservation planning, project development and installation, ensuring critical conservation practices are put in place enhancing and protecting PA’s natural resources. 

“An active, knowledgeable board of district directors and a professional, well-trained staff are the foundation of a successful conservation district”, said Sandy Thompson, District Manager of the McKean County Conservation District. “They are two halves of the whole that must work together to accomplish what’s needed.”

McKean County Conservation District’s Directors, Jeff Larson, Chairman, Chase Miles, Vice Chairman, Cliff Lane, Secretary/Treasurer, Tom Kreiner, Commissioner Director, Kerry Fetter, Ken Kane and Jeff Holcomb along with Associate Directors, Pete Mader, Boyd Fitzsimmons, John Stratton, Lori Coffman, and Chris Payne come from all walks of life and represent both agricultural and non-agricultural interests. They understand their county’s unique natural features and concerns. Ultimately, the success of conservation districts depends on the efforts of each district’s board of directors. Without their dedication to addressing local problems and overseeing programs, much of what has been accomplished by conservation districts would not have been possible.

In essence, the staff of the conservation district, Sandy Thompson, District Manager, Lindsay Trojanowski, Resource Conservationist, Adam Causer, Watershed Specialist, Katelynn Decker, Conservation Technician and Sarah Carlson, Resource Technician, give the conservation district board a full-time contact for the community that is truly independent and locally controlled. District staff have the role of interacting with legislators, funders, agencies and communities along with the board. Conservation district staffs act in the dual role of being the gatekeepers of important programmatic information needed by district boards.

The conservation district thanks Governor Josh Shapiro and members of the PA House and Senate for supporting districts across the Commonwealth through the state budget. State funding assists with conservation planning, project development and installation. This work ensures critical conservation practices are put in place enhancing and protecting Pennsylvania’s natural resources. 

“During Conservation District Week, the McKean County Conservation District will be celebrating and highlighting the conservation district’s stewardship of McKean County’s natural resources. Every day the conservation district directors and staff work to ensure there is enough clean water and healthy soil for future generations,” said Sandy Thompson, District Manager of the McKean County Conservation District.