2026 ACAP Ag Conservation Con Builds Conservation Knowledge and Relationships

The 2026 ACAP Ag Conservation Con brought agricultural conservation professionals together to build knowledge, strengthen relationships, and share ideas to help farmers put conservation on the ground.

The conference offered 31 different sessions for early career and seasoned conservationists with technical training across a wide range of topics, including buffers, silvopasture, engineering support, manure management, pasture fertility, forest stewardship, construction safety, and communicating with farmers under stress. Sessions also addressed the human side of conservation work, including mentoring, staff retention, and professional development.

Hosted by the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT) at Penn State Extension in coordination with the State Conservation Commission (SCC), the conference serves as an opportunity for conservation district staff, technical service providers, and conservation partners to build skills, share experiences, and strengthen relationships across Pennsylvania's conservation community. The conference is supported through Pennsylvania's Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), which is administered by the SCC and provides state funding to help farmers and landowners implement conservation practices that improve water quality and environmental stewardship.

Just as important, though, were the opportunities to step outside the classroom, learn from one another, and see conservation work in a more practical setting with opportunities for six different field trips and five different site visits. Hands-on learning was woven throughout the conference. Participants took part in farm and field visits, pasture-yield estimation, quarry exploration, plant identification, stream-crossing survey techniques, and interactive project-management activities.

A unique perspective from Allie from Westmoreland County was:

"I went on the Digging Deeper Field Trip into the [rock] mine. I've never been to a mine before so it helped me understand the process better on how certain type of rock sizes get made. My thought while on the tour… was that some of our ACAP projects have the rock that came from this mine on the farm's access roads and animal walkways."

One participant appreciated the chance to better understand grazing concepts in a real-world setting:

"I really liked the hands-on exercises of estimating pasture yield because I had no previous understanding of how to! It was really helpful to see how much pasture six cows needed for just one day."

Others left with ideas they could take back to their own districts, including new approaches to buffers, properly installing live stakes and even considering development of a live stake nursery.

For one brand-new conservation district employee, the interactive project-management session was especially helpful.

"As a brand-new district employee, this was the most helpful way to learn how the project process works from start to finish. The hands-on nature of the discussions was amazing!"

That opportunity to learn from other conservation professionals was also a meaningful part of the conference. Regional roundtables and informal conversations gave participants time to compare experiences, share challenges and talk through approaches that have worked in their counties.

One attendee summed it up simply:

"The networking was outstanding."

Participants also noted the value of hearing about projects that did not go exactly as planned. One evaluation said those examples were "much more relatable to my real experience" and helpful in thinking through possible solutions.

Relationships emerged as a central theme throughout, as well as in keynote speaker Troy Bishopp's presentation. Bishopp, Northeast Regional Coordinator for the National Grazing Lands Coalition (NatGLC), spoke about building relationships not only with producers, but also with partners, colleagues, family, and the people who provide support outside of work.

He encouraged participants to "find out who you are, find out what you want to do, and find your people," while also emphasizing the importance of self-care and making room for life beyond work.

One of the most memorable moments came when Bishopp shared a story about leaving a position he had held for 19 years. Looking at the small box of belongings he carried from his office, he wondered whether that was all he had to show for nearly two decades of work.

His daughter responded with a simple reminder:

"Nah — those are just artifacts. The legacy you leave doesn't fit in a box."

That message seemed to fit the conference particularly well. The work of conservation is technical, practical, and often complex, but it is also deeply connected to people and relationships.

The conference also provided an opportunity to recognize individuals, teams and partnerships making contributions through ACAP.

The Karl Brown Award for Ag Conservation Leadership recognizes a person or group who has demonstrated significant initiative in the field of ag conservation in Pennsylvania. This year's award winner is Russell Redding, Pennsylvania's 27th Secretary of Agriculture. He played a critical leadership role in advancing the vision for ACAP and turning that vision into a major statewide investment in agricultural conservation.

Awards were also presented for ACAP Rookie of the Year, ACAP MVP, ACAP County Team, ACAP Partnership, and Innovative ACAP Project.

This year's honorees included Joanna James of Huntingdon County Conservation District; Pierce Wilson of Fayette County Conservation District; Chester County Conservation District; the Luzerne County Stevens Project Partnership; and the Curly Hill Farm Project in Bucks County. A separate feature takes a closer look at this year's award recipients, their accomplishments.

In addition to practical knowledge, participants also left with something harder to quantify: new relationships and strengthened ones.

And perhaps that is where Bishopp's keynote message fits the conference best.

Plans, projects, and programs matter. But the people involved in them matter, too.

The legacy of this work doesn't fit in a box.

The conference was also made possible through the support of sponsors and partners committed to advancing agricultural conservation in Pennsylvania. Special recognition goes to platinum sponsor Weaver Environmental Consulting for its support of this year's event.