PA Environment Digest Blog: ACAP Ag Conservation Conference Highlights Innovation, Collaboration And Recognized Conservation Leadership

Agricultural professionals and conservation leaders from across Pennsylvania gathered in Harrisburg earlier this month for the second annual Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) Ag Conservation Con, a statewide conference designed to strengthen knowledge, skills, and partnerships in support of on-farm conservation.

Held April 1-3 at the Best Western Premier, the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training, administered by Penn State Extension, hosted the conference in partnership with the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission.

Over three days, more than 200 participants — representing conservation districts, technical service providers, educators and agency leaders — took part in technical workshops, peer exchanges, field tours and leadership development opportunities.

“This conference is about more than training,” said Jennifer Fetter, Director of the Center. “It’s about investing in people — their knowledge, leadership, and ability to create lasting impact in their communities through conservation.”

The event featured a wide range of sessions focused on Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) implementation and technical proficiency, including geographic information system tools, land surveying, agroforestry, engineering design review, social media strategy and peer-led discussions.

Attendees also visited nearby farms and stream restoration sites to see the program’s funded projects in action.

Wednesday evening’s banquet and awards ceremony celebrated exceptional conservation efforts across the commonwealth. Pennsylvania Executive Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Greg Hostetter, State Conservation Commission Executive Director Doug Wolfgang, Penn State Extension Director Jeffrey Hyde, and state Sens. Gene Yaw and Scott Martin were among those offering remarks and congratulating this year’s honorees.

Sen. Martin noted during the banquet, “The partnerships and the work we do together lead to cleaner water and a better quality of life — for Pennsylvania and beyond.”

The following are the 2025 ACAP award recipients:

— Karl Brown Award for Conservation Leadership: Sens. Yaw and Martin. [Read more here]

— ACAP Team Collaboration Award: Rob Cronauer, Chelsea Gross and Allie Shreffler, from the Westmoreland Conservation District.

— ACAP Partnership Award: Hammer Creek Wetland, Floodplain, and Stream Restoration Partnership, from the Lebanon County Conservation District.

— Innovative ACAP Project: Jay Zullinger Project, from the Cumberland County Conservation District.

— ACAP Rookie of the Year: Emily Stambaugh, of the Cumberland County Conservation District.

— ACAP MVP: Devyn McPheeters, of the Centre County Conservation District.

— Best ACAP Project Photo: Colter Johnson, of the Warren County Conservation District.

The conference concluded on Thursday with hands-on professional development trips that gave participants practical insight into best management practices, cross-cultural work in agriculture, and riparian buffer installation.

The 2025 ACAP Ag Conservation Con was made possible by the support of sponsors, including Weaver Environmental Consulting, HRG, Mowery Environmental LLC, TeamAg Inc., Horizon Farm Credit, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Larson Design Group, ProFence LLC and Dungster LLC.

The Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training at Penn State Extension is made possible by funding through the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program, which the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission administers.

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs are funded, in part, by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For more information about the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program and future training opportunities, visit the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training webpage.

For more information, contact Jesse Bussard, Penn State Extension team marketing coordinator for the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training, at jrb5218@psu.edu.

Click Here for ACAP Ag Conference Highlights.

Upcoming Extension Events

April 28, April 29-- Penn State Extension, PA Sea Grant In-Person Educator Workshops On Watershed Literacy & Tree Plantings In Lancaster County

April 29-- Penn State Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training Hosts Webinar On Effective Outreach Engagement On Adopting Farm Conservation Practices 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

May 6-7-- Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium, Harrisburg

May 13-- Penn State Extension (9 of 10) Pennsylvania Forests Webinar Seminar Series - Tree Nuts in Pennsylvania. Noon and 7:00 p.m.

May 13-15-- Save the Date: DCNR Watershed Forestry Summit

June 10-- Penn State Extension (10 of 10) Pennsylvania Forests Webinar Seminar Series - The Use of Slash Walls to Exclude Deer and Regenerate Native Forest Tree Species. Noon and 7:00 p.m.

July 29 to Aug. 1-- Penn State Extension Hosts Soak Up Science - Be A Stream Doctor Day Camp For Youth 8-12 At The Southeast Agricultural Research Farm In Centre County [PaEN]

September 25-- Penn State Extension Dive Deeper Summit For Water Educators. Harrisburg.