“Going green” is hardly a new concept for members of the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts. After all, the group has a 70-year history with initiatives aimed at conserving the state’s natural resources. That topic – “Going Green for 70 years” – is the theme of KACD’s annual convention to be held in Wichita November 22-24.

Formed in 1944, KACD is a nonprofit association that provides education and information pertaining to the conservation of soil, water, air, plants and animals. The association’s membership is comprised of supervisors and managers of the state’s 105 county conservation districts, which play a major role in delivering federal farm bill programs as well as state and local natural resources programs.

“With the current global focus on ‘going green,’ we thought it was a good time for us to reflect on all the ways we’ve been doing that effectively for seven decades and talk about ways to do it even better,” said KACD President Gene Albers of Cunningham.

Some of the topics featured in this year’s breakout sessions include How Green Can Increase the Bottom Line: A Lesson from Greensburg, Kansas, Wind Energy in Kansas, the Kansas Green Schools Program, the Energy Grant Program for Farmers, Kansas Water Issues, Options for Expiring CRP Acres, and Communications Tools for Conservation Districts, among others. In addition, the annual gathering will include the presentation of several conservation awards and recognition of long-serving district supervisors.

Congressman Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, will provide the keynote address at a breakfast on Tuesday morning. U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, is invited to address the group at the convention banquet.

KACD Executive Director Pat Lehman expects this year’s convention at the Airport Hilton in Wichita to draw about four hundred participants. “KACD’s annual conference gives us a valuable opportunity to focus our state’s conservation efforts. The convention is a time to reunite with friends from all over Kansas and share information.”

For more information, please contact the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts headquarters in Lawrence at (785) 832-9400.