National Association of Conservation Districts
2026 Stewardship Celebration
Let’s start by telling you who we are, and a little about how our journey brought us into your classroom.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
INTRODUCTION
DISTRICT NAME AND
CONTACT INFORMATION SLIDE
Conservation districts began many years ago when we learned that caring for the land was important for everyone.
In the 1930s, large windstorms called the Dust Bowl blew away huge amounts of soil because conservation was not yet widely understood and many people did not realize how important it was to protect the soil. Without healthy soil, crops could not grow, and animals lost their homes.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
To fix the problem, farmers and neighbors worked together with the government to start conservation districts. Led by soil scientist Hugh Hammond Bennett and the newly formed Soil Conservation Service, communities met to plan better ways to protect the land, prevent erosion, plant windbreaks, and manage water more carefully.
These new conservation districts provided local support and guidance, helping farmers restore their soil, rebuild the land, and bring farming back in a healthier, more sustainable way.
The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) was created in 1935 to help farmers protect their land from erosion and restore soil after the Dust Bowl. It later became the
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),
which continues working with conservation districts and landowners to protect soil, water, and other natural resources.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
The lessons learned during the Dust Bowl shaped how we care for the land today. Farmers choose to take part in conservation programs because they care about protecting the land for the future. These programs are voluntary, meaning farmers join by choice and may receive help or guidance to make conservation easier. They use best management practices such as planting cover crops, managing water wisely, and reducing erosion to keep soil healthy.
By working with their local conservation districts, farmers help protect natural resources for future generations while keeping their land productive and sustainable.
Let’s research it!
What year was your local conservation district established?
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
TIMELINE:
1935: Congress passed the Soil Conservation Act, which established the Soil Conservation Service to address soil and moisture loss.
1937: The first conservation district, the Brown Creek Soil and Water Conservation District, was established in North Carolina.
1939: Governors were encouraged to pass state-level legislation to create local conservation districts.
Conservation districts are local because every community’s land, water, and wildlife are different. Local people know their own challenges best.
Being locally led means the people who live and work on the land make the decisions. They work together to find solutions that fit their region, ensuring conservation practices are practical, effective, and built to last.
Today, you can find conservation districts hard at work in their communities teaching others how to protect the land so that farms, wildlife, and families can stay healthy and strong.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
Conservation districts in the United States and its territories are represented by the
National Association of Conservation Districts, (NACD), which provides national leadership, education and outreach materials, leadership training and advocacy support for their locally led conservation work.
The thematic phrase “Soil. Where It All Begins.” reminds us that everything starts with healthy soil. Soil grows our food, filters our water, supports wildlife habitats, and provides the foundation for our communities. Without soil, there would be no farms, forests, or places for humans and animals to thrive.
This theme helps us remember that caring for soil is the first step in protecting all of our natural resources and keeping the land healthy for the future.
Each year, a national theme such as soil, water, or habitats sparks creativity and action across the country. The theme inspires hands-on lessons, outdoor projects, and community events that help people discover the importance of conservation.
IN 2026 WE CELEBRATE SOIL!
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
The NACD Stewardship Program is a year-round effort to explore, understand, and protect our natural resources. It brings communities together across the country to learn how soil, water, air, plants, and wildlife are connected and how each of us can make a difference in keeping them healthy and thriving.
Since 1955, this program has centered around the annual Stewardship Week celebration, which is held from the last Sunday in April through the first Sunday in May.
During Stewardship Week, conservation districts across the United States and its territories encourage communities, schools, and families to take part in events that protect soil, water, and wildlife and promote the wise use of natural resources.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
One of the most popular ways to celebrate is through the NACD Poster Contest. Each year, students create posters that reflect the national stewardship theme, showing what conservation means to them.
The contest encourages creativity while helping students learn how soil, water, air, plants, and wildlife work together to support life.
Winning posters can advance from local to state and national levels for recognition.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
POSTER CONTEST
A good poster is creative, clear, and connects to the year’s stewardship theme. It should grab attention, share a strong message about conservation, and be easy to understand without using too many words. Use bold colors, neat drawings, and your own ideas to show what the theme means to you.
Remember, your poster should help others learn why caring for our natural resources is important!
What Makes a Good Poster?
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
RULES TO FOLLOW
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
2026 POSTER CONTEST CATEGORIES
OR DOWNLOAD THE CONTESTS RULES AT HTTPS://WWW.NACDNET.ORG/CONTESTS/
REVIEW CONTEST RULES AND DETAILED INFORMATION
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
LOCAL DISTRICT CONTEST INFORMATION:
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
What Is Soil?
Soil is more than dirt. It’s made of minerals, air, water, and organic matter (bits of plants and animals). It’s alive with tiny organisms that help plants grow and keep the land healthy.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
Why Soil Matters
Soil connects ecosystems by supporting vegetation, storing and filtering water, and providing the structure that sustains biodiversity and human communities.
Soil is the foundation of life across every landscape, whether coastal, desert, forest, island, or grassland.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
Wait. What? The Ocean and Desert have sand!
How the Ocean Relies on Soil
Both the ocean and the desert rely on soil because it connects and supports their ecosystems by carrying nutrients and clean water to the sea, while storing moisture and anchoring life in dry landscapes.
How the Desert Relies on Soil
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
Soil Formation
Soil forms very slowly as rocks break down and mix with bits of plants and animals. Weather, land shape, and living things all help make soil over time.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
Layers of Soil
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
DECOMPOSITION
Topsoil forms through the decomposition of organic matter as dead plants and animals break down and mix with small pieces of rock.
Rain and weather help this process, creating rich, dark soil full of nutrients that support new plant growth.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
Healthy soil means healthy food, clean water, and strong communities.
Soil IS where it all begins.
How can you help care for the soil where you live?
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
Class Discussion or Review Activity
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
Answer Key
What are Conservation Districts, and why were they created?
Conservation districts were created in the 1930s to help people protect soil and water after the Dust Bowl. They work locally to promote conservation and prevent erosion.
How does the National Association of Conservation Districts support local districts?
NACD provides leadership, education, and resources to help local districts share information, teach conservation, and protect natural resources.
What happened during the Dust Bowl, and what did people learn from it?
In the 1930s, strong winds and poor farming practices caused the soil to blow away. People learned that healthy soil must be protected through conservation.
Who was Hugh Hammond Bennett, and what was his role in soil conservation?
Hugh Hammond Bennett was known as the “Father of Soil Conservation.” He led efforts to create the Soil Conservation Service and taught farmers how to protect soil.
Give examples of Best Management Practices used by farmers.
Examples include planting cover crops, rotating crops, building terraces, and using grass buffers to prevent erosion and protect water.
Why are natural resources important to protect?
Natural resources like soil, water, air, and plants are what we need to grow food, have clean water, and live healthy lives.
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration
What does it mean for a district to be locally led?
It means the people who live and work in the community make decisions about conservation based on their land and local needs.
Explain the meaning of the thematic phrase “Soil. Where It All Begins.”
It means that everything we depend on starts with healthy soil.
What is Stewardship Week, and when is it celebrated each year?
Stewardship Week is the national kickoff for the conservation theme, held from the last Sunday in April through the first Sunday in May each year.
What is the purpose of the NACD Poster Contest?
The contest helps students share what they learn about conservation through art while promoting the yearly stewardship theme.
How do organisms help create soil?
Worms, insects, roots, and bacteria mix the soil and add nutrients through decomposition, helping it stay loose and healthy for plants to grow.
How does soil help the ocean and the desert?
Soil filters and cleans water before it reaches the ocean and provides nutrients for sea life. In deserts, it stores water and supports plants and animals that live in dry conditions.
Answer Key
National Association of Conservation Districts 2026 Stewardship Celebration