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Those words by President Franklin D. Roosevelt were included in a letter he sent to all state governors in February 1937, urging them to set up soil conservation districts to work with the Soil Conservation Service, which had just been established as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
His letter came on the heels of one of the darkest periods in Kansas history. During the 1930s, the entire Great Plains region suffered a severe drought. After several years of minimal rain, the region began to experience huge black dust storms, made worse by poor management of the soil by farmers. The worst dust storm in memory occurred on April 14, 1935, a day that came to be known as “Black Sunday.” It is estimated that on that day, 300 million tons of soil blew from the land.
But just as every cloud has a silver lining, the clouds of dust were no exception. Out of that disaster was born a commitment to soil conservation, which led to the passage of legislation establishing the Erosion Control Service as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The ECS later became the Soil Conservation Service and then the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which today continues to provide technical assistance to private landowners and managers to help them conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources.
Just a month after FDR sent his letter to the states, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill that created conservation districts in Kansas. The bill was signed into law by Governor Walter Huxman on March 25, 1937. The measure also provided for the creation of a state soil conservation committee as an agency of the state, whose purpose was to assist in the formation of conservation districts and to coordinate their affairs.
The State Conservation Commission (SCC) appointed two supervisors in each district and three additional supervisors were elected by the land occupiers to form a conservation district governing body. The legislation gave each district the authority to conduct surveys, investigations, research relating to soil erosion and its prevention, and other comprehensive plans. The state still operates under this legislation today.
His letter came on the heels of one of the darkest periods in Kansas history. During the 1930s, the entire Great Plains region suffered a severe drought. After several years of minimal rain, the region began to experience huge black dust storms, made worse by poor management of the soil by farmers. The worst dust storm in memory occurred on April 14, 1935, a day that came to be known as “Black Sunday.” It is estimated that on that day, 300 million tons of soil blew from the land.
But just as every cloud has a silver lining, the clouds of dust were no exception. Out of that disaster was born a commitment to soil conservation, which led to the passage of legislation establishing the Erosion Control Service as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The ECS later became the Soil Conservation Service and then the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which today continues to provide technical assistance to private landowners and managers to help them conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources.
Just a month after FDR sent his letter to the states, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill that created conservation districts in Kansas. The bill was signed into law by Governor Walter Huxman on March 25, 1937. The measure also provided for the creation of a state soil conservation committee as an agency of the state, whose purpose was to assist in the formation of conservation districts and to coordinate their affairs.
The State Conservation Commission (SCC) appointed two supervisors in each district and three additional supervisors were elected by the land occupiers to form a conservation district governing body. The legislation gave each district the authority to conduct surveys, investigations, research relating to soil erosion and its prevention, and other comprehensive plans. The state still operates under this legislation today.
The Kansas Association of Conservation Districts is governed by a five-member Board of Directors. Each director represents one of five multiple-county geographical areas of the state.
“The Nation That Destroys Its Soil Destroys Itself”
History of KACD
KACD Leadership
Area I
Jon Starns
Director
(Thomas County)
154 County Road 9
Winona, KS 67764
Phone: (785) 846-7692
Jon Starns
Director
(Thomas County)
154 County Road 9
Winona, KS 67764
Phone: (785) 846-7692
Area II
LaVern Wetzel
President
(Edwards County)
909 S. Colony Ave.
Kinsley, KS 67547
Phone: (620) 338-2409
LaVern Wetzel
President
(Edwards County)
909 S. Colony Ave.
Kinsley, KS 67547
Phone: (620) 338-2409
Area IV
Bevin Law
Director
(Clay County)
287 Frontier Road
Longford, KS 67458
Phone: (785) 388-2683
Bevin Law
Director
(Clay County)
287 Frontier Road
Longford, KS 67458
Phone: (785) 388-2683
Area V
Ronald Brown
Secretary/Treasurer
(Bourbon County)
1269 Birch Road
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Phone: (620) 547-2544
Ronald Brown
Secretary/Treasurer
(Bourbon County)
1269 Birch Road
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Phone: (620) 547-2544
Area III
Gene Albers
Vice President
(Kingman County)
3952 SW 160th Ave.
Cunningham, KS 67035
Phone: (620) 298-4282
Gene Albers
Vice President
(Kingman County)
3952 SW 160th Ave.
Cunningham, KS 67035
Phone: (620) 298-4282
Executive Director Pat Lehman manages the day-to-day administrative functions of the organization. KACD is headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas.
Pat Lehman
KACD Executive Director
P.O. Box 3510
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: (785) 832-9400
Fax: (785) 832-9494
email: ptlehman@kacdnet.org
KACD Executive Director
P.O. Box 3510
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: (785) 832-9400
Fax: (785) 832-9494
email: ptlehman@kacdnet.org
KACD Committees
Natural Resources Programs
District Operations & Outlook
Water Resources
Fair Booth
Rural Development
Wayne Lukert, Chair-IV
J.D. Cameron - IV
David Thompson - IV
W.D. Gudde - V
Jon Starns - KACD BD
Sherri Martin - EO
Jim Krueger - NRCS
Scott Carlson - SCC
Dan Devlin - KSU
J.D. Cameron - IV
David Thompson - IV
W.D. Gudde - V
Jon Starns - KACD BD
Sherri Martin - EO
Jim Krueger - NRCS
Scott Carlson - SCC
Dan Devlin - KSU
Doug Plegge, Chair - IV
Drake Gebhard - I
Ronald Burton - IV
Norman Epp - V
Don Rezac - KACD BD
Jeff Gross - NRCS
Dan Devlin - KSU
Drake Gebhard - I
Ronald Burton - IV
Norman Epp - V
Don Rezac - KACD BD
Jeff Gross - NRCS
Dan Devlin - KSU
Pat Lehman - KACD ED
Donna Fay Major - EO
Dee Turner - SCC
Mary Shaffer - NRCS
Donna Fay Major - EO
Dee Turner - SCC
Mary Shaffer - NRCS
David Epps, Chair - V
John Chris Short - III
Andrew Larwon Jr - III
Ron Dunbar IV
Pat Sauble - V
Kenneth Thomas - V
Jeff Gross - NRCS
William Eberle - KSU
John Chris Short - III
Andrew Larwon Jr - III
Ron Dunbar IV
Pat Sauble - V
Kenneth Thomas - V
Jeff Gross - NRCS
William Eberle - KSU
Wildlife, Recreation & Forestry
Conservation, Education & Youth
Natural Resources Programs
Grasslands
Becky Wise, Chair - IV
Bill Shimhauser II
Ray Johnson III
Robert Miller - V
Don Rezac - IV
Donna Greenleaf - EO
Terry Conway - NRCS
Phil Balch - WI
Rob Reschke - SCC
Cherrie Nolden - KDWP
Bob Atchison - KFS
Pat Lehman - KACD ED
Bill Shimhauser II
Ray Johnson III
Robert Miller - V
Don Rezac - IV
Donna Greenleaf - EO
Terry Conway - NRCS
Phil Balch - WI
Rob Reschke - SCC
Cherrie Nolden - KDWP
Bob Atchison - KFS
Pat Lehman - KACD ED
Kenny/Annalee Nelson, Co-Chairs - V
Jim/Debbie Bennett - II
Bonnie Baier - III
Dennis/Ireta Schwant - IV
Mary Alexander - IV
Michael/Cheryl Flory - IV
Kenneth Kern - IV
Peggy Ricker - II
Janice Plummer - IV
Jenny Jasper - EO
Terry Conway - NRCS
Dee Turner - SCC
Laura Downey - KACEE
Cathy Musick - KFAC
Ronald Brown - KACD Bd
Pat Lehman - KACD ED
Jim/Debbie Bennett - II
Bonnie Baier - III
Dennis/Ireta Schwant - IV
Mary Alexander - IV
Michael/Cheryl Flory - IV
Kenneth Kern - IV
Peggy Ricker - II
Janice Plummer - IV
Jenny Jasper - EO
Terry Conway - NRCS
Dee Turner - SCC
Laura Downey - KACEE
Cathy Musick - KFAC
Ronald Brown - KACD Bd
Pat Lehman - KACD ED
Jeff Hofaker, Chair - I
Ronald Brown - KACD Bd
William Haney - II
John Chris Short - III
Patti Winters - EO
Troy Munsch - NRCS
Kent McVay - KSU
Ronald Brown - KACD Bd
William Haney - II
John Chris Short - III
Patti Winters - EO
Troy Munsch - NRCS
Kent McVay - KSU
Ted Alexander, Chair - III
Kirk Johnston - I
Helen Arnold - II
Mike McCarty - II
Sam Baier - III
Chet Peterson - III
Dale Rosebrook - III
Brian Davies - IV
Carl Meyer - IV
Steve English - V
Pat Sauble - V
Jess Crockford - NRCS
Paul Ohlenbuch - KSU
Sharp Bros. Seed Co.
Kirk Johnston - I
Helen Arnold - II
Mike McCarty - II
Sam Baier - III
Chet Peterson - III
Dale Rosebrook - III
Brian Davies - IV
Carl Meyer - IV
Steve English - V
Pat Sauble - V
Jess Crockford - NRCS
Paul Ohlenbuch - KSU
Sharp Bros. Seed Co.
Soil & Water Stewardship
Margaret Kraus, Chair - III
Karen Keith - I
Janice Neville - III
Jean Newby - III
Norman Epp - V
Cleveland Watts - NRCS
Eric Atkinson - KSU
Karen Keith - I
Janice Neville - III
Jean Newby - III
Norman Epp - V
Cleveland Watts - NRCS
Eric Atkinson - KSU
Community
Lyle Newby, Chair - III
Duane Sanders - III
Wayne Lukert - IV
Darrell Parks - IV
Jeff Gross - NRCS
Gayla Speer - EO
Eric Berg - KFS
Duane Sanders - III
Wayne Lukert - IV
Darrell Parks - IV
Jeff Gross - NRCS
Gayla Speer - EO
Eric Berg - KFS
Research
Daniel Schmitt, Chair - II
Glen Teeter - II
LaVern Wetzel - KACD Bd
Marvin Goering - III
Jean Stapel - EO
Bill Gilliam - NRCS
Dave Mengel - KSU
Glen Teeter - II
LaVern Wetzel - KACD Bd
Marvin Goering - III
Jean Stapel - EO
Bill Gilliam - NRCS
Dave Mengel - KSU
Finance & Development
Kyle Hoffman, Chair - II
Joe Keith - I
Marion Krehbeil - II
Bevin Law - KACD Bd
Pat Lehman - KACD ED
Grace McGrath - NRCS
Joe Keith - I
Marion Krehbeil - II
Bevin Law - KACD Bd
Pat Lehman - KACD ED
Grace McGrath - NRCS
Legislature
Resolutions
KACD Board
LaVern Wetzel, Chair
Gene Albers
Ronald Brown
Bevin Law
Jon Starns
Executive Director
Pat Lehman
LaVern Wetzel, Chair
Gene Albers
Ronald Brown
Bevin Law
Jon Starns
Executive Director
Pat Lehman
Wayne Lukert, Chair - IV
Kenneth Thomas - V
Gene Albers - KACD Bd
Ronald Brown - KACD Bd
Bevin Law - KACD Bd
Jon Starns - KACD Bd
LaVern Wetzel - KACD Bd
Mary Shaffer - NRCS
Gayla Speer - EO
Greg Foley - SCC
Kenneth Thomas - V
Gene Albers - KACD Bd
Ronald Brown - KACD Bd
Bevin Law - KACD Bd
Jon Starns - KACD Bd
LaVern Wetzel - KACD Bd
Mary Shaffer - NRCS
Gayla Speer - EO
Greg Foley - SCC
Endowment
Lyman Nuss, Chair - I
Robert Binder - I
Ted Nighswonger - I
Jeff Hofaker - I
Sandi Scott - I
Richard Neville - III
Patti Winters - III
Pat Sauble - V
Don Rezac - IV
Jon Starns - KACD Bd
Pat Lehman - KACD Ex Dir
Donna Fay Major - EO
Dan Meyerhoff - NRCS
G. Morgan Powell - KSU
Robert Binder - I
Ted Nighswonger - I
Jeff Hofaker - I
Sandi Scott - I
Richard Neville - III
Patti Winters - III
Pat Sauble - V
Don Rezac - IV
Jon Starns - KACD Bd
Pat Lehman - KACD Ex Dir
Donna Fay Major - EO
Dan Meyerhoff - NRCS
G. Morgan Powell - KSU
©2007-2008 Kansas Assn. of Conservation Districts
Website Designer/Webmaster: susanchenderson@comcast.net
Website Designer/Webmaster: susanchenderson@comcast.net
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