2023 Annual Convention

KACD 2023 Convention

Book your hotel room: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/WICRW/G-KSCD or call the hotel at (316)293-1234 and refer to the KACD convention. The cutoff date to book a room is before October 28^th. EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Download 2023 Convention Program 

Download Convention Agenda ONLY

Agenda

Sunday, November 19, 2023

9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m  
EO Board of Directors meeting – Enterprise Board Room

12:00 to 2:00 p.m. 
Endowment Committee meeting – Chisolm Trail 

1:00 to 4 pm
KACD Board of Directors Meeting – Enterprise Board Room

1:00 to 4:00 pm
State Conservation Commissioners Meeting – Santa Fe Trail

2:00 to 4:00 pm
Conservation Education and Youth Committee meeting – Chisolm Trail

4:00 to 6:00:p.m
New Supervisor Orientation – Stimson

4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Kansas Envirothon Meeting – Enterprise Board Room

7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Vespers Service – Trail Rooms

Monday, November 20, 2023

6:30 – 8:00 am
Breakfast – Riverview Ballroom

8:00 to 9:45 a.m.
KACD Opening Ceremony – Grand Eagle Ballroom
Presentation of Colors - Derby HS Color Guard
Presidents Report - Bill Simshauser, KACD President
NACD Highlights - Aubrey Evans, Northern Plains Regional Representative, NACD
Farm Bill Update - Senator Roger Marshall (Invited)
Harmonizing Conservation and the Power of Partnerships - Nathan Hylla, Kanati Land Management

• Join us for an enlightening presentation that will equip you with practical insights and actionable
  strategies to drive successful conservation efforts in the Midwest. Whether you're a conservation
  professional, landowner or community member, this interactive presentation will empower you
  to make a tangible difference in preserving our region's natural resources,
• During this presentation, you will learn key concepts on how to build strong relationships with
  landowners, elevate customer service in conservation, understand the foundation of conservation
  planning and utilize the power of partnerships.

9:00 to 3:00 p.m. 
Auxiliary Country Store Ballroom Foyer

9:45 to 10:00 a.m. 
Coffee Break -  Ballroom Foyer

10:05 to 11:00 a.m.
KACD Committee Meetings

Grassland Committee – Redbud B
Presiding - Daryl Donohue, Chair

Natural Resources Committee – Cypress B
Presiding - Baron Shively, Chair

District Operations Committee – Redbud A
Presiding - Wayne Lukert, Chair

Wildlife, Recreation and Forestry – Redbud C
Presiding - Sam Sanders, Chair

Finance and Development – Oak
Presiding - Tommy Barrett II, Chair

Urban and Rural Development – Osage
Presiding - Mark Lehman, Chair

10:05 to 12:00 pm
Youth and Education Committee speech contest – Cypress A
Presiding - Dwayne Roux, Chair

New District Employee Orientation - Walnut

11:10 to 12:10 pm
Breakout Sessions

The Kansas Soil Health Alliance: Your Partners in Soil Health - Redbud B
Jennifer Simmelink, Program Coordinator

• The Kansas Soil Health Alliance will lead this session and include several topics to aid
  conservation staff. Learn the basics of soil health and their practical application in the field as
  shared from the farmer's perspective. Hear updates on Farmer-to-Farmer discussions; learn
  what topics, advertising methods, communication tools and more, work best. Learn tips and
  tricks for hosting field days and workshops and find out what resources and assistance the
  Kansas Soil Health Alliance offers. This will be a relaxed session with questions and discussions
  encouraged.

12:15 to 1:45
SCC Luncheon – Grand Eagle Ballroom
Presiding: Rod Vorhees, SCC Chairman

Keynote Speaker: Representative Ken Rahjes, Chair, Kansas House Agriculture Committee

KACD State Speech Contest Winner Presentation

2:00 to 5:00 PM
NRCS Employee meeting – Birch Room

2:00 to 3:00 PM
Kacd Area Meetings

• Area 1 – Cedar
• Area 2 – Maple
• Area 3 – Oak
• Area 4 – Osage
• Area 5 – Walnut

3:15 to 5:15 PM
Business Meeting – Redbud B
Employee Organization meeting – Cypress Ballroom A

6:00 to 7:00 PM
Reception - Grand Eagle Ballroom Foyer

7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Awards Banquet  (Awards, silent auction and live auction items)
Grand Eagle Ballroom

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

7:00 to 8:30 am
Buffet breakfast – Riverview Ballroom

8:30 to 10:00 am
District Manager Meeting - Learning the New KACD Website - Cypress Ballroom A
Laura Munsch, Marketing Angle
Conservation Symposium – Grand Eagle Ballroom
KACD Auxiliary meeting – Enterprise Board Room

8:30 to 12:00 p.m.
Conservation Symposium - Grand Eagle Ballroom
Quality Water, Quality Life - Addressing Water Quantity and Quality Concerns in Kansas

• Kansas is blessed with a rich agricultural heritage and a vibrant economy deeply rooted in
  farming and industry. However, this prosperity has always been linked to a stable and sustainable
  water supply. With a complex web of streams, surface water reservoirs, underground aquifers
  and a diverse climate, Kansas faces unique challenges in balancing the competing demands of
  agriculture, community development, industry and environmental conservation. This symposium
  will consist of two panels of experts, policymakers and stakeholders deeply engaged in
  addressing the multifaceted issues surrounding water quantity and quality resources in Kansas.
  Together, we will explore the current state of Kansas water resources, examine the ongoing
  initiatives aimed at water conservation and management and discuss the potential impacts our
  current and future actions may have on a continuing and stable water supply.
• Water Quantity Panel
  Susan Metzger - Director of Strategic Interdisciplinary Program Development at Kansas State
  University (Moderator)
• Panelists:
  Shannon Kenyon - District Manager, Groundwater Management District 4
  Wes McCary - Technology Projects Coordinator, Kansas Water Office
  Larry Schiefericke - State Conservation Engineer, Natural Resources Conservation Service
  Pat Janssen - ILS Farm Manager
  Brian Olson - Department Head, Western KS Ag Research Ctr, K-State Research and Extension
   

10:00 to 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Break – Ballroom Foyer

10:30 to 12:00 p.m.
Conservation Symposium (continued) – Grand Eagle Ballroom
Water Quality Panel
Dean Krehbiel - State Resource Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (Moderator)
Panelists:

• Landon Oldham - Owner, Heartland Soil Services
• Matt Unruh - Assistant Director, Kansas Water Office
• Ron Graber - Watershed Specialist, K-State Research and Extension
• Tom Stiles - Director, Bureau of Water, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
• Elliott Carver - State Agronomist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Fred Jones - Water Resource Systems Mgr., City of Garden City

PARKING

Overnight guests get free parking in the parking garage with their room key. There will be discounted parking in the garage for drive-in attendees (50% off normal rates), we will have coupons at the registration desk for those not staying at the Hyatt for the discounted parking. There is also a free parking lot across the street if you prefer to park there.

A block of rooms has been held for attendees at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.  Free parking is also available for overnight guests attending the convention.  Reservations can be made by calling the hotel at (316)293-1234 and refer to the KACD convention.