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Steve Hobart of Blanchard was one of several conservationists to travel to Washington DC in March for a legislative conference. Hobart, who is president of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts (MACD), said that minor issues around Farm Bill funding and regional equity are ongoing, but added, "Our biggest reason for going was to thank our Maine delegation for what they've done during the past three years with regards to the Farm Bill, regional equity and increased funds for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)."
Traveling to DC with Hobart were MACD Executive Director Bill Bell, MACD Secretary Reinald Nielsen and MACD Director at Large Marianne Hubert. They were joined in DC by Marge Kilkelly, Director of the Council of State Governments/Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship and MaryAnn Hayes, Executive Director of Maine Rural Partners, who were in town on other business but often take an interest in conservation district issues. In addition to meeting with the staff of Maine's legislators, the group met with Krysta Harden, the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Conservation Districts. Each year for the past several years, members of MACD have attended the NRCS sponsored conference. They visit with staff from the offices of Representatives Tom Allen and Michael Michaud and Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, occasionally meeting with the politicians themselves if time allows. In this way, Hobart said, Maine's representatives in DC are well informed about the needs and concerns of our farmers and foresters. |
Tim McCormack, (far left) from Senator Susan Collins' office, meets with (from left) MACD President Steve Hobart, MACD Executive Director Bill Bell, Executive Director of Maine Rural Partners MaryAnn Hayes, MACD Secretary Reinald Nielsen, Director of the Council of State Governments/Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship Marge Kilkelly and MACD Director at Large Marianne Hubert during the NACD Legislative Conference in Washington DC in March.
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