The Latest

Blaise Pezold, the Chair of the Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District in Louisiana, did not start out in conservation. A previous career as a chef shifted after Hurricane Katrina. His interest in disasters and natural resources changed his perspective and pushed him to go back to school for a degree in coastal biology.

Abby Schuler is a board member of the Powell-Clarks Fork Conservation District in Wyoming. Her passion for conservation has always felt natural to her. The need for clean air, water, and healthy soil has always been her priority. She understands the importance of communicating conservation ideas, which is why Abby decided to apply for this cohort.

Rosalind Streeter serves on the Board of Supervisors for the Oldham County Conservation District in Kentucky. Rosalind has always had a love for the outdoors. “My parents would always take me to state and national parks, and I fell in love with everything that made the world unique,” she shared. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be involved in conservation and decided to take the next step to get involved at the national level.

Arnold Weatherman from North Carolina serves on the Davie Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. Arnold is excited to be a cohort member in 2026. He hopes to sharpen his public speaking skills while also meeting new people and learning new ideas to take back to his district. The Davie Soil and Water Conservation District is a county with diverse row-crop farming. His district has adapted over the years to better conservation practices, like no-till farming and litter management.

Andy Payne is a board supervisor of the Lower Chattahoochee Soil and Water Conservation District in southwest Georgia. Agriculture is no stranger to Andy: “As a fifth-generation farmer, I have been around agriculture and seen conservation from the ground up,” he shared. Growing up, he started to realize the importance of taking care of the resources and land for generations to come. The progress his farm has made over time is something that he is most proud of.

Sharon Luna from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, is involved in the Sierra Soil and Water Conservation District as the appointed supervisor for Sierra County. She sees the vital impact conservation has on her daily life and got involved in conservation because of its importance. Over the past 20 years, Sharon’s district has suffered from severe drought. This impact on her district has pushed her to get involved at the national level in efforts to bring new ideas back there. Through this program, Sharon hopes NGLI can help her share her story and strengthen her speaking skills.

Steve Gilje of the Rolette County Soil Conservation District in North Dakota serves as a Northern Plains Region Chair for the National Association of Conservation Districts. Conservation meetings are very familiar to Steve. “My dad served on the conservation district state board forever. I grew up attending these meetings,” he shared.