The Latest

News from around the NCF world

This page is an aggregate of press releases, editorials and more related to a variety of NCF programs, activities and events.

October 8, 2026

The Next Generation Leadership Institute 2026 cohort holds mid-year session

At the end of September, the National Conservation Foundation’s Next Generation Leadership Institute 2026 Cohort gathered in Washington, D.C., and West Virginia for its mid-year session with five days focused on advocacy, communication, partnerships, and locally led conservation.
October 1, 2026

JoBeth Delawder: From Envirothon to Agriculture Policy

Growing up as the sixth generation on her family farm in West Virginia, JoBeth Delawder participated in conservation programs for wildlife management, water, forestry, and soil conservation. “Farmers are certainly conservationists, whether they identify themselves with that term or not,” Delawder shared.
September 8, 2026

John Redding Inducted into National Conservation Foundation-Envirothon Hall of Fame

The National Conservation Foundation proudly recognized longtime conservation leader John Redding of Georgia with induction into the NCF-Envirothon Hall of Fame during the 2026 NCF-Envirothon annual competition, held this past July at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.
September 1, 2026

National Conservation Foundation – Next Generation Leadership Institute Accepting Applications for 2027 Cohort

The National Conservation Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2027 Next Generation Leadership Institute, a yearlong leadership development program designed to prepare conservation district leaders to lead local, state, and national conservation efforts.
July 20, 2026

NACD and NCF Announce Leadership Transition as CEO Jeremy Peters Prepares to Step Down

Grand Rapids, MI — The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced that Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Peters is resigning from his role, effective September 30, 2026, concluding a 15-year career with NACD, 11 of those years serving as CEO.
July 20, 2026

The National Conservation Foundation Kicks Off the 2026 Envirothon Competition in Starkville, Mississippi

The National Conservation Foundation, in partnership with the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission, is welcoming students, educators, volunteers, and conservation professionals to the 2026-NCF Envirothon, an international environmental competition that empowers high school students to tackle real-world challenges through hands-on learning and teamwork.
July 1, 2026

Conservation Meets the Magnolia State: Envirothon 2026 Comes to Starkville

From July 19-25, 2026, the National Conservation Foundation, in partnership with the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission, will host the NCF-Envirothon at Mississippi State University. The NCF-Envirothon is an international environmental and natural resources academic competition for high school students.