NACD 2026 Summer Meeting

Buffet breakfast included in the cost of registration.

Hear from local, state, and federal partners advancing conservation in Michigan.

For over 17 years Grand Rapids Whitewater has been at the center of efforts to bring the namesake rapids back to Grand Rapids. The project has served as a catalyst for significant riverfront development that is reshaping the role the Grand River plays in our community. This presentation will take a deep dive into the original vision for the project, examine the history of the Grand River, discuss what happened to the rapids, identify setbacks the project faced, and showcase the new vision for the Grand River. Rather than a series of reflecting pools, our river will become alive with the sound and mist of moving water—and will once again justify the name Grand Rapids.

Join the National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) to explore how to strengthen local working groups by connecting community feedback to clear priorities and strategic decisions. Learn practical approaches to guide discussions, improve participation, and ensure your district’s efforts reflect local needs and long-term goals.

Across the United States, the farming population is aging rapidly, creating an urgent need to support the next generation of farmers while ensuring farmland remains in active agricultural use. Farm linking platforms have emerged as one promising solution. According to American Farmland Trust, there are currently more than 38 farm and land linking websites nationwide designed to connect farmland owners with aspiring farmers and ranchers.

These platforms help farm seekers identify available land while assisting landowners in navigating the often complex process of land transfer. However, farm linking programs vary widely across the country. Some focus primarily on matchmaking between landowners and farmers, while others provide additional resources such as educational materials, leasing templates, and succession planning tools.

This presentation will highlight two Midwestern examples—Michigan Farm Link and Illinois Farm Link—and explore how each program approaches the farm linking model. Attendees will learn how these platforms operate, the resources they provide, and how they support both retiring farmers and beginning farmers seeking land access.

Foundation grants begin before the application ever does, by telling a compelling story. This session will cover strategic alignment, finding funders, making the ask, and sustaining partnerships over the long term. Rivka Hodgkinson, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, will blend real-world experience with a practical, replicable, and scalable framework, sharing examples along the way, from small grants to a $1.6 million capacity-building grant from the Erb Family Foundation. When you can clearly articulate where you've been, where you are, and where you're going, you become the kind of partner foundations want to invest in. You'll leave with actionable tools regardless of your starting point or organization size.

Buffet luncheon included in the cost of registration.

This tour is included in the cost of registration. 
This tour will visit two sites in Grand Rapids: the Grand River and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

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Stop 1: The Grand River
Explore the story of the Grand River as it winds through downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. On this guided walking tour, you’ll experience the powerful connection between ecology and history along the banks of Michigan’s longest river. Local experts from the Grand Valley Metro Council and the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds will share insights into the river’s dynamic ecosystem—highlighting fish migrations, floodplain function, water quality, habitat restoration, and the challenges posed by invasive species and historic development. This tour offers a deeper understanding of the science, stewardship, and shared responsibility behind one of West Michigan’s most important natural resources.

This tour will depart on foot from the hotel. Tour participants will walk a half mile or more for over an hour and stand during this tour. Wear comfortable attire and shoes. At the conclusion of the walking tour, buses will meet and take participants to the next tour stop, about a 20-minute drive away.

For those who do not wish to go on the walking tour, a bus will depart from the hotel at 2:30 p.m. to take you directly to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

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Stop 2: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Combining art and nature, the 158-acre Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, blends horticulture and artistic expression. From Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory to an eight-acre Japanese garden, the park’s 16 gardens and over 200 sculptures offer visitors a distinct experience in every season.

During this self-guided visit to the park, tour participants will have an opportunity to roam and visit the different outdoor gardens, including the outdoor visiting exhibition of Chihuly at Meijer Gardens. The visit will conclude with a networking reception with a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres.

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Tour participants will be walking and standing, including in uncovered areas, during the visits to these two locations. Wear comfortable attire and shoes and bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent as needed.