NACD 2026 Summer Meeting

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.