NDSU Extension Prepares Leaders in Soil Conservation  

Twice a year, soil conservation district supervisors and staff from across North Dakota attend a Soil and Water Conservation Leadership Academy hosted by NDSU Extension. The academy prepares supervisors to become more effective leaders and community builders in the area of soil and water conservation. It incorporates both technical training and professional leadership development.  

Supervisors are responsible for the management of the soil conservation district and the implementation of North Dakota Century Code rules and regulations. They run board meetings, manage the district budget, develop district policies and hire district support staff. Attending annual training on topics related to their work is a requirement of the Century Code.  

“One of the most important responsibilities of soil conservation district supervisors is creating the district’s annual plan of work,” says Jodi Delozier, Extension specialist and program director of soil and water leadership development. “We help them write impactful goals, identify partners and expand community outreach.”  

The academy also includes sessions on ethics, parliamentary procedure, open records and open meetings laws, human resources policy, conflict management, communication and relationship building.  

Two grant-funded soil conservation district program coordinators help Delozier develop other types of training to support the districts throughout the year, including 10- to 15-minute “microlessons” for use at board meetings. They are also putting together webinars, a podcast, and a toolkit of resources, including an onboarding checklist for new district staff and templates to help districts create individual legislative updates.  

“We want to help soil conservation districts deliver more outreach and promote the conservation work they are doing,” says Delozier. “The districts are doing great things. Each one is doing something that is unique and impactful.  

“NDSU Extension’s role is to help build soil conservation district capacity,” says Delozier. “We help them become more knowledgeable and do more with the resources they have.”  

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  

North Dakota State Soil Conservation - www.ndsu.edu/ndssc  

Jodi Delozier, 701-231-1861, jodi.delozier@ndsu.edu