The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) recognized the winners of the 2002 National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) “District Outreach” award during special ceremonies as part of the NACD Annual Conference in February in Orlando, FL.

The AEM/NACD award spotlights the outstanding work done by local conservation districts to inform the public of the importance of conserving and enhancing America’s natural resources.

AEM has sponsored the awards since 1957 to foster improved public communications activities among districts, with the award winners serving as an example of best practices. The award includes a cash prize, plaque and national recognition of the winning districts.

AEM presented six awards, to districts from Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and Pennsylvania:

• Newsletter (First Place) — Westmoreland Conservation District — Center for Conservation Education, Greensburg, PA;

• Newsletter (Honorable Mention) — Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District, Blue Springs, MO;

• Public Information Campaign — Lower Platte South Natural Resource District, Lincoln, NE;

• Web site — Scott County Soil and Water Conservation District, Scottsburg, IN;

• Special Publication — Lower Musselshell Conservation District, Roundup, MT;

• Print Media — Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District, Greencastle, IN.

Any conservation district in the United States or its territories is eligible to enter the contest, with entries judged by an independent panel of communications professionals on a variety of criteria, including scope of subject matter, creativity, clarity, overall impression or attractiveness, inclusion of a call to action, relevance of audience and appropriateness of media.

For more information, visit www.nacdnet.org.