Upper Ohio Conservation District

05/30/2026

Congratulations to Our UOCD Poster and Photo Contest Winners!

Each year, the Upper Ohio Conservation District participates in the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Poster Contest and our local conservation photo contest to encourage students to learn more about natural resources, conservation, and stewardship. This contests give students an opportunity to creatively show the importance of protecting our soil, water, forests, and wildlife. This years theme was Soil: Where it all Begins.

We would like to congratulate this year’s winners!

2nd & 3rd Grade Poster Contest
🥇 1st Place – Ian Ferrell, AI Boreman Elementary
🥈 2nd Place – Hudson Brightwell, AI Boreman Elementary
🥉 3rd Place – Navaya Longwell, AI Boreman Elementary

Photo Contest
🥇 1st Place – Justice Kildow, Tyler Consolidated
🥈 2nd Place – Justice Kildow, Tyler Consolidated
🥉 3rd Place – Justice Kildow, Tyler Consolidated

6th Grade Poster Contest
🥇 1st Place – Justice Kildow, Tyler Consolidated

First place winners will advance on to the state competition later this year. We appreciate all of the students who participated and shared their creativity with us. Great job to everyone involved!

05/29/2026

We had a great day at the UOCD Land Judging Competition held at Meckley Farms in Tyler County on Wednesday May 27th. Students spent the day learning about soils while putting their skills to the test in the field. We appreciate all the teams that participated and represented their schools so well. Teams participating included Preston, Magnolia, Roane, Ravenswood, Pine Grove, Tyler and Ripley. Good luck to all teams as they prepare for the upcoming regional competition.

A special thank you goes out to the Meckley family for hosting us and helping make the event possible. We also appreciate the support from NRCS staff, Upper Ohio Conservation District Supervisors, Jen Kile – Conservation Specialist, Nick Beaver – District Conservationist, Dr. Thompson, Professor of Soil Science at WVU, and Matalyn Stark, NRCS Area Resource Soil Scientist for sharing their time and knowledge with the students throughout the day.

Congratulations to the top finishers:
Land Judging Individuals
1st – Milea Miihlbach, Ravenswood
2nd – Eli Hays, Roane
3rd – Emily Postlethwait, Pine Grove
Land Judging Teams
1st – Pine Grove
2nd – Ravenswood
3rd – Roane
Homesite Individuals
1st – Milea Miihlbach, Ravenswood
2nd – Harley Williams, Ripley
3rd – Damian Lancaster, Magnolia
Homesite Teams
1st – Magnolia
2nd – Ravenswood
3rd – Pine Grove

05/19/2026

FYI. Our office will have limited access to the public from 7:30AM- 1:00 PM this Thursday May 21st.

Tyler County Schools, along with local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and emergency management, will be conducting a planned reunification drill on Thursday, May 21st from 7:30 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. at the Tyler County Senior Center in Middlebourne.

Roads surrounding the Senior Center will be temporarily closed or restricted, and you will see increased emergency vehicle and school bus activity in the area.

There is no real emergency and no danger to the public.

We kindly ask community members to avoid the area during these hours, follow directions from emergency personnel, and help us keep the exercise running safely and smoothly.

This training is an important step in ensuring we are prepared to safely reunite students with their families in the event of a real emergency.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping Tyler County safe!

05/19/2026

Cost-share funding available! Check out this fantastic list of conservation practices we can help make a reality on your property. Applications are due by May 29th. Call our office for more information 304-758-2512.

AgEP signups are officially open!

The Upper Ohio Conservation District is now accepting applications for the Agriculture Enhancement Program beginning today, May 4th, with signups running through May 29th.

If you’ve been considering a project, now is the time to submit your application!

Stop by the office or reach out if you have questions or need help getting started. 304-758-2512

05/15/2026

Our Spring 2026 Newsletter. Check out all the great events and programs at the UOCD!

05/11/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended the Pasture W**d Management Field Day this past weekend.

Participants heard from Bruce Lloyd on effective pasture w**d control through both grazing management practices and proper herbicide application. We also learned from Josh Poling with Mountain Sky Drones about how drone technology can assist with managing pasture lands, especially in difficult terrain.

This event was made possible a Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative grant in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the West Virginia Conservation Agency. We are grateful for everyone who helped make the day a success.

05/09/2026

Today at 10:00AM. It’s going to be a great workshop, come join us!

Just a reminder that the Upper Ohio Conservation District will be hosting a Pasture W**d Management Field Day on Saturday, May 9 at the Wetzel County 4-H Grounds near New Martinsville. Join us for a hands-on look at controlling pasture w**ds and improving pasture productivity, with presentations from Bruce Lloyd and Josh Poling.

We’ll also have a live drone demonstration (weather permitting), along with refreshments and door prizes. Please RSVP to help us plan, and we hope to see you there!

05/07/2026

This Saturday! Learn how to get all of those invasives and w**ds in your fields under control. Contact the UOCD for more information 304-758-2512.

Just a reminder that the Upper Ohio Conservation District will be hosting a Pasture W**d Management Field Day on Saturday, May 9 at the Wetzel County 4-H Grounds near New Martinsville. Join us for a hands-on look at controlling pasture w**ds and improving pasture productivity, with presentations from Bruce Lloyd and Josh Poling.

We’ll also have a live drone demonstration (weather permitting), along with refreshments and door prizes. Please RSVP to help us plan, and we hope to see you there!

05/05/2026

Josh Poling with Mountain Sky Drones will be at our Pasture W**d Management Workshop this Saturday to speak and do a demonstration. Please call our office at 304-758-2512 for more information or to RSVP.

🚜✈️ BIG NEWS FOR LOCAL FARMERS — WE’VE EXPANDED!
Mountain Sky Drones is proud to announce the newest addition to our fleet — a professional agricultural spray drone capable of spraying or seeding up to 52 acres per hour.

This technology brings major cost‑saving advantages to farms across our region:

🌱 No more soil compaction — no heavy equipment in the field
🌧️ No more waiting on the weather — we can fly when ground rigs can’t
🧭 No more accidents or saying “it’s too steep” — drones handle slopes safely and easily
💸 Lower input costs — precision application means less waste
⏱️ Faster coverage — treat fields in minutes, not days
🌾 Perfect for steep, wet, or sensitive terrain

We’re now booking clients for the 2026 season, and spots will fill quickly.

To celebrate the expansion, we’re launching an Acreage Referral Program:
➡️ Refer a farmer, and both of you receive discounted acreage rates or you get a revenue based on acreage.

This is a huge step forward for local agriculture, and we’re excited to bring modern, efficient, drone‑based spraying and seeding to farms across WV, PA, and MD.

Message us to get on the schedule. Let’s grow this season smarter, faster, and with less stress.

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