What the MACD Convention Is
The Montana Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) holds its annual convention each winter for the state's conservation districts. It brings together district supervisors, district staff and partner agencies for three days of partner and board meetings, breakout sessions, training and networking. Awards recognize exceptional district staff, supervisors and partners, and area-meeting resolutions are taken up. The 2026 convention is December 1 to 3 at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in Fairmont, with a pre-convention workshop on Monday, November 30 led by Ray Ledgerwood. More than 200 people typically attend.
Schedule Highlights
- Monday, November 30: pre-convention workshop.
- December 1: convention opens; the add-on MCDEO event is held this day.
- December 2: the MACD awards banquet.
- December 3: convention closes.
Some sessions may stream live on Zoom. A full agenda with session descriptions and speaker bios is posted through the convention page. The 2026 resolutions are in the MACD Resolutions Library, and all except 26-01 passed at the area meetings.
Fees and Registration
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Full registration (all programming, the pre-convention workshop, both evening events and all meals) | $345 |
| One-day registration | $125 |
| Add-on MCDEO event ticket (Dec. 1) | $55 |
| Add-on MACD banquet ticket (Dec. 2) | $60 |
Registration is required for everyone, including board members, speakers and sponsors, and prices rise for late registration on November 13, 2026. Lodging and travel are not included.
Awards
Nominations for the awards presented at the banquet were due October 31, 2026. The awards honor exceptional district staff, supervisors and partners.
Lodging
The Fairmont Hot Springs Resort room block (group ID 32661, code MACD) is full and has expired, but rooms may still be requested at 800-332-3272 or 406-797-3241, and government rates are available. A resort fee of $18 per night for a standard room or $34 for a suite covers hot springs pool access, the waterslide, fitness room and Wi-Fi. An overflow block at the Forge Hotel in Anaconda is $124 per night under "Montana Association of Conservation Districts" and expires November 14, 2026; call 1-800-780-7234 or 406-797-4100.
Sponsors and Speakers
Sponsorship levels are listed on the convention page, and other options are available on request. Speakers and sponsors receive separate emailed registration instructions. Program topic suggestions can be submitted through a form linked on the page.
Where and Who to Call
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, 1500 Fairmont Rd, Fairmont, MT 59711, phone 406-797-3241. For registration or sponsorship, contact MACD events and outreach coordinator Lauren Smith at 406-475-7529 (call or text). The MACD office is at 1101 11th Ave, Helena, MT 59601, phone 406-443-5711.
Questions
Can I go for just one day?
Yes. One-day registration is $125.
Are meals included?
Full registration includes all meals and both evening events. Banquet and MCDEO tickets can be added to a one-day registration.
Is there a trade show?
Sponsorship opportunities are offered; a trade show is not part of the posted schedule.
Official Links
Montana Conservation Districts: The Essentials
Montana has 58 conservation districts, local units of government created by the legislature in 1939. A board of supervisors governs each one, and funding comes from local mill levies, state money (mainly the coal severance tax) and grants.
What they do
All 58 districts administer 310 stream permits. They also offer watershed planning, aquatic invasive species prevention, rangeland and weed help, pollinator and soil health programs, conservation education and, in many places, equipment rentals such as drills, sprayers and tree planters.
The 310 permit
Anyone working in or near a perennial stream starts with the local district. After the district accepts the application, the board has 60 days to approve, modify or deny it. Emergency work needs a notice to the district within 15 days. Find your district through the map and directory on the Montana Association of Conservation Districts website.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- MACTE Conference
Annual career and technical education conference for Montana ag teachers at Fairmont Hot Springs, October 15 and 16, 2026, with new teacher workshops on October 15.
Fairmont Hot Springs, MT Official event details - Montana FFA Ag Expo
Montana FFA Ag Expo with twenty-six career and leadership development events for FFA members in Bozeman, November 12 to 14, 2026. Volunteer judges are recruited each year.
Bozeman, MT | (406) 581-9299 | Organizer: Montana FFA Official event details - Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention and Trade Show
The 107th annual convention of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Billings, November 15 to 18, 2026.
27 N 27th St, Billings, MT 59101 | Organizer: Montana Farm Bureau Federation Official event details - Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention and Trade Show
Montana Stockgrowers Association convention with trade show, Stockgrowers Colleges, policy sessions and a Grand Finale Banquet, December 3 to 5, 2026, at the DoubleTree and the Northern Hotel in Billings.
- Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Training Miles City
Leader training for 4-H shooting sports disciplines (rifle, pistol, shotgun, archery) in Miles City, December 4-5, 2026; registration closed November 30.
Miles City, MT Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.