Conrad Donovan
Cheerful Conservation Ambassador
Conrad “Connie” Donovan, was a conservation ambassador known for the lighthearted cheerfulness he brought wherever he went. Connie began serving on the Westmoreland Conservation District board in 1995 as a farmer director. In 1998 the board appointed him treasurer, a position he held until his passing in 2021.
Connie brought a diverse array of interests, experiences, and knowledge to the District. He served in the Army National Guard, was an auditor with Sarp & Company in Greensburg, and was a treasurer for Mount Pleasant Township. He was also a farmer who raised Black Angus cattle and restored his family’s historic 1848 farmhouse in Derry Township.
Connie volunteered with many organizations in Westmoreland County. He was treasurer for the Westmoreland County Cattlemen’s Association, and a director on the Westmoreland Agricultural Fair Board. Many fondly remember Connie with his engaging and welcoming personality working in the Cattlemen’s booth or cheerfully running a golf cart transport at the Westmoreland Fair. He served as a President of Penn State Extension and was a member of Ducks Unlimited and the Lions Club of Derry. Additionally, Connie was a member of the leadership team for the Future of Westmoreland Agriculture forum.
Connie’s financial skills and historic renovation knowledge played an important role when the District undertook the project of moving an existing 120-year-old barn from Penn Township and transforming it into the District’s current headquarters located on Donohoe Road, Greensburg.
Connie was devoted to conservation and made significant and long-term contributions throughout his 26 years on the Westmoreland Conservation District board. He was always present and active at District meetings. Connie also enjoyed introducing young people to conservation principles and the value of agriculture. Without his dedication to the District’s mission, the District would not be where it is today.