LINCOLN COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT

The Lincoln County Conservation District is a legal subdivision of the state of Georgia. It was created on February 22, 1948 by authority and provision of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law of 1937.

The District exists to serve the public and to ensure a healthy and productive environment. The District works for the well-being of the people while safeguarding land and water.

The board is made up of farmers, landowners and land users, who are dedicated to the conservation, development and protection of our land, water, forest, wildlife and natural resources for the benefits of mankind.

NEWS

Lincoln County Conservation District Offering Feral Swine Control Services

March 13, 2024: Feral swine have become increasingly detrimental in Georgia, causing significant damage to agricultural crops and natural resources throughout the state. The economic impact of damage caused by feral swine in Georgia is estimated at over $150 million. Feral swine are one of the greatest invasive species challenges facing Georgia.

The Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District is a unit of state government that directs natural resource management programs throughout the county. The Conservation District works with producers, landowners, and with other units of government to educate and actively promote programs and practices that support the conservation, and use and development of soil, water, and related resources.

In order to offer relief to producers and landowners struggling with invasive feral swine, the Conservation District has acquired a trapping system to provide control services throughout Lincoln County. If you are interested in feral swine control services, please contact the District’s Hog Control Custodian, Chris Dunsmore at dunsmorechris@yahoo.com or 706-401-0990.

More information can be found at www.gacd.us/lincolncounty.

Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District Awards Winners of Poster/Photo Contest

October 30, 2025, Lincolnton, GA: Education is a critical element of the conservation effort at the local, state and national levels. Educating young people about the benefits of conservation helps to ensure the next generation will be wise stewards of America’s natural resources.

Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offered the Georgia Association of Conservation District’s (GACD) poster contest to public, private and homeschooled students from 3rd through 5th grade in the schools throughout the Lincoln County SWCD. Each year, the winning posters reflect GACD’s annual Stewardship theme and highlight the work of Conservation Districts to protect and enhance natural resources. This year’s theme, “Home is Where the Habitat is”, highlights the essential role of both natural and managed habitats in our conservation efforts. Lincoln County SWCD also participated in the photo contest which reflects conservation practices. The photo contest was offered to students in the Lincoln County SWCD ages 8 through 18 as well as Adults.

Three, overall winners in the 3rd-5th grade were chosen from many creative poster contest entries. The 1st place winner was Lewis Huff, a 5th grade student at Lincoln County Elementary School, winning $50.00. The 2nd place winner was Henley Daniel, a 5th grade student at Lincoln County Elementary School, winning $30.00. The 3rd place winner was Sara Kamp, a 5th grade student at Lincoln County Elementary School, winning $20.00. In the 13-18 age category for the photo contest, Lucy Matthews, a student at Lincoln County Middle School, swept the category, winning 1st, 2nd, 3rd places and winning $100.00 total. All 1st place entries will be submitted to the GACD State Poster and Photo Contests. All other winners received a participation token recognizing them for their ideas for conservation. The awards were presented in Lincolnton, Ga in the Lincoln County SWCD Annual Banquet held at the Lincoln County UGA Extension/Ag Building on October 20, 2025 by GACD’s NE Regional Program Manager, Dana Tripp, and the Chairman of the Lincoln County SWCD Board, Dalton Tankersley. GACD and local Conservation Districts encourage Georgia’s youth to practice conservation efforts that benefit Georgia communities.

The Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District is a unit of state government that manages and directs natural resource management programs in Lincoln County. The District works with farmers, landowners, homeowners, and with other units of government to educate and actively promote programs and practices that support the conservation, and use and development of soil, water, and related resources. More information can be found at www.gacd.us/lincolncounty.

Pictured: Lucy Matthews, Lincoln County District Supervisor Chris Dunsmore, District Supervisor Gary Ward, Lewis Huff, Henley Daniel, Sara Kamp, Chairman Dalton Tankersley, and District Supervisor Becky Tankersley.

Events

Supervisors

Featured

Dalton Tankersley, Chair

Chris Dunsmore

Chris Heitmann

Chris Heitmann has been a resident of Lincoln County for 23 years. He and his wife Susan have one son who is a high school senior at Lincoln County High School. He owns H&H Industrial Maintenance, Inc., a local company providing jobs for the community and support to many people for the past 23 years. His wife Susan owns Lo & Gussies, a local boutique shop on Main Street. His son Gavin is a senior at LCHS where he excels in academics and enjoys playing soccer for the Red Devils. Chris serves and supports the community through many groups, school related and otherwise as a business owner, parent and concerned citizen willing to help. He currently serves as a Supervisor and Treasurer on the Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, the Lincoln County School Board of Education, District 4, the Lincoln County Athletic Booster Club as project chair, helping work and sponsor the annual Golf Tournament. Chris and his family attend Lincoln County United Methodist Church where he is currently Lay Leader. Chris and his family are land owners who farm timber and cattle. He understands the need for good stewards to implement land preservation so future generations can enjoy what we all take for granted.

Becky Tankersley

Rebecca married into a farm family and began her love of farming. Her husband, Brian, was a county extension agent for 35 years. With his expertise, they have grown their family farm into a community asset. Double Branches Farm and Produce Market is a 140 acre U-Pick farm which produces strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, pumpkins, and vegetable greens for the community. Drip irrigation was installed in order to conserve water resources from their well and nearby stream. Using crop rotation and planting with plant based plastics during strawberry season are beneficial to their crops. Rebecca has learned so much about conservation and farming as well as the importance of pollination. Bee hives are kept on the farm to assist the bees with the work of pollination needed for abundant berry production. Extra care is taken to provide the bees with sunflowers and other wild flowers which help the bees to make enough honey for food stores throughout the winter months. With the assistance of master gardeners, Double Branches Farms, runs an education program to teach school aged children and other groups about pollination and other farming techniques. Double Branches Farms was named as Georgia’s 2019 recipients of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) U.S. Farmer-Rancher Pollinator Conservation Award for their dedication toward pollination efforts. Rebecca is excited to use her Lincoln County SWCD Board position to teach others about the importance of farming and conservation techniques.

Gary Ward

Gary Ward entered school at Augusta Collage and soon transferred to the United States Air Force and spent four years as a Jet Engine Mechanic. After his service to the US military, he finished his degree at Georgia Tech with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. After college, he worked for Cessna Aircraft Company. Ward returned home to expand his family owned sawmill in McCormick, SC. The family sold the fully integrated Pine processing facility that produced 20,000 BF/hour. Ward became a pilot at the age of 16 and performed aerobatics at air shows all over Central and North America. Ward is a 4th generation Pine grower and has managed the 3000 family owned timberland since 1977. Throughout the years, he has managed the timber stands with thinning, cutting and replanting trees for regrowth, and prescribed burning along with other Best Practice Management. Ward loves the land and loves managing his timber stands and continues to look for ways to improve and teach conservation practices in Georgia, the national leader in forestry.

DISTRICT SERVICES

Meeting Information

The Lincoln County Conservation District meets the first Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM in the Lincolnton, UGA Extension Office.