Al’s fascination with conservation began at an early age. As an adult, he works on a family farm raising cattle for a cow-calf operation. The farm also maintains 90 acres of hay fields to feed the cattle. The farm utilizes several conservation methods like, cross fencing, weed control, and maintaining drainage areas. Al serves as a Senior Construction Administrator for Clark Nexsen. His activities involve, Serve at Northridge Christian Church, Member of Georgia Farm Bureau, Board member at Baldwin, Jones, Putnam Cattle Association, 2022 President of Baldwin County Progressive Farmers Club, Member of Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, as well as Baldwin County Supervisor for Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District. We strive to not only maintain but improve our farm, as we produce food for the consumers. It is a God given privilege to care for the environment we have been entrusted with and strive to leave it in better shape than we found it. We want to leave a legacy for the next generation.

Jake is the owner of McCoy Cattle Company in Baldwin County managing around 50 head of Black Angus beef cattle. This 130-acre farm is a new venture that was molded from the guidance of his father-in-law. Jake worked alongside his father-in-law to clear the land filled with scrub oaks and turn it into a working farm. The farm is made up of 60% pasture and 40% forestry. 

Jake has learned many conservation practices in molding the farm. He implemented rotational grazing, heavy use areas, water troughs, silva-pasture, and exclusion fencing for the cattle. The pine stand is managed with controlled burns and supports the local wildlife through wildlife management. The pastures are terraced to control erosion. The farm also benefits from the Environment Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the Natural Resources Management Service (NRCS).

Jake was recognized by the Piedmont SWCD as the 2023 Conservationist of the Year for Baldwin County. He has a unique perspective on conservation and is interested in ag business in his community. With his background in construction, and being a Blue Card holder, he sees the effects of construction and wants to preserve our natural resources and continue supporting conservation efforts.  

Jake is a member of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, the Georgia Southern Industry Advisory Board for Construction Management. He and his family attend Northridge Christian Church in Milledgeville. With a heart for learning more about conservation, Jake is excited to be a part of the Piedmont SWCD and looks forward to sharing his knowledge with the community.

Phil Harkins was raised in Gainesville, Georgia. His wife, Georgia, is a Greene County native and they have two children. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and was also Plant Manager for Vulcan Materials, Siloam Quarry. He is now owner and operator of a poultry farm, along with his wife. He has recently been approved for a stack house for his poultry operation along with waterers and high-use feeder areas for his cattle. He is steadily working to accomplish these projects along with the daily operations on the family farm.

Andy is a third-generation farmer raising beef cattle and hay in Greene County, Ga. This 60 plus acre farm is an integral part of the community, providing beef for stores in Georgia and hay for their cattle and other local farms. The farm has hosted Ag Day events for local classrooms, sharing the importance of farming and conservation, so students will learn to use our resources wisely. The farm utilizes several types of conservation practices including exclusion fencing, cross fencing, nutrient management, and controlling heavy use areas around water troughs. Andy is also a handy man serving the community with his carpentry, electrical, and plumbing skills. Andy not only takes care of the land, but he also takes care of the people and homes on it. With his extensive experience as a former Regional Representative for the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC), Andy shares his knowledge and expertise with the Piedmont SWCD and teaches others how to be good stewards of the land and other resources.

Rick Joslyn holds degrees from VMI (B.S. Chemistry) and Virginia Tech (B.S. Agronomy). He has worked as a soil scientist since graduation.  He mapped soils for USDA/SCS (now NRCS) Cooperative Soil Survey program in Virginia and Georgia, as well as a county soil scientist updating older surveys. In 1995 he opened his own business, Redlands Environmental Soil Consulting Services, working from his home in Sparta. He is a past-president of the National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists. Since 2008, he has served on the Piedmont District as the elected supervisor for Hancock County. Rick has always had close associations with USDA/NRCS programs, and holds a Level 1A certification with the GSWCC.

Rick has been a resident of Sparta since 1991, when he purchased an 1820’s Federal-style house. He and his wife, Mauriel, have been lovingly restoring and maintaining it ever since. Mauriel has always had horses (Rick is a willing groom or trail-ride companion) and currently rides dressage on her Andalusian gelding.

Jimmy now owns and operates the historical Kennedy farm and strives to be a good steward of its natural resources. He is Vice President of the Baldwin, Jones, Putnam Cattleman’s Association, a member of the Greene Area Cattleman’s Association, and he serves as an elected member of the Farm Service Agency’s County Committee. Jimmy also represents Hancock County for the Oconee River RC&D, is a member of the Georgia Agri-business Council, is president of the Hancock County Farm Bureau and on the Georgia Farm Bureau commodities board, and is Chairman of the Board at Devereux Methodist Church. Jimmy retired from the Georgia Forestry Commission in 2013 where he is still the Vice Chairman of the Forestry Board and is a member of the Georgia Forestry Association. He is now able to pursue his cattle farming passion full time, and has expanded his operation into Baldwin County where he has leases 126 acres. Mr. Kennedy has installed and maintained countless conservation practices on his land through Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs such as EQIP and CSP, as well as on his own. One of the most helpful practices for the land and the farming operation has been the implementation of a prescribed grazing system through the installation of cross fencing, and watering facilities. He is also very proud to be actively restoring the native long leaf pine habitat on the wooded acres of his farm.

Mr. Hoyt L. Brown holds MBA and BBA Degrees in Business Management, Marketing and Economics from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as, Certificates of Achievement from Graduate Business Programs at the University of Miami, Florida and Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Brown has extensive management, marketing and business development experience in airline, airports, commercial real estate, and pine tree farming businesses.

Currently, Mr. Brown lives in Gray, Georgia with his wife Sally Wicker Brown on a pine tree farm in Jones County where they were honored in 2015 as recipients of the Piedmont Soil and Water District Conservationists of the year in Jones County. He serves on an advisory committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources for UGA County Extension Agent in Jones County. Mr. Brown has served as Chairman of the Jones County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Rotary Club and stays active in both organizations while managing conservation and wildlife management on his tree farms. He is an active District Supervisor for Jones County in the Piedmont Soil and Water District.

Piedmont Soil and Water District Supervisor for Jones County Thomas Ricky Yarbrough was first elected in 2012 and has served continuously since. Mr. Yarbrough resides in the Bradley Community and is owner of Cherry Ridge Farms land and Cattle which he established in 1988 and utilizes many conservations practices in many areas of the farm. He is a former Federal Civil Servant with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management retiring with over 34 years of service as a Computer Specialist. He served as President of the Baldwin-Jones-Putnam Cattlemen’s Association from 2010 through 2012 and again from 2015 through present. He is a member of Georgia Cattlemen, American Hereford Association, National Wild Turkey Federation and serves as an agricultural advisor for the local Cooperative Extension office. After retiring Mr. Yarbrough has been a strong advocate for soil and water conservation in Jones County.

Pat owns and operates the family farm that includes the family dairy and additional farmland that was purchased. He manages a herd of beef cattle on the farm divided among pasture and hay land. His grasses consist of coastal and common bermuda. He was named Putnam County’s Conservationist of the Year. Pat has recently purchased a no-till drill that will one day help him obtain his over all goal of having his livestock harvest their own food without having to depend on him to harvest, store, and feed them hay. Rotational grazing will be practiced to fully utilize the available forages on his pasture land. Pat has been a participant in the Crooked-Rooty Creek 319 project. He has installed several watering facilities, heavy use areas, pipeline, pasture improvement, and a well. He has designed a method to drain his watering facilities to perform maintenance. Pat and his wife, Cheryl, have two children, a son Jay and a daughter Daphne. They have two grandchildren, Joseph and T.J. Pat is a member of the Rising Son #4 Masonic Lodge in Eatonton. He is a prospective member of the Baldwin/Jones/Putnam Cattleman’s Association.

Pat Hardy is owner and operator of Cloverleaf Farm, which consists of 35 beef cattle, 50 mature sheep, and 26,000 layers and roosters. Pat leases several other tracts where he runs 120 head of beef cattle, and grows 110 acres of hay. Recently, with cost-share funds from the Sugar Creek 319 Water Quality Project, Pat installed over a mile of barbed wire fence, 300 ft. of cross fencing, four 300 gallon concrete water troughs, over 1300 ft. of pipeline to the troughs, heavy use areas around the troughs and syrup tanks, a stream crossing with a culvert, and a drilled well. Pat and his wife, Pat, have three children and four grandchildren. He is extremely active in his community and serves as a volunteer 4H Leader, a Piedmont Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor, President of the Morgan County Farm Bureau, Chairman of the Morgan County Ag. Authority, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Southern States, Past President of the Piedmont Area Poultry Association, Past President of the Morgan County Cattle Association, and past Vice President of the Georgia Club Lamb Association. For his efforts, Pat was selected the Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year for 1990. In 1991, he was also selected Commercial Cattleman of the Year and received the Chamber of Commerce Farm Family Award. He has received the Friend of 4H Award and, in 1998, the Block and Bridle Producer of the Year. In 2002, Pat was honored by the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District as Morgan County’s Conservationist-of-the-Year.

Joey Rhodes was born and raised in Taliaferro County, Georgia. He received a BBA in marketing from Georgia College. Mr. Rhodes has been married to his wife, Vickey, for 28 years and they have two daughters, Hannah and Emily. He retired from Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company as an agency manager in Taliaferro County. As owner for 4J Farms, he produces broilers, beef, goats and timber. Mr. Rhodes serves as president of Piedmont Area Poultry Association and as board member of Taliaferro County Farm Bureau.

Tucker is a third generation farmer raising sheep, beef cattle, hay and timber in Taliaferro County, Ga. Tucker was taught how to raise and care for cattle by his father and grandfather. When he returned from college with a Bachelor Degree in Ag Business from the University of Georgia, he began his own farm. This 450 acre farm in Taliaferro County is just an extension of the farming experience he has. Tucker also works with his father-n-law on this 5th generation farm raising chickens for poultry. Tucker works closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to learn ways to maintain the integrity of the land and its natural resources. He participates in the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). He participates in several conservation practices throughout the farm such as; rotational grazing, better pasture management, better forage management, cross fencing, heavy use areas, and wildlife management. He plants native grass for food sources and provides habitats for birds and other wildlife. Tucker participates in controlled and prescribed burns for the timber acreage on the farm which enhances the wildlife habits. Tucker will be adding a selection of fruit trees as additional habitat for wildlife and as a food source and shade for the animals on the farm. This will be a nice addition to the pecan tree stand the wildlife enjoys. The entire farm has been placed in the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment Program (CUVA) which is a 10 year agreement. Tucker is passionate about caring for the land and teaching agriculture and land conservation to his family. He strives to make Liberty Farms Livestock a sustainable farm and something for the next generation to come back to and continue its production. Tucker’s leadership extends well beyond his farm. He is the President of the Taliaferro County Farm Bureau under the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB), the Chair for GFB District 4 Young Farmers and Ranchers and serves on the State Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. He is a committee member of the GFB Commodity Advisory Committee for Sheep and Goats, sits on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Sheep and Wool Growers Association, is the Executive Representative for the American Sheep Industry Association, and sits on the Taliaferro County Ag Education Advisory Board. Tucker has served on the GFB Policy Development Committee and the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society Marketing Committee. Tucker is excited to bring his knowledge and experience to the Piedmont SWCD and the communities it serves.