MIDDLE SOUTH GEORGIA CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Middle South Georgia Conservation District is one of 40 conservation districts in the state of GA. Our district was created in 1945 in the aftermath of the Dust Bowl and encompasses nine counties in southwest Georgia.
As a legal subdivision of the state of Georgia, the District bridges the gap between federal and state resource management agencies and the local people; this allows decisions about natural resource issues and conservation problems to be made at a local level, with technical and financial assistance provided by the government. Middle South Georgia Conservation District comprises Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth Counties
MIDDLE SOUTH GA CONSERVATION DISTRICT HONORS 2025 CONSERVATIONISTS OF THE YEAR
Cordele, Ga March 24, 2026 —The Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), a local agency dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of the area’s natural resources, honored the 2025 Conservationists of the Year in each county within its area. The service area includes Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties. The Conservationist of the Year Banquet was held at South Georgia Technical College in Cordele, Ga on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Congratulations to the following recipients:
Bryan Griffin - Ben Hill County
Rick Davis - Brooks County
Ken Coleman - Colquitt County
Dowdy Family Farms - Crisp County
John Brownlee - Irwin County
Bret & Cage Owens - Thomas County
Ryan Branch - Tift County
Clay Alberson - Turner County
Justin Davis - Worth County
A big thank you to all of the generous donors who help make the Banquet a success: Ag Pro of Dixie, Arabi Feed & Grain, BCT Gin, Ben Hill Co Farm Bureau, Brooks Co Farm Bureau, Citizens National Bank, Coastal Plains Farmers Co-Op, GreenPoint Ag Quitman, Irwin Co Farm Bureau, Omega Farm Supply, Parker Chevrolet GMC, Rose Hill Enterprises, Sconyers Gin, South Georgia Bank, Thomas Co Farm Bureau, Tift Co Farm Bureau, Tri County Ag, Turner Co Farm Bureau, Worth Co Farm Bureau, and Hat Creek Peanut.
2024 District Poster contest winners
1st Place Colquitt County Winner & District Winner - Wendy Marquez, 3rd grader at JM Odom Elementary in Colquitt County.
2nd Place Colquitt County Winner - Jhoana Garduno, 3rd grader at JM Odom Elementary School in Colquitt County
3rd place Colquitt County Winner - Aleyda Ruiz, 3rd grader at JM Odom Elementary School in Colquitt County
1st Place Tift County Winner - Whitley Joyner, 3rd grader at Omega Elementary in Tift County
2nd Place Tift County Winner - Jordan Lara, 3rd grader at Omega Elementary in Tift County
3rd Place Tift County Winner - Breighlyn Rooks, 3rd grader at Omega Elementary in Tift County.
supervisors
Feral Swine Control Services
meeting information
The Middle South Georgia Conservation District meets quarterly the first Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at the Tift County USDA Service Center, 1468 Carpenter Rd., Tifton, GA, 31793.
District Personnel
Leanne Hopper, GACD Regional Program Manager Southwest GA
leanne.chafin@gacd.us
706-436-7683