GACD AND GEORGIA DOT PARTNER FOR BEAUTIFICATION AND POLLINATOR EDUCATION EFFORTS

ATLANTA, GA – The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is partnering with the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) to install 15 pollinator habitat sites in designated locations across the state to educate Georgians on the important role pollinators play in Georgia Agriculture. Specific locations are currently being identified.

"This partnership provides Georgia DOT with the unique opportunity to create a safe and beautiful place for families and travelers to get up close and personal with the wildflowers and grasses native to Georgia and learn about how they impact the world around us," said Felicity Davis, landscape architect manager with Georgia DOT. "We carefully considered the locations for these gardens and with pedestrian safety in mind, we determined the best option would be at rest areas and Welcome Centers across the state."

GACD received grant funds from the United States Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service (USDA- NRCS) to install pollinator habitat sites and promote further establishment of such gardens by landowners throughout the state. Through a Memorandum of Agreement, Georgia DOT and GACD entered into a partnership to fulfill the requirements of the grant. GACD will provide funding to Georgia DOT's Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Fund, and the department will then install and maintain the gardens. Educational signage will be provided and maintained by GACD. Plantings must be complete by August 2022.

"Pollinator plants and insects not only play a critical role in supporting our state's environment and agriculture, but with the specific mix of wildflowers and native grass being planted, the gardens will also provide year-round interest and habitat for insects and small animals," said Mark Masters, GACD president. "We are excited this partnership has come to fruition and look forward to getting the gardens installed."

Travelers who visit the gardens at the designated rest areas and Welcome Centers can expect to see blooms in just a few months, and will see new varieties every season. Georgians can contribute to Georgia DOT's Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Fund in their own way by donating directly to the fund or by purchasing a wildflower license plate through the Department of Driver Services.

Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia’s state and federal highways. We’re involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and its nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility. The Department’s vision is to boost Georgia’s competitiveness through leadership in transportation.

The mission of GACD is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.

Wes Fogle of Whitfield County and Betts Berry of Catoosa County Elected to GACD Board

At their virtual meeting on September 7, members of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) elected Wes Fogle of Whitfield County as GACD Group 1 Vice-President, and Betts Berry of Catoosa County as GACD Group 1 Alternate Vice-President. Group 1 Vice-Presidents serve on the Board of Directors for GACD in representation of the fifteen Soil and Water Conservation Districts spanning 39 counties across Northwest Georgia. They will serve two-year terms.

Wes was born and raised on a dairy farm in Cope, South Carolina. He worked on the farm throughout his childhood and teenage years until he attended Clemson University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture Economics and Rural Sociology. After college, Wes moved to Dalton, Georgia and began his 29-year career in the textile industry. He currently serves as Director of Sales for Integrated Fiber Solutions.

Wes was exposed to the importance of soil and water conservation at a young age through his family’s partnership with their local USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.  His family utilized several conservation practices on their farm including terraces, filter strips, Conservation Reserve Program land management, and riparian buffer streambank stabilization, to name a few. His family still owns the South Carolina farm. Today, Wes enjoys timber farming, hunting and the outdoors, and splits his time between his land in Georgia and South Carolina. Wes has served as a District Supervisor for the Limestone Valley Soil and Water Conservation District for nine years. He also serves as a board member for the Limestone Valley Watershed Dam Committee and the Limestone Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council.

 Marjorie “Betts” Berry was introduced to the cattle industry at a young age through her grandfather who raised Hereford cattle, and the 2 farms her family has owned since the 1800s. For the past 41 years, Berry has raised commercial beef cattle on 800 acres in Catoosa and Walker Counties, and her grandchildren are the seventh generation of stewards of Huntland Farms. Reflecting back on her grandfather’s cattle farm, she has photographs of the conservation methods he used in the 1930-1940s, including repairing deep gullies caused by erosion. Comparing photographs of the farm from then to how it looks now reminds her and her family to continue best management practices on the land and inspire future generations to be the best stewards possible of our land and natural resources.

As former president of the Georgia Cattlemen's Association, Betts had the opportunity to travel both state- and nation-wide to meet producers all over the U.S. and see the conservation practices others implement on their land.  In 2005, Betts formed a middle school agriculture education program in Chickamauga, GA, and taught for 9 years. From 2014 through this year, she served as the Young Farmers Advisor for Walker County and through this role she has been able to expand the use of no-till drills in her area. Her career in education and with Young Farmers has allowed her to share the importance of agriculture and taking care of the land to both children and adults.

The mission of GACD is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.

GACD & Georgia Ag Experience announce STEM Challenge for elementary schools

MACON, Ga. – Georgia elementary classes in third through fifth grades are being challenged to put their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills to work to explore the role healthy forests play in creating healthy communities by protecting our air, soil and water resources.

Elementary teachers and their students may enter the fall ’21 Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities STEM Challenge by Nov. 12 for the chance to win a prize package totaling $350 for their class. The top grade winner from the third, fourth and fifth grade entries will each win a prize package. The winners will be announced later in November.

The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD), a non-profit organization that works with the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts to promote the conservation of natural resources, is sponsoring the  statewide competition, which is being coordinated by the Georgia Ag Experience (GAE) and Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA). 

Teachers interested in participating in the Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities STEM Challenge may visit  www.gfb.ag/stemchallenge for more information and to register for the program. Once teachers register their class, they will receive access to a digital resource toolkit that equips the class for participating in the Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities STEM challenge. 

“The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts is excited to partner with the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture on its second statewide STEM Challenge,” said GACD Executive Director Katie Sponberger. “This challenge, which focuses on the importance of forests, will help students understand and appreciate Georgia’s diverse natural resources and learn how to conserve those resources for future generations.”

Each participating class is being asked to explore products we use every day that are made from trees and how tree farmers grow a sustainable crop.

The GACD is also holding its annual poster contest this fall with the theme of “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities.”  Schools that submit their STEM Challenge entries by Nov. 1 and indicate they wish to be considered for the annual GACD Poster Contest will also be considered for the prizes that contest offers.

“We developed the Georgia Ag Experience/Georgia Foundation for Agriculture STEM challenge as a way to connect elementary students to Georgia agriculture. Every year students will have a new opportunity to solve a real world ag problem with a different community partner” said GFA Executive Director Lily Baucom.

The purpose of the challenge is to encourage elementary teachers and students in grades 3-5 to explore aspects of Georgia agriculture by applying  their STEM skills to solve real-world problems that farmers face in producing our food and fiber. 

The Georgia Ag Experience/Georgia Foundation for Agriculture STEM Challenge is designed to be a bi-annual competition with a spring and fall contest. The GACD is the 2021 challenge sponsor.

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ABOUT THE GEORGIA AG EXPERIENCE: The GAE is a mobile classroom, created by the GFA, that is housed in a 36-foot trailer, to give third through fifth-grade students and the public a chance to visit a poultry house, cattle pasture, stand of timber, horticulture nursery, a produce stand full of fresh Georgia fruit, vegetables and pecans, cotton and peanut fields. Colorful farm photos, interactive technology and displays of products made from the various ag commodities highlight the importance of Georgia agriculture to our daily lives. All exhibits and lessons that are part of the GAE mobile classroom have been professionally designed to meet STEM curriculum standards.

The Georgia Ag Experience began visiting schools in South Georgia in January with plans to travel across the state by the end of the year. For more information about the Georgia Ag Experience visit www.georgiaagexperience.org.

ABOUT THE GEORGIA FOUNDATION for AGRICULTURE: The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to preparing the next generation of leaders for success in Georgia agriculture. The GFA works with Georgia Farm Bureau and other Georgia agricultural and educational organizations to achieve its mission. The foundation offers scholarships to students pursuing agricultural careers, funds leadership development programs and projects that increase the public’s understanding of agriculture. To make a tax-deductible donation, learn more about the foundation or the scholarships, visit www.gafoundationag.org or contact Lily Baucom at info@gafoundation.org or 478-405-3461.                                                                

ABOUT THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION of CONSERVATION DISTRICTS:The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) is a grassroots non-profit organization representing 40 conservation districts in Georgia. All 159 counties in Georgia are part of a local conservation district. For over 75 years, the organization's members have volunteered in each district to promote

Brian Ponder of Tift County and Tom Sumners of Lee County Re-Elected to GACD Board

August 25, 2021:  At their virtual meeting on August 25, members of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) re-elected Brian Ponder of Tift County as GACD Group 3 Vice-President, and Tom Sumners of Lee County as GACD Group 3 Alternate Vice-President. They will serve two-year terms.

Pictured: Brian Ponder, GACD Group 3 Vice-President

           Brian Ponder and his brother, Ken, grew up with farming in their blood. Ponder Farms has a cotton, corn, peanut, timber, and watermelon operation that carries a family history story that dates back 134 years. In 1884, their grandparents purchased about 100 acres near Omega, Georgia. The farm eventually expanded to several thousand acres and has been handed down through generations. Ponder’s dad instilled in him the belief that “if you take care of the land, it will take care of you.” His father was the first in the area to utilize USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and saw the benefits of erosion prevention. He and his brother have since implemented a variety of NRCS EQIP and CSP practices such as waterway management, terracing, and drain tile systems to improve soil health and conserve water. He has served as a District Supervisor for the Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District since 2002.

          Tom Sumners has been farming his entire life. In 1962, his father, Philip Sumners, established Pentahope farms in Tennessee. This is where Tom spent most of his childhood. In order to expand their farm, in the fall of 1978, the Sumners packed up their five sons and relocated to Leesburg, Georgia. Eventually, Tom’s father decided to pass the farm on to Tom and his brother Tim as co-owners.  They currently raise dairy heifers, have a pecan grove, and grow row crops. Tom brings his vast knowledge of stream management, cover crops and farming to GACD and his Conservation District. In years past, Tom’s family has been involved in livestock and swine projects through the 4H and FFA programs. Tom understands that our youth are our future and he takes pride in working with local teachers and students to educate them on farming and agriculture. He has served as a District Supervisor for the Lower Chattahoochee River Conservation District since 2018.  

Pictured: Tom Sumners, GACD Group 3 Alternate Vice- President

Group 3 Vice-Presidents serve on the Board of Directors for GACD in representation of the four Soil and Water Conservation Districts spanning 36 counties across Southwest Georgia.

The mission of GACD is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.

Roger Bowman of Catoosa County Inducted into Southeast Conservation Hall of Fame

Roger Bowman, 2021 NACD SE Hall of Fame Inductee

August 9, 2021, Gulf Shores, Alabama— Roger Bowman of Catoosa County was inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Southeast Region Hall of Fame at their Annual Meeting in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame annually recognizes and honors individuals from the Southeast Region of the United States who have had a significant impact or influence on natural resources conservation practice or partnerships at the local, state, territory, regional or national levels.

Bowman has been a District Supervisor for the Catoosa County Conservation District since 2000 and has served as Chair for 18 years. He has been a Board Member of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) for 11 years, currently serving as Vice- President. He was inducted into the GACD Hall of Fame in 2018. His father, Roger Bowman, Sr. was a founding member of the Catoosa County Conservation District and is also a member of GACD’s Hall of Fame.

Danny Hogan, NACD Representative for Georgia, congratulated Roger on this honor and recognition noting, "GACD would not be where we are today without Roger’s hard work. I could not say enough, nor could we honor him enough for what he has meant to GACD. We will continue to rely on his knowledge and expertise in years to come."

Roger grew up as the third generation on Sunrise Farm, a 350-acre farm in Catoosa County. The Bowman’s produced vegetables and marketed them to wholesalers in Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN. By the late 1950s, they added a 500 head “farrow to finish” commercial swine operation. Growing up, Roger was involved in 4-H where he focused on row crops, forestry, livestock production and land judging.

Helping his father install terraces and retention ponds on their ridgeland farm and maintain drainage systems on their bottomland farm, Roger had an early firsthand education on contemporary conservation practices. While in high school he worked as summer intern with the local Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) technician doing survey work and cropland measurement. This, along with his participation in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Natural Resources Conservation Program solidified his interest in natural resource conservation.

Roger graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and began working in sales for an industrial company in Nashville, Tennessee serving the mining, construction, and forestry industries. During this time Roger completed his Masters of Business Administration at Vanderbilt University. In 1991 Roger founded a company distributing and servicing power generation systems in Kentucky and Tennessee. This business expanded to include operations in North and South Carolina and Georgia.

In 1997, Roger and Kay moved back to the farm in Catoosa County and named it Full Circle Farm. For several years they maintained a commercial beef operation. During this time Roger served the County as Chair of the Planning and Zoning Board for several years and later as Vice-Chair of the Economic Development Authority. Roger’s love of the land and its conservation also fostered a lifelong passion for hunting, fishing and training bird dogs.

Today, six generations of the Bowman family have walked on Full Circle Farm. For over 30 years Roger has pursued his interest in family history and as an amateur genealogist has traced many of his ancestral families back to their original homes in Europe. As Roger says, “this in one project that will never be completed”.

Roger and his wife Kay met at the University of Georgia and have been married 57 years. They reside in Ringgold and have three children, six grandchildren and one great grandson. Family is the largest part of their lives.

Katie Sponberger, Executive Director, GACD with Roger Bowman, 2021 NACD SE Hall of Fame Inductee

Check out Roger’s Hall of Fame presentation video below! Be sure to turn your volume up.

The mission of GACD is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.

Ted Hughes of Oglethorpe County and Sonny Turner of Walton County Re-Elected to GACD Board

August 18, 2021:  At their virtual meeting on August 18, members of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) re-elected Ted Hughes of Oglethorpe County as GACD Group 2 Vice-President, and Sonny Turner of Walton County as GACD Group 2 Alternate Vice- President. They will serve two year terms.

Pictured: Ted Hughes, GACD Group 2 Vice- President and Sonny Turner, GACD Group 2 Alternate Vice- President

Ted and Patsy Hughes own and operate Chantilly Farms, a small beef cattle operation located in Smithonia, Oglethorpe County. Chantilly Farm is the center of life for the Hughes; farming is their life and lifestyle. Mr. Hughes and his wife participate in USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service programs to conserve the soil and water resources on their farm. Over the years, they have implemented practices such as heavy use areas, installation of watering systems, nutrient and pest management, critical area planting, riparian buffers and upland wildlife management. In addition, they have been practicing rotational grazing since 1970. These practices serve to address the soil condition and erosion, and water quality issues on the farm. He has served as a District Supervisor for the Broad River Soil and Water Conservation District since 2019.

Sonny Turner up in Greene County, helping his parents on their family dairy farm. As a young man, he became interested in resource conservation after attending Georgia’s second ever Natural Resources Conservation Workshop (NRCW) during high school. After teaching Agriculture Education for three years at Monroe Area High School, Sonny continued his involvement in local agriculture as a 4-H volunteer and President of the FFA Alumni Association. A deep love of the land led him and his brother to rehabilitating their family farm that now produces hay and forestry products. Retired from Walton EMC, Sonny works hard to interest youth in natural resources by spearheading scholarship efforts as well as annual sponsorship of students to the NRCW that inspired him so many years ago. He has served as a District Supervisor for the Walton County Conservation District since 2010. 

Group 2 Vice-Presidents serve on the Board of Directors for GACD in representation of the 14 Soil and Water Conservation Districts spanning 42 counties across Northeast Georgia.

The mission of GACD is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.

John Redding of Walton County Recognized as Past President of NACD

July 25, 2021, Chicago, Illinois-- John Redding of Walton County joined Past Presidents of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) in celebration of NACD’s 75th anniversary in Chicago, Illinois. John is the only Georgian to serve as President of the organization since its founding in 1946.

The 75th Anniversary Celebration was hosted at the Hancock Center, and featured remarks from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, as well as a historical presentation from Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) Historian Joe Otto.

Pictured L to R: Tim Palmer (Iowa), Brent Van Dyke (NM), Earl Garber (LA), Michael Crowder (WA), Lee McDaniel (Maryland), Steve Robinson (OH), John Redding (GA), Gary Mast (OH), Rudy Rice (IL), Gerald Vap (NE), Bill Wilson (OK), Gerald Diggerness (WA)

John Redding’s involvement with NACD and natural resources conservation began through his service with the Walton County Conservation District where he served as Chair for 31 years. John has served NACD in many capacities including representing the State of Georgia as a board member, committee chair, regional chair, executive board member, and treasurer.  He served as President of NACD from 2008-2009.  As President, he was an advocate for the conservation of the nation’s natural resources through testimony to the US House and Senate Agriculture Committees.  John was also selected by US Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack to serve as a panelist at the National Rural Summit and by President George W. Bush to participate in the Collaborative Conservation event in Washington, DC.

John owns a 500-acre farm in southwest Georgia where he implements soil and water conservation practices in the production of cotton, peanuts and timber. He currently serves as a representative of the Walton County Conservation District, Board Member Emeritus for the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD), and Treasurer for the National Conservation Foundation.  He resides in Monroe and is married to the former Levon Wilkerson, father to Cynthia (Tom Walker) and Carly, and proud grandfather to Lucy.

Mark Masters, president of GACD, congratulated John on this recognition noting, “Mr. Redding is a true ambassador of conservation and we are thankful and proud that he is a member of our GACD family.”

 The mission of GACD is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us.

Local Students Awarded with $6,500 Scholarships at 2021 Natural Resources Conservation Workshop

Tifton, GA, July 2, 2021:  Every year, Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Georgia sponsor high school students to attend the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop (NRCW) held at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA. The 5-day Workshop allows students to take part in lectures and hands-on activities to boost their knowledge of Georgia’s vital natural resources. It also provides them with a taste of college life while delivering valuable insight into careers in agriculture and natural resources through their advisors and instructors. Twenty-four scholarships were awarded at this year’s event.

The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) and Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout Georgia partnered to provide two $6,500 scholarships to the overall highest scoring individuals at camp. These scholarships can be used at any accredited college in the state of Georgia.

The recipients of the 2021 Georgia Conservation District Scholarships are:

Luca Antinozzi, 12th grade, Chamblee Charter High School, Dekalb County

Pictured: Michelle Boone- NRCW Director, Luca Antonizzi- 2021 Georgia Conservation District Scholarship recipient, Katie Sponberger- GACD Executive Director

Mallory Martin, 11th grade, Villa Rica High School, Carroll County

Pictured: Michelle Boone- NRCW Director, Mallory Martin- 2021 Georgia Conservation District Scholarship recipient, Katie Sponberger- GACD Executive Director

Be sure to check out Luca and Mallory's videos where they discuss their college and career plans and their experiences at the 2021 NRCW!

Thank you to all of Georgia's Conservation Districts for your continued support of NRCW and contributing towards the 2021 Georgia Conservation District Scholarships!

The mission of GACD is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.

GACD and GSWCC Celebrate Conservation Education; Affirm Spirit of Cooperation

The Board of Directors from the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) and Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) celebrated the opportunity to meet jointly in conjunction with the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop held last week in Tifton, GA. Against the backdrop of high-schoolers from all across Georgia learning about our state’s natural resources, Board members had the opportunity learn from each other about ongoing organizational efforts to improve the conservation and management of those very same resources.

“It’s been far too long since our members have been able to sit down in the same room to talk, learn and fellowship,” said Bob Martin, Chair of GSWCC. “We plan to make similar joint meetings a regular occurrence and look forward to building on these initial conversations.”

Board members and staff from GSWCC and GACD also took time to discuss and assign specific action items necessary to meet the near-term needs of Conservation Districts around the state as well as develop a set of foundational elements that may be used in establishing a more formal partnership agreement in the future.

“Each organization has a role to play in supporting Districts and promoting conservation around our state,” said Mark Masters, President of GACD. “Establishing a clear framework that allows each of us to make the most of our limited resources is in the best interest of our members, the state, external partners and, importantly, the natural resources we’re engaged to protect and conserve.”

Throughout the day, Board members were also able to hear updates from organizers and participants with the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop. Sponsored in part by GACD and in partnership with GSWCC and a host of other state and federal entities, the Workshop is celebrating its 60th year of educating high school students on the value, protection, and conservation of Georgia’s wildlife, forestry, mining, soil and water resources. Hosted by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, the Workshop provides students with a taste of college life while delivering valuable insight into conservation careers through their counselors and instructors.

“It was encouraging to hear how engaged the students have been in this year’s class,” said Tabatha Wooten, Vice President of GACD. “The Workshop is a good reminder of what can be accomplished through organizational cooperation and partnership.”

For more information on the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop or other GACD sponsored programs and activities, visit https://www.gacd.us/ or contact us using the information below. Visit https://gaswcc.georgia.gov/ for information on GSWCC or reach out using contact information also provided below.

For more information:
Georgia Association of Conservation Districts
(833) 411-4223
info@gacd.us

Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
(706) 552-4470
gaswcc.swcd@ga.gov

Pictured left to right: Jake Ford, GACD Secretary (Berrien County); Bob Martin, GSWCC Chair (Irwin County); Kerry Van Moore, GSWCC (Coffee County); Tabatha Wooten, GACD Vice President (Jeff Davis County); Vikki Consiglio GSWCC/GACD Treasurer (Henry County); Brian Ponder, GACD (Tift County); Woody Snell, GACD (Cobb County); Mark Masters, GACD President (Terrell County); John Redding, GACD (Walton County). Not pictured but participating remotely: Jerry Holcomb, GACD (Liberty County); Jason Winters, GSWCC (Chattooga County); Edwin Nix, GSWCC (White County).

GACD and GSWCC Board members and staff with the 2021 Natural Resource Conservation Workshop participants.

GACD SIGNS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) is excited to announce a new multi-year cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Over the last four years, GACD has played a pivotal role in promoting and delivering conservation information and practices across the state through our Conservation District membership. Under the new agreement set to begin July 1, GACD will remain in a strong position to provide Districts administrative and technical support, develop and distribute conservation education and training material and, most importantly, work with our partners to develop a unified voice for locally-led, voluntary conservation across the state.

“Our mission at NRCS is to deliver conservation solutions,” noted Terrance O. Rudolph, state conservationist for NRCS in Georgia. “By partnering with GACD and the diversity of District supervisors they represent, our Agency’s ability to address the variety of conservation needs across Georgia is greatly enhanced.”

“The team at GACD looks forward to strengthening our relationship with NRCS, the Georgia Soil and Water Commission and other partners around the state,” said Mark Masters, president of GACD. “The resources made available as part of this new agreement will serve to amplify our conservation message to agricultural producers, policy-makers and the general public.”

The mission of GACD is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.