GACD HONORS DISTRICT SUPERVISORS FOR SERVICE

August 18, 2025 - Jekyll Island, GA – GACD has been lucky to have a number of individuals willing to make long-term commitments as District Supervisors on the boards of their local Conservation Districts. We appreciate the tireless efforts made by District Supervisors in conserving, protecting, and improving the natural resources in their local areas. GACD recognizes District Supervisors each year for dedication to their local Conservation District and natural resources conservation in the state of Georgia. Supervisors who reach 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 service year milestones receive a pin of service. Today during the Luncheon, we honored several of these individuals who were present at the Annual Meeting.

10 YEAR
Group 1 

• Betts Berry, Catoosa County

• Tony Cole, West Georgia

• Matthew Retter, Gwinnett County

• David Van Landingham, Gwinnett County

Group 2

• Timothy Anderson, Upper Ocmulgee River

• Russell Biggers, Stephens County

• Tommy Blackstock, Hall County

• Charlie Byrd, Brier Creek

• Missy Garner, Warren County

• Chad Mosley, Warren County

Group 3

• Bob Martin, Middle South Georgia

Group 4

• Bill Barrett, Ohoopee River

• Jake Ford, Alapaha

• Howard Morris, Ohoopee River

20 YEAR
Group 1

• Milton Stewart, Coosa River

Group 3

• Jack McGlaun, Ocmulgee River

30 YEAR
Group 1

• Davis Nelson, Coosa River

Group 2

• Virginia Palmer, Blue Ridge Mountain

40 YEAR
Group 1

• Joel Keith, Roosevelt

Group 2

• George Reeves, McDuffie County

Thank you and Congratulations to all District Supervisors for your service!

Alan Toney of Fulton County Inducted into Southeast Conservation Hall of Fame

August 4, 2025, Louisville, KY— Alan Toney of Fulton County was inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Southeast Region Hall of Fame at their Luncheon held in Louisville, KY on August 4.

Pictured: Alan Toney with Steven Meeks

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.

Alan Toney has been a District Supervisor for the Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District for 31 years. He currently serves as the District Chair. He was inducted into the GACD Hall of Fame in 2021 for his leadership efforts in conservation. 

As a fourth generation Atlanta native, Alan had the pleasure of exploring Georgia’s woods and waterways from a young age. Growing up, he spent his time in the ponds and rivers near his home. An avid outdoorsman, and Georgia Master Naturalist, Alan is a student of the outdoors. He enjoys fly fishing, kayaking, seeing wildlife, and visiting Yellowstone National Park with his family. 

He is a founding member of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, and worked with Former President Jimmy Carter on the Friends of the River initiative to create the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. He served as Vice Chair of the Atlanta Development Planning Committee during the implementation of the Metropolitan River Protection Act, helping to protect Georgia’s waters in the midst of booming urban development.

Now retired from corporate finance, Alan continues his devotion to the outdoors. As a Chattahoochee Riverkeeper volunteer, he has logged 2,800 annual miles collecting water samples of the Chattahoochee River and its tributaries to monitor the health of Georgia’s waterways that impact humans and the ecosystem at large. Alan also serves as the Treasurer of Friends of Lost Corner Nature Preserve that implements native plants and pollinator habitat.

Alan and the other district supervisors work together to protect state waters in Atlanta’s heavily urban environment. Fellow district supervisor Cory Rayburn had this to say of him: “in his 30 years on the Fulton County SWCD, Alan has exemplified strong leadership and vision with a focus on keeping our local water resources healthy and clean. Alan has inspired me with his wisdom and sense of tact when balancing environmental protection with sustaining healthy growth in the County. His early work with grassroots environmental organizations laid the groundwork that is now embedded in the way we manage and protect our soil and water resources.”

Alan is a long time advocate for Georgia’s natural places and has championed conservation causes such as water quality, native plants and pollinator habitat restoration, invasive species removal, erosion and sedimentation control, and more. Congratulations, Alan.

Pictured: (L-R) Mark Masters, Katie Sponberger, Alan Toney, Brian Ponder, and Ellis Lamme

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.

Fulton County Student Awarded with $6,500 Scholarship at 2025 Natural Resources Conservation Workshop

Tifton, GA, June 16, 2025: 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. Over $20,000 was awarded in scholarships at this year’s event. 

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

The recipient of the 2025 Georgia Conservation District Scholarship is Emily Sloboda of Fulton County. She is a rising senior at Innovation Academy. Her attendance to the Workshop was sponsored by the Fulton County Conservation District.

The mission of Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (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. 

Pictured: (First Row L-R) Ellis Lamme - GACD Vice President, Sadie Wood - Soil Conservation Technician, Leanne Hopper - GACD Southwest Regional Program Manager, Katelyn Poppell - GACD Southeast Regional Program Manager, Dana Tripp - GACD Northeast Regional Program Manager, Danny Hogan - GACD Board Member Emeritus, Tabatha Wooten - GACD Treasurer; (Second Row L-R) Brian Ponder - GACD Vice President, Emily Sloboda - 2025 Scholarship Recipient, Katie Sponberger - GACD Executive Director, Deetra Poindexter - GACD Group 1 Vice President; (Third Row L-R) Andrew Standard - GACD Group 4 Vice President, Jim Waters - GACD Secretary, Marc Land - GACD Feral Hog Program Manager, Sonny Turner - GACD Group 2 Vice President, Michael Raulerson - GACD Group 4 Vice President, and Andy Payne - GACD Group 3 Vice President

Wes Fogle of Whitfield County and Deetra Poindexter of Clayton County Re-Elected to GACD Board

Acworth, GA -- At the GACD Group 1 Regional Meeting held at Tanyard Creek Overlook on February 18, district supervisors of GACD Group 1 re-elected Wes Fogle of Whitfield County for a third term as GACD Group 1 Vice-President, and re-elected Deetra Poindexter of Clayton County for a second term as GACD Group 1 Alternate Vice-President. Group 1 Vice-Presidents serve on the Board of Directors for GACD in representation of the fourteen Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Group 1 spanning 39 counties across Metro Atlanta, Northwest and West Georgia. They will each serve two-year terms.

Wes was born and raised on a dairy farm in Cope, South Carolina where he was exposed to soil and water conservation at a young age through his family’s partnership with their local USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office. Today, Wes enjoys timber farming, hunting and the outdoors, and splits his time between his land in Georgia and South Carolina. He has served as a District Supervisor for the Limestone Valley Soil and Water Conservation District since 2013. 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.

Deetra Poindexter of Jonesboro has served as a District Supervisor for Clayton County Soil & Water Conservation District since 2020. She majored in Early Childhood education in college and has spent her 30 year career making a difference in the lives of youth and in her community. She continues to work with students in her role as a Clayton County District Supervisor by promoting conservation education programs including the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop, the annual conservation poster contest, and STEM and conservation student programs throughout Clayton County. Growing up, she spent summers visiting her grandparents 1,000+ acre farm in Quitman, Ga which started her passion for natural resource conservation. 

Ricardo Diaz of Juliette, GA named 2025 GACD $1000 Scholarship Recipient

Ricardo is a senior at Mary Persons High School and will be attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the fall to pursue a degree in Horticulture.

Mark Masters Elected as NACD First Vice President

Salt Lake City, UT – On February 12th, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the 2025 NACD Officers and Executive Board members and they were sworn in at last night’s Appreciation Banquet.

Mark Masters of Georgia was elected as First Vice President. He previously served as NACD Secretary-Treasurer. He is currently GACD Past President and a District Supervisor for the Lower Chattahoochee Conservation District.

Georgia Recognized at NACD Annual Meeting

Georgia Residents Place in National Conservation Themed Photo Contest

 Salt Lake City, Utah – The annual National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Photo Contest promotes conservation education to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.  The contest coincides with Stewardship Week, a part of NACD’s Stewardship Program that teaches students what it means to be wise stewards of our natural resources. 
The award recipients were announced during NACD's Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT on February 10.

The second-place winner of NACD’s Photo Contest in the Conservation Practices Youth Division is Holt Sapp. His winning photo is titled “Burning at Di-Lane”. His photo was submitted to GACD by the Brier Creek Conservation District.

The second-place winner of NACD’s Photo Contest in the Agriculture and Conservation Across America Youth Division is Alaina Sneed. Her winning photo is titled “A Better Way”. Her photo was submitted to GACD by the Rockdale County Conservation District.

The second-place winner of NACD’s Photo Contest in the Conservation Practices Adult Division is Shawn Butler. His winning photo is titled “What Goes Around Comes Around”. His photo was submitted to GACD by the Coastal Georgia Conservation District.

NACD Announces 2025 Friends of NACD District Grant Program Recipients

Yesterday, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the 2025 recipients of the Friends of NACD District Grants Program during NACD’s Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT. 

The Friends of NACD District Grants Program supports voluntary, locally led conservation education, youth development, and food security projects proposed by conservation districts across the NACD network. Now in its sixth year, the program is funded through donations individuals and organizations make to NACD. Since Fiscal Year 2020, Friends of NACD has awarded approximately $96,000 in grant funding to 39 districts across the country. This year, eight conservation districts will receive awards up to $2,500 each to implement community-based projects. 

Gwinnett Soil and Water Conservation District project titled In My Backyard: Streambank Stabilization "Train the Trainer" Workshop.

The Gwinnett Soil and Water Conservation District will partner with the Georgia Association of Water Professionals to teach small-scale solutions for eroding stream banks. Attendees will participate in hands-on streambank protection and invasive species treatment projects, including the installation of native plants to re-establish natural buffers.

Georgia Receives Award for 100% District Participation

Jake Ford, GACD President, receives award for 100% District Participation from Kim LaFleur, NACD President. The 100% District Participation award is given to states who have all Conservation Districts pay NACD membership dues.

Thank you to Georgia’s Conservation Districts for being members of NACD!

EARL BRANTLEY OF HALL COUNTY HONORED FOR SERVICE TO GACD AND USDA-NRCS

January 28, 2025: At their Group Meeting in Covington, GA on January 28, members and partners of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) honored Mr. Earl Brantley for his almost 50 years of service to USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and GACD. Earl had a 36 year career with NRCS as Assistant State Conservationist (Field Operations) and 12 years with GACD administering its Cooperative Agreement program which assists NRCS offices with staffing through county employee positions.

RICKY YARBROUGH OF JONES COUNTY AND SONNY TURNER OF WALTON COUNTY RE-ELECTED AS GACD GROUP 2 VICE PRESIDENTS

January 28, 2025: At their Group Meeting in Covington, GA on January 28, members of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) re-elected Ricky Yarbrough of Jones County as GACD Group 2 Vice-President and Sonny Turner of Walton County as GACD Group 2 Alternate Vice-President. Yarbrough currently serves as a District Supervisor for the Piedmont Conservation District and Turner serves as a District Supervisor for the Walton County Conservation District. They will each serve another two year term and represent Conservation Districts located in the Northeast region of the state on the GACD Board.

(pictured Ricky Yarbrough (left) and Sonny Turner (right))

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.

JACOB TURNER OF PEACH COUNTY AND ANDY PAYNE OF WEBSTER COUNTY ELECTED AS GACD GROUP 3 VICE PRESIDENTS

January 16, 2025: At their Group Meeting in Tifton, GA on January 16, members of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) elected Jacob Turner of Peach County as GACD Group 3 Vice-President, and Andy Payne of Webster County as GACD Group 3 Alternate Vice-President. Turner currently serves as a District Supervisor for Ocmulgee River Conservation District and Payne serves as a District Supervisor for Lower Chattahoochee River Conservation District. They will each serve two year terms and represent Conservation Districts located in the Southwest region of the state on the GACD Board.

(pictured Jacob Turner (left) and Andy Payne (right))

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.