2025 Affiliate Membership Drive

Our District sincerely appreciates the outstanding support we receive from our many fine Affiliate Members. We could not continue our conservation efforts without them. 

WALTON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Walton County joined the Ocmulgee District in 1939 before eventually becoming its own district in 1977. The Walton County Conservation District is one of the few single county districts in the state. This means Walton County residents benefit from a consolidation of funds and resources and easier coordination with local governments.

Upcoming Events

Featured Projects

Conservationist of the Year

We honor one farm in Walton County whose efforts towards conservation and land stewardship are a standout in our community and provide an excellent example for others to follow. Congratulations to our 2025 honoree - Clegg Farm.

NRCW support

The annual Natural Resources Conservation Workshop is held each summer at ABAC in Tifton, GA. Our goal is to sponsor up to ten students to attend. 2026 information will be provided soon.

Julian E. Brown Scholarship

The Julian Emerson Brown Conservation Scholarship is intended to reward and assist a student who is dedicated to soil and water conservation and is interested in pursuing a career in a related field. The $2,000 scholarship is available to a high school senior or college freshman at any accredited college. The application deadline is March 31, 2026. The 2025 recipient is Caileigh Goldstein from Walnut Grove High School.

Julian E. Brown Study Area

Mathew’s Park is host to a study area that was created in honor of Julian E. Brown. It offers trails and tree identification signs as well as many opportunities for wildlife and pollinator habitat education. There are continued efforts to maintain and enhance this conservation resource in Monroe, GA.

Harris Homestead Support

“The historic William Harris Homestead serves as a cultural and educational center dedicated to the advancement or heritage, agricultural and environmental knowledge.” We support this mission and the Homestead by joining their programs and activities with educational, hands-on lessons to enhance the gardening and farming practices highlighted there. 

School Outreach

Walton County Conservation District works to increase agricultural and natural resource education in the county by providing demonstrations, lessons, and outreach to local schools.

FERAL SWINE SERVICES

Walton County Conservation District provides feral swine services for Walton County. For more information, please contact Matt Chandler at chandlerfarms@me.com or 770-601-0832.

NEWS

WALTON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR POSTER/POSTER CONTEST

Monroe, GA, January 27, 2026—The Walton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), a local agency dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of the area’s natural resources, is now accepting entries for their Poster Contest for students located within the District’s service area. The service area includes Walton County. 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. 

The annual Poster Contest provides public, private and homeschooled students throughout Walton County in 3rd thru 5th grades the chance to have their art selected to advance on to the state contest. Prizes will be awarded for the top three winners. Each year, the poster topic reflects National Association of Conservation Districts’s annual Stewardship theme and highlights the work of Conservation Districts to protect and enhance natural resources. This year’s theme, “Soil. Where it all Begins”, celebrates the incredible power of soil to support life in all its forms. Soil is not just the ground we walk on. It is the starting point for healthy food, clean water, thriving habitats, and resilient communities. From backyard gardens to forests and city parks, everything begins with what is beneath our feet. The deadline to enter the contest is April 03, 2026. 

The annual Photo Contest provides amateur photographers the chance to have their photograph selected to advance on to the state contest. The age category is 6th thru 12th grade. Prizes will be awarded for the top three winners in each category. Each photographer is allowed to enter up to five photos that fit into one of four categories: Conservation Practices, Close-up Conservation, Conservation in Action, and Agriculture and Conservation Across Georgia. The deadline to enter the contest is April 03, 2026.

The Walton County Soil and Water Conservation District is a unit of state government that directs natural resource management programs in Walton County. The Conservation District works with farmers, 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. More information can be found at www.gacd.us.

SONNY TURNER INDUCTED INTO GACD HALL OF FAME

August 6, 2024 - Braselton, GA – The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts held their annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 during their Annual Meeting to honor and award those individuals who have gone above and beyond to further conservation efforts for our state. The highlight of the evening is naming the Hall of Fame Inductee. 

The GACD Hall of Fame preserves the history of the conservation movement in Georgia by recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to soil and water conservation. 

Sonny Turner has been a District Supervisor representing Walton County for the Walton County Conservation District for 14 years. He currently serves as a GACD Board Member serving as our Group 2 Alternate Vice President and was awarded GACD Supervisor of the Year in 2023 for his leadership efforts throughout his region. 

Howard “Sonny” Turner grew 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 first ever Natural Resources Conservation Workshop in 1962. 

Sonny received a degree from the University of Georgia in Agricultural Education with a minor  in Agricultural Engineering. After teaching Agriculture Education for three years at Monroe Area High School he began a career at Walton EMC but continued his involvement in local agriculture as a 4-H volunteer and President of the FFA Alumni Association. 

He has truly dedicated his life to youth and education where he is known for taking high school students under his wings and giving them mentorship and resources to succeed in the agriculture and conservation fields. He spearheads scholarship opportunities and is a fierce supporter of sending students to the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop. Sonny served on the founding board of the Walton County Community  and Schools Program where he was instrumental in the formation of the Walton Career Academy.

A deep love of the land led him and his brother to rehabilitate their family farm in Greene County that now produces hay and forestry products. He takes pride in sharing the benefits of conservation to local farmers and loves to give farm tours to highlight the use of conservation practices.

Sonny's achievements are numerous, both in Walton County and statewide. He has served in  leadership roles in many civic and educational organizations including Trustee on the Athens Technical College Foundation Board, President of the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Alumni Association and the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association.

Sonny and his wife Bonnie reside in Monroe and are active members of Harmony Baptist Church.

The GACD Hall of Fame preserves the history of the conservation movement in Georgia by recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to soil and water conservation. 

Congratulations to Sonny Turner, the 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee.

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.

Pictured: Dan Bennett - GACD Board Member Emeritus, Sonny Turner, and Jake Ford - GACD President.

WALTON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT NAMED DISTRICT OF THE YEAR

August 6, 2024 - Braselton, GA – The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts held their annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 during their Annual Meeting to honor and award those individuals who have gone above and beyond to further conservation efforts for our state.

The District of the Year award was established by GACD and the Tennessee Valley Authority in 2001 to recognize the Conservation District in Georgia which best plans, implements, and reports a conservation program in a given year. GACD is excited to recognize the Walton County Conservation District as the 2024 District of the Year. 

The Walton County Conservation District has been a consistent leader in the community by actively promoting conservation to local producers and students. Over the past year, the Conservation District has hosted an Urban Agriculture Educational Event to educate landowners about soil health and plant care and spoke to local schools about invasive species and tractor safety. They provide further support to schools by awarding the Julian E. Brown Conservation Scholarship and supporting FFA Chapters. In addition, they are passionate advocates of the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop and look forward to recruiting students to attend. The District supports their local Matthews Park by hosting a park cleanup, honors a Conservationist of the Year annually, and is actively involved in GACD events and advocacy opportunities. They also participate in GACD’s Feral Swine Control program and offer trapping services to landowners throughout the county. Congratulations to GACD’s 2024 District of the Year, Walton County!

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.

Pictured: Sonny Turner - Walton County, Dana Tripp - GACD Northeast Regional Program Manager, Dan Bennett - Walton County, Matt Chandler - Walton County, and Jake Ford - GACD President.

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.

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.

District Supervisors

Meeting Information

The Walton County Conservation District meets the third Wednesday of each month, excluding July and December, at 7:30 a.m. at Walton County Farm Bureau.

Contact Walton county conservation district