LINCOLN COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT

The Lincoln County Conservation District is a legal subdivision of the state of Georgia. It was created on February 22, 1948 by authority and provision of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law of 1937.

The District exists to serve the public and to ensure a healthy and productive environment. The District works for the well-being of the people while safeguarding land and water.

The board is made up of farmers, landowners and land users, who are dedicated to the conservation, development and protection of our land, water, forest, wildlife and natural resources for the benefits of mankind.

NEWS

Lincoln County Conservation District Offering Feral Swine Control Services

March 13, 2024: Feral swine have become increasingly detrimental in Georgia, causing significant damage to agricultural crops and natural resources throughout the state. The economic impact of damage caused by feral swine in Georgia is estimated at over $150 million. Feral swine are one of the greatest invasive species challenges facing Georgia.

The Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District is a unit of state government that directs natural resource management programs throughout the county. The Conservation District works with producers, 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.

In order to offer relief to producers and landowners struggling with invasive feral swine, the Conservation District has acquired a trapping system to provide control services throughout Lincoln County. If you are interested in feral swine control services, please contact the District’s Hog Control Custodian, Chris Dunsmore at dunsmorechris@yahoo.com or 706-401-0990.

More information can be found at www.gacd.us/lincolncounty.

LINCOLN COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR POSTER AND PHOTO CONTEST

Lincolnton, GA, January 02, 2025—The Lincoln 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 and Photo Contest for students and adults located within the District’s service area. The service area includes Lincoln 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 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 “Home is Where the Habibat is” highlights the essential role of both natural and managed habitats in our conservation efforts. The deadline to enter the contest is February 28, 2025.

The annual Photo Contest provides amateur photographers, 8 years old and up, the chance to have their photograph selected to advance on to the state contest. The age categories are 8-12, 13-18, and 19 and up. 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 February 28, 2025.

The Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District is a unit of state government that directs natural resource management programs in Lincoln 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/lincolncounty.

Events

Supervisors

Featured

Dalton Tankersley, Chair

Chris Dunsmore

Chris Heitmann

Chris Heitmann has been a resident of Lincoln County for 23 years. He and his wife Susan have one son who is a high school senior at Lincoln County High School. He owns H&H Industrial Maintenance, Inc., a local company providing jobs for the community and support to many people for the past 23 years. His wife Susan owns Lo & Gussies, a local boutique shop on Main Street. His son Gavin is a senior at LCHS where he excels in academics and enjoys playing soccer for the Red Devils. Chris serves and supports the community through many groups, school related and otherwise as a business owner, parent and concerned citizen willing to help. He currently serves as a Supervisor and Treasurer on the Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, the Lincoln County School Board of Education, District 4, the Lincoln County Athletic Booster Club as project chair, helping work and sponsor the annual Golf Tournament. Chris and his family attend Lincoln County United Methodist Church where he is currently Lay Leader. Chris and his family are land owners who farm timber and cattle. He understands the need for good stewards to implement land preservation so future generations can enjoy what we all take for granted.

Becky Tankersley

Rebecca married into a farm family and began her love of farming. Her husband, Brian, was a county extension agent for 35 years. With his expertise, they have grown their family farm into a community asset. Double Branches Farm and Produce Market is a 140 acre U-Pick farm which produces strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, pumpkins, and vegetable greens for the community. Drip irrigation was installed in order to conserve water resources from their well and nearby stream. Using crop rotation and planting with plant based plastics during strawberry season are beneficial to their crops. Rebecca has learned so much about conservation and farming as well as the importance of pollination. Bee hives are kept on the farm to assist the bees with the work of pollination needed for abundant berry production. Extra care is taken to provide the bees with sunflowers and other wild flowers which help the bees to make enough honey for food stores throughout the winter months. With the assistance of master gardeners, Double Branches Farms, runs an education program to teach school aged children and other groups about pollination and other farming techniques. Double Branches Farms was named as Georgia’s 2019 recipients of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) U.S. Farmer-Rancher Pollinator Conservation Award for their dedication toward pollination efforts. Rebecca is excited to use her Lincoln County SWCD Board position to teach others about the importance of farming and conservation techniques.

Gary Ward

Gary Ward entered school at Augusta Collage and soon transferred to the United States Air Force and spent four years as a Jet Engine Mechanic. After his service to the US military, he finished his degree at Georgia Tech with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. After college, he worked for Cessna Aircraft Company. Ward returned home to expand his family owned sawmill in McCormick, SC. The family sold the fully integrated Pine processing facility that produced 20,000 BF/hour. Ward became a pilot at the age of 16 and performed aerobatics at air shows all over Central and North America. Ward is a 4th generation Pine grower and has managed the 3000 family owned timberland since 1977. Throughout the years, he has managed the timber stands with thinning, cutting and replanting trees for regrowth, and prescribed burning along with other Best Practice Management. Ward loves the land and loves managing his timber stands and continues to look for ways to improve and teach conservation practices in Georgia, the national leader in forestry.

DISTRICT SERVICES

Meeting Information

The Lincoln County Conservation District meets the first Thursday of each month at 1 PM in the Lincolnton, GA Farm Bureau Office.

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