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.

Herbert Hodges of Emanuel County Receives State Award for Conservation Efforts

November 26, 2024:  Herbert Hodges of Swainsboro, Georgia has been named the 2024 Conservationist of the Year by the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) for his outstanding contributions to natural resources conservation.

Herbert Hodges is an ordained minister who practices what he preaches and shares the good news of his heart. When it comes to his love for the land, he can't help but share his life lessons with others and learn from his mistakes. A strong conservation advocate, Herbert helps connect minority landowners to resources in order for them to achieve their conservation goals. 

Over the years, the Hodges family has hosted many groups to teach climate resilient land management techniques that reduce wildfire risk, sequester carbon emissions, and provide for a healthier and more diverse wildlife population. With assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, 390 acres of longleaf pine were established with firebreaks to allow future prescribed burning, with more longleaf plantings planned this winter. To maintain and improve low-lying bottomlands and stream crossings, water bars were installed to help combat soil erosion and sediment loading. Mr. Hodges has worked with a consulting forester and other professionals to reach the family's goals for their land. Keeping the family estate intact has benefited the native wildlife, too. A sustainable population of the state's threatened gopher tortoise has been documented. Along with tortoises, aggregate species like the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake have been observed.

In 2021, he partnered with National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and NRCS Georgia to transform his farm into a “model farm” and provide mentorship to fellow landowners, specifically minority landowners. He has hosted several "Learn and Burns" with the NWF, NRCS, Pine Country RC&D, Georgia Forestry Commission and the Ohoopee River Soil and Water Conservation District. Mr. Hodges worked closely with NWF, NRCS, The Longleaf Alliance, the GA Heirs Property Law Center, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and many other groups to develop a first-of-its kind curriculum titled "Longleaf and the Landowner”, a 3-day Longleaf Academy tailored to the minority landowner experience and history. 2024 has become an impactful year with additional workshops conducted, and NWF is working with Mr. Hodges to expand the mentorship program to additional states based on the success of his program in Georgia. 

Mr. Hodges has sat on several panels with NWF and the U.S. Forest Service to share his experiences as a historically underserved landowner, as well as his experience as the first “Longleaf for All” Landowner Mentor. USDA-NRCS featured Mr. Hodges and his family accomplishments in the January 2024 publication of “Fridays on the Farm”, titled "Lifetime of Leadership and Longleaf Conservation". 

Mr. Hodges is committed to long-term sustainable forestry and wildlife management for himself, his family, and landowners in the community and region. The Hodges Family farm serves as a demonstration site for other landowners, training and motivating that will inspire others.

“As farmers, it is our duty to be good stewards of the land that we are so blessed to work each day.  This obligation is owed to our future generations,” said Jake Ford,  President of GACD. “It’s great to see the spotlight on someone who is committed to conservation and sustainability. We congratulate Mr. Hodges on this honor and wish him luck as he competes to represent Georgia for the national Friend of Conservation award to be announced soon.”

“Herbert Hodges has worked tirelessly with his family, friends and other forest landowners to improve Georgia’s longleaf pine landscape,” said Georgia NRCS State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph. “This recognition is well deserved, and while we celebrate him this year, his dedication should be remembered for generations to come.”

GACD’s Conservationist of the Year award is chosen in conjunction with Georgia’s USDA-NRCS and recognizes producers who are conducting exemplary conservation work on their land and have demonstrated a strong commitment to soil and water conservation through stewardship, outreach and community interactions. Herbert was nominated for this award by the Ohoopee River Soil and Water Conservation District. 

The mission of the 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 to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.

T. LARRY NIX APPOINTED AS BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS OF GACD

OCTOBER 8, 2024: The Board of Directors of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) appointed T. Larry Nix of Gainesville, GA as Board Member Emeritus at their Executive Committee meeting held virtually on October 8, 2024.

GACD Emeritus board members have dedicated many years to soil and water conservation and have also previously served for a significant period of time in leadership roles where they have contributed to the success of the organization. They will remain connected in an honorary capacity to serve as mentors and advisors to the GACD Board of Directors.

Nix previously served as a devoted Hall County Conservation District Supervisor for over 38 years before stepping away to care for his wife Patsy. He was appointed as Hall County Conservation District Emeritus in 2020. Nix has served as GACD President and is a member of the GACD Hall of Fame for his conservation efforts. In addition, he served on the National Association of Conservation District’s (NACD) board and was inducted into the NACD Southeast Hall of Fame. Nix has also served in leadership roles with the National Conservation Foundation and Chestatee-Chattahoochee RC&D Council. He was inducted into the Hall County Agribusiness Hall of Fame in 2010.

"GACD values the wisdom acquired from Mr. Nix’s many years of dedication to the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources, and I look forward to his involvement and valuable counsel going forward. It is exceptional when a Board can continue to benefit from the ongoing involvement from emeritus”, says Jake Ford, GACD President.

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.