Acworth, GA -- At the GACD Group 1 Regional Meeting held at Tanyard Creek Overlook on November 1, members of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) re-elected Wes Fogle of Whitfield County for a second term as GACD Group 1 Vice-President, and elected Deetra Poindexter of Clayton County 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 Northwest Georgia. They will each 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 31-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 almost eleven 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.
Wes Fogle
Deetra Poindexter of Jonesboro was born and raised in Atlanta and received her education from Dunwoody High School, Atlanta Area Technology, Atlanta Junior College and Georgia State College where she majored in Early Childhood. Deetra also received her Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarianism from The Global International Alliance on May 21, 2022. Deetra was nominated for this honor for her outstanding service, outreach efforts, and making a difference in her community and in the lives of youth for over 30 years. She has also served in the U.S. Army Reserve since 1989.
Deetra has served as a District Supervisor for Clayton County Soil & Water Conservation District for almost 3 years now. She plays a vital role in education and outreach programs related to soil and water conservation. Growing up, she spent summers visiting her grandparents 1,000+ acre farm in Quitman, Ga. Deetra enjoys her role with Clayton County Soil & Water Conservation District because it brings back sweet memories of her grandparents and helps her to feel connected to them by conserving land and water resources for future generations.
Deetra's love of education inspired her to create “Change 4 Hope”, a program that fulfills a local need to provide important mentoring and career development opportunities to homeschool students. Change 4 Hope gives students opportunities to collaborate, develop job skills, and learn about history, culture, and community. Through Change 4 Hope, students have gained jobs and internships, and have been able to experience trips across the United States and internationally. Deetra and her husband are serial entrepreneurs and have instilled their work ethic and passion for community involvement in their children.
Deetra Poindexter