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.
Pictured (L-R): Dan Bennett, Sonny Turner, and Jake Ford