GACD Honors District Supervisors for Service and Online Training

April 11, 2022 - Callaway Resort & Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA – GACD has been lucky to have a number of individuals willing to make long-term commitments as District Supervisors on the boards of their local Conservation Districts. We appreciate the tireless efforts made by District Supervisors in conserving, protecting, and improving the natural resources in their local areas. GACD recognizes District Supervisors each year for dedication to their local Conservation District and natural resources conservation in the state of Georgia. Supervisors who reach 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 service year milestones receive a pin of service. 

Group 1 District Supervisors are as follows:

Catoosa County - Keith Bonnell - 10 years

Limestone Valley - Don Keeter - 10 years

Gwinnett County - Louis Young - 10 years

Catoosa County - Roger Bowman - 20 years

Limestone Valley - Jerry Edwards - 20 years

Pine Mountain - Joey Wells - 40 years

West Georgia - Denney Rogers - 40 years

Pictured is Wes Fogle (GACD Group 1 VP), Don Keeter, Denney Rogers, and Joey Wells.

Group 2 District Supervisors are as follows:

Hall County - Gene Anderson - 20 years

Blue Ridge Mountain - Georgia Daves - 20 years

Piedmont - Heck Davis - 20 years

McDuffie County - Donald Palmer - 20  years

Warren County - Jim McMichael - 30 years

Stephens County - Jeanette Jamieson - 40 years

Upper Ocmulgee River - David Hays - 40 years

Group 3 District Supervisors are as follows:

Middle South Ga - Brian Ponder - 20 years

Ocmulgee River - Gary Slaton - 20 years

Pictured is Mark Masters (GACD President) with Brian Ponder.

Group 4 District Supervisors are as follows:

Satilla River - Daniel Good - 10 years

Central Georgia - Dan Dixon - 20 years

Alapaha - O.C. Prince - 30 years

Pictured is Dan Dixon and Jim Waters (GACD Group 4 VP).

Thank you and Congratulations to all District Supervisors for your service!

GACD’s online training program was created to provide a complete and detailed training on Conservation Districts available 24/7. We created it per the NACD guidelines and recently received a Gold rating for the program upon their review.

The following District Supervisors completed our online training program: 

Robbie Gore, District Supervisor of the Coastal District 

Carol Hayes, District Supervisor of the DeKalb County District

Tracy Grice, District Supervisor for the Coosa River Conservation District.

Pictured is Mark Masters (GACD President) with Tracy Grice.

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.

GACD Honors Annual 2022 Award Recipients

April 11, 2022 - Callaway Resort & Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA – The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts held their annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Monday, April 11, 2022 during their Annual Meeting to honor and award those individuals who have gone above and beyond to further conservation efforts for our state.

NACD Hall of Distinction

NACD President Michael Crowder with Redding

John Redding of Walton County, Georgia, was recently inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Hall of Distinction at their annual meeting in Orlando on Feb. 14.  NACD created the Hall of Distinction to recognize and honor the organization’s current and past leaders who have made major contributions to the nation’s conservation movement. 

Redding’s involvement with NACD and natural resources conservation began through his service with the Walton County Soil and Water Conservation District, where he served as chair for 31 years.

Redding has served NACD in many capacities including representing Georgia as a board member, committee chair, regional chair, executive board member and treasurer. He served as the president of NACD from 2008-09. Redding is the only Georgian to serve as president of NACD since its founding in 1946. He currently serves as a representative on the Walton County Conservation District, board member emeritus for the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, and treasurer for the National Conservation Foundation.

Redding was inducted into the Georgia Associations of Conservation District's Hall of Fame in 2013.

Conservationist of the Year

GACD President Mark Masters with Faust

Every year, GACD recognizes farmers and landowners that are conducting exemplary conservation work on their land and have demonstrated a strong commitment to soil and water conservation through their land stewardship, outreach and community interactions. The recipient of GACD’s Conservationist of the Year award is Robbie Faust.

Robbie Faust is a third-generation farmer from Terrell County in Southwest Georgia. He and his family farm 1,800 acres of cotton, corn, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. For Faust and his family, soil health is a primary factor in decision making on their farm. Bellflower Farms is home to an impressive  conservation portfolio that includes strip-till and no-till cover crops, terraces, grassed waterways, low pressure drip nozzles and more. As an early adopter of conservation practices, Robbie is always willing to share lessons learned and participate in projects that promote conservation. In 2020, Robbie entered into a partnership with the Lower Chattahoochee River Soil and Water Conservation District, Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development Council, University of Georgia Extension and USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service to participate in a multi-year cover crop outreach and education project, hosting field days on the research and demonstration plots created through the project. He was also named the National Association of Conservation Districts Friend of Conservation at their Annual Meeting in Orlando earlier this year.

Check out the video below for more information on Bellflower Farms!

District of the Year

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 Gwinnett County Soil & Water Conservation District as the 2022 District of the Year.

GACD President Mark Masters with Tixie Fowler, Ellis Lamme, and David VanLandingham

After having coordinated more than 20 river clean up events and youth outreach events last year with almost 1000 participants combined, this Conservation District has proven itself to be a pillar of the community. One of this District’s major outreach objectives last year was to promote careers in conservation to students throughout their County. They also developed and managed a successful AgSTEM aquaponics program which equips urban educators in the Archer School Cluster with knowledge on how to  implement agriculture-based science, technology, engineering and math (AgSTEM) objectives into the classroom. 

The District also played a key role in the first phase of restoring a highly eroded urban 303d impaired watershed known as Crayfish Creek in Sugar Hill. District Supervisors provided engineering services and managed  materials procurement, volunteer recruitment and raised over $90,000 towards the project. This project generated press coverage and has been state and nationally recognized for its grassroots capacity building and use of innovative technical approaches to restoring steam banks and riparian corridors.

In addition, The District installed high tunnels, raised beds and micro irrigation in three community gardens, engaged 2 sites through GACD’s Pollinator Initiative, and sponsored 6 high school students to GA Audubon Society’s Atlanta Urban Ecology program.  After such a successful year, it is evident that this district is committed to spreading the message of conservation and assisting its citizens for generations to come. Congratulations to GACD’s 2022 District of the Year, Gwinnett County!

Supervisor of the Year

GACD President Mark Masters with Grice

In appreciation of District Supervisors’ commitment to the protection of Georgia’s natural resources, GACD presents a Supervisor of the Year award at Annual Meeting. The award recognizes exemplary achievements, leadership, and service to GACD and local communities. This year, Tracy Grice, District Supervisor representing Polk County in the Coosa River Conservation District, is the 2022 Supervisor of the Year. She championed ag education, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)  curriculum, and hands-on learning for students in her role as District Supervisor and with the Paulding County Farm Bureau. She has been a great partner to GACD by helping garner interest in GACD’s programs among educators and students in her region. Two of the winning classes of the GACD-sponsored STEM Challenge were from schools within Tracy’s region. In addition, with a sponsorship from Coosa River Conservation District, Tracy piloted a water quality and wildlife habitat educational field day for local high schoolers with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and GACD. The students had the opportunity to spend a day in the water with DNR’s trout biologists in a North Georgia mountain stream catching, measuring, and releasing trout. The students learned about trout habitat, water runoff, the importance of stream buffers, and water conservation. We can’t wait to see what Tracy will do next. Thank You and congratulations to Tracy Grice for her dedicated service!

Superior Professional Support

GACD President Mark Masters with Northcutt

Each year, GACD presents an award to an individual recognized as providing superior support to soil and water Conservation Districts in Georgia. This year the GACD Superior Professional Support recipient is Judy Northcutt. Judy is the Program Assistant for the Lower Chattahoochee River Conservation District and the Golden Triangle RC&D. Judy has been the Program Assistant for 5 years. Judy rose above and beyond her position of Program Assistant and excelled in serving the Lower Chattahoochee River Conservation District and Golden Triangle RC&D. Her dedication and service in this position has truly benefited not only the surrounding community but also everyone with whom she has worked. Thank you and congratulations to Judy Northcutt for her dedicated service!

Scholarship and Photo Contest Winners

Top left: GACD Secretary Jake Ford and Scholarship Recipient Luke Nichols.

Top right: Soraya Barajas, Poster Contest Winner, with the Cobb County Conservation District (Stan Kirk, Don Ayers and Woody Snell),

Middle left: GACD Secretary Tabatha Wooten and Tariah Teasley.

Middle right: GACD Vice President Tabatha Wooten and Poster Winner Rori Pepper.

Bottom left: GACD Secretary Tabatha Wooten and Poster Winner Laura Ivey.

GACD Elects 2022 Leadership

April 11, 2022 - Callaway Resort & Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA – The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts is proud to announce our 2022 Executive Committee elected at our Annual Meeting on Monday, April 11, 2022.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2022 GACD LEADERSHIP TEAM!

Pictured Left to Right: Mark Masters, Ellis Lamme, Danny Hogan, Vikki Consiglio, Tabatha Wooten, Dan Bennett, Jake Ford, and John Redding.
Not pictured: Woody Snell

President (re-elected): Mark Masters, Lower Chattahoochee River Conservation District, Terrell County

Vice President (re-elected): Tabatha Wooten, Altamaha Conservation District, Jeff Davis County

Vice President: Ellis Lamme, Gwinnett County Conservation District

Secretary (re-elected): Jake Ford, Alapaha Conservation District, Berrien County

Treasurer (re-elected): Vikki Consiglio, Henry County Conservation District

NACD Representative: Danny Hogan, Central GA Conservation District, Laurens County

Immediate Past President: Woody Snell, Cobb County Conservation District

WE EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR FORMER VICE PRESIDENT ROGER BOWMAN. THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF GACD CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEDICATION OF HIS COUNTLESS TIME AND RESOURCES. WHILE HE STEPS DOWN INTO NEW ROLES, HIS LEGACY AND EFFORTS WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR YEARS TO COME.

Tom Mims Inducted into GACD Hall of Fame

April 11, 2022 - Callaway Resort & Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA – The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts held their annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Monday, April 11, 2022 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.

Tom Mims has been a District Supervisor representing Richmond County for the Brier Creek Conservation District since 2010. He currently serves as the District Chair. Tom also serves as the Feral Swine Committee Chair for the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts.

GACD President Mark Masters and 2022 Hall of Fame Inductee Tom Mims

Tom grew up on a small cattle farm in rural Hephzibah, Ga.  He graduated from Auburn University in 1969 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Physics. Tom began his career with Sperry Rand as an Electronics Engineer. Tom was later offered a job working for the US Army Signal Corps at Fort Gordon, GA. It was at that time that he and his wife Pat moved the family to Tom’s hometown, Hephzibah, Ga where they built a house on their 175 acre Farm- Silver Bottom Tree Farm.

While working for the Army, Tom grew a small group of technical staff into the Battle Command Battle Lab with 22 Department of Army Civilians, five military officers, and 102 contractors where they worked to resolve communications problems between army units. Tom retired from The Department of Army Civil Service at age 60. He then built his own company, TacNet Consulting LLC and provided consulting services for the Army Battle Command Battle Lab for the next 10 years. Tom fully retired from his career in engineering and consulting in 2015.

Tom is a true leader in conservation and has devoted countless hours to promote stewardship within the Brier Creek Conservation District and throughout the state of Georgia. Through Tom’s leadership, an agreement was obtained with the city of Augusta and Richmond County to include Conservation Education Outreach in their StormWater Ordinance. This agreement provides $9k/year to Brier Creek Conservation District. Tom has been awarded numerous grants to improve water quality in the Augusta area through variable rate irrigation technology, and to reduce fecal pollution in the brushy creek watershed. One of his grants is the first federal 319h grant to include “removal of feral swine” as an EPA approved Best Management Practice to reduce fecal pollution.

In addition, Tom started a Feral Swine Control Program in the Brier Creek Conservation District and through a partnership with GACD, 14 Conservation Districts across the state are now able to provide feral swine control services to landowners. Since the program began in 2017, almost nine thousand feral swine have been removed from Georgia, saving landowners an estimated $2.5 million in damages to property and agricultural crops. Tom currently leads this program throughout the state for GACD.

Tom was named GACD’s District Supervisor of the Year in 2018, and was also named the 2008 Outstanding Forest Steward for Richmond County.

In his spare time, Tom loves spending time outdoors where he enjoys camping, hunting, fishing and hiking.

Tom and Pat will celebrate their 43rd wedding anniversary in April. They have two children, Watson and Amber, and a 14 year old Grandson, Reed. 

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 Tom Mims, the 2022 Hall of Fame Inductee.

Georgia Legislature Increases Funding for Conservation

As part of a busy final day to their 2022 Session, the Georgia Legislature adopted a fiscal year 2023 budget that provides a significant boost to conservation funding in Georgia. An additional $772,300 was appropriated to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission to support conservation efforts across the state. Funding will provide a much needed increase to Conservation Districts’ local outreach and education capabilities as well as allow the Commission to hire additional staff to support District operations.  

“This funding is a clear indication of the importance locally-led conservation has in meeting our natural resource concerns throughout Georgia,” said Mark Masters, President of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD). “We are appreciative of the General Assembly for investing in this important work.”
 
Bob Martin, Chairman of the State Soil and Water Commission, noted the importance of partnerships and a unified voice in securing these funds. “We’re grateful for the strong relationship we have with GACD,” said Martin, “and for the instrumental support of District Supervisors throughout Georgia advocating for conservation.”
 
The FY2023 budget now heads to Governor Kemp for review and final approval. GACD thanks the General Assembly taking this important step and looks forward to working with the Commission and other conservation partners around the state in protecting our natural resources for the benefit of all Georgians.

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.

Robbie Faust of Terrell County Receives National Award for Conservation Efforts

February 15, 2022 Orlando, FL: Robbie Faust, owner of Bellflower Farms located in Dawson, Georgia has been named the 2021 Friend of Conservation by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) for his outstanding contributions to natural resource conservation. He was honored at the NACD Annual Meeting held in Orlando, FL on February 14.

Pictured: Mark Masters (GACD President), Mike Faust, Nancy Faust, Tillman Faust, Robbie Faust, Jessi Faust, JW Faust, Michael Crowder (NACD President).
Not pictured: Brooks Faust

Robbie Faust is a third-generation farmer from Terrell County in Southwest Georgia. He and his family farm 1,800 acres of cotton, corn, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. For Faust and his family, soil health is a primary factor in decision making on their farm. Bellflower Farms is home to an impressive e conservation portfolio that includes strip-till and no-till cover crops, terraces, grassed waterways, low pressure drip nozzles and more. As an early adopter of conservation practices, Robbie is always willing to share lessons learned and participate in projects that promote conservation. In 2020, Robbie entered into a partnership with the Lower Chattahoochee River Soil and Water Conservation District, Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development Council, University of Georgia Extension and USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service to participate in a multi-year cover crop outreach and education project, hosting field days on the research and demonstration plots created through the project. Robbie and Bellflower Farms are true friends of conservation.

Faust was also named the 2021 Conservationist of the Year by the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts. He will be honored at their Annual Meeting in April.

Pictured left to right: Tillman Faust, Robbie Faust, Brooks Faust, Jessi Faust, J.W. Faust

The Lower Chattahoochee River Soil & Water Conservation District had their 59th Annual Conservationist of the Year Banquet on February 22nd to honor all the county-level awardees for their conservation efforts. Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA) made a special appearance to honor all the awardees in addition to giving a special recognition to Mark Masters and Robbie Faust by presenting them each with a plaque. He thanked them for their leadership and strong representation of Southwest Georgia and reminded the audience of the importance of conserving our natural resources. Mr. Bishop represents Georgia’s Second Congressional District and currently serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and as Chair of the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee.

Pictured is Mark Masters, Congressman Sanford Bishop, and Robbie Faust.

John Redding of Walton County Inducted into National Conservation Hall of Distinction

February 14, 2022, Orlando, Florida-- John Redding of Walton County was recently inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Hall of Distinction at their Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida on February 14. 

NACD created the Hall of Distinction to recognize and honor the organization's current and past leaders who have made major contributions to our nation's Conservation Movement.

Pictured: Mark Masters (GACD President), John Redding, Danny Hogan (GACD Board Member)

John Redding’s involvement with NACD and natural resources conservation began through his service with the Walton County Conservation District where he served as Chair for 31 years. John has served NACD in many capacities including representing the State of Georgia as a board member, committee chair, regional chair, executive board member, and treasurer.  He served as President of NACD from 2008-2009.  As President, he was an advocate for the conservation of the nation’s natural resources through testimony to the US House and Senate Agriculture Committees.  John was also selected by US Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack to serve as a panelist at the National Rural Summit and by President George W. Bush to participate in the Collaborative Conservation event in Washington, DC. John is the only Georgian to serve as President of NACD since its founding in 1946.

John owns a 500-acre farm in southwest Georgia where he implements soil and water conservation practices in the production of cotton, peanuts and timber. He currently serves as a representative on the Walton County Conservation District, Board Member Emeritus for the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD), and Treasurer for the National Conservation Foundation.  He resides in Monroe and is married to the former Levon Wilkerson, father to Cynthia (Tom Walker) and Carly, and proud grandfather to Lucy. 

Pictured: Mark Masters (GACD President), John Redding, Danny Hogan (GACD Board Member)

Mark Masters of Terrell County Graduates from National Conservation Leadership Program

February 14, 2022 - Orlando, FL:  Mark Masters of Dawson, GA recently graduated from the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI). He was honored at the National Association of Conservation Districts Leadership Luncheon held February 14 in Orlando, FL.

The goals of NGLI are to equip Conservation District leaders with personal, civic and organizational development so they can ensure future needs of resource management are met, and advocate for Conservation Districts and the challenges they face on the national level. 

Masters was part of the very first cohort of individuals to participate in this prestigious program and one of only two from the Southeastern United States.

Pictured is GACD President Mark Masters and his wife, Amy.

Mark also serves as President of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, Vice- Chair of the Lower Chattahoochee River Conservation District and the Director of the Georgia Water Policy and Planning Center in Albany. He resides in Dawson, GA with his wife Amy and daughters Lilly, Sally and Molly.

Luke Nichols Named GACD Scholarship Winner

GACD is excited to announce our 2022 Scholarship Winner is Luke Nichols of Enigma, Ga. Luke is currently a senior at Berrien County High School and will attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the Fall where he will pursue a career in the field of Agricultural Engineering.

To encourage study and careers in soil and water conservation related fields, GACD administers one $1,000 scholarship each year. The scholarship is given to students majoring in, or intending to major in, a soil and water conservation related area. Acceptable areas of study include, but are not limited to, agricultural education, agronomy, horticulture, plant pathology, and agricultural communications.

Mady Barnes Named GACD Operations Manager

The Board and Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) are pleased to announce Mady Barnes as Operations Manager. Mady has been a dedicated and invaluable member of the GACD team as an independent contractor serving as a District Program Assistant in 2018 and more recently as GACD's Project Coordinator.

Mady has been instrumental in the expansion of GACD goals and objectives. A small sampling of her work with GACD has been the creation and management of our Friend of Conservation program, establishment of partnerships and coordination of policy events with our state legislators, and assisting with the execution of many of GACD's conservation programs and initiatives.

In her new role as Operations Manager, she will play a hands-on role in executing GACD’s statewide conservation programs and objectives, and lead tasks essential to daily operations ensuring GACD’s effectiveness and efficiency. Her role will serve as a technical and professional resource both within and outside the Association, and she will work to provide oversight and management for ongoing operations including implementation and compliance related to GACD programs and outreach efforts.

Mady resides in Lizella, GA with her husband Bryan and daughter Paisley.

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.