Thanks to Eric Brown with the Nature Conservancy for the educational tour of "The Broxton Rocks"!
Soil Stewardship Week:
Each year Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the Nation encourage the celebration of Soil Stewardship Week. Local Districts encourage news articles, and church services, and purchase and distribute informational packets containing pamphlets, bookmarks, posters, church bulletin inserts, placemats for local restaurants and proclamations. Some Districts sponsor local poster contests for elementary school students, tours, and other educational activities to make citizens aware of the need to conserve our natural resources.
Altamaha District Supervisors Pat Tanner and George Yearty from Bacon County display a Soil Stewardship Week Poster for a local news cover story.
District Supervisors Travis Cook and Gary Spires, along with NRCS personnel congratulate the top 3 winners in the Soil Stewardship Week Poster Contest held in Telfair County.
Tours and Demonstrations:
Frank Miles, Altamaha Supervisor from Appling County demonstrates the advantages of no-till farming to a group of farmers on a District sponsored Conservation Tillage tour in Jeff Davis Co.
The Altamaha SWCD co-sponsers and helped originate an annual 2 day Sustainable Ag. Conference, attended by more than 125 people nation wide.
District Supervisors, Partners, and others attended an Invasive Species Demonstration, sponsored by the Altamaha S&WCD, NRCS and 7 Rivers RC&D. Garland Thompson, Chairman of the Ga. State Soil and Water Conservation Committee made opening remarks, and NRCS, Ga. Forestry Commission, Ga. Dept of Natural Resources, and National Wild Turkey Federation made presentations.
Travis Cook, Chairman of the Altamaha District speaks to more that 65 landowners attending a Prescribed Burn Demonstration in Telfair County.
Orson Adams and Garland Thompson District Supervisors from Coffee County conduct a tour for several members of the Georgia Conservancy in Coffee County.
The Natural Resources Conservation Workshop:
Approximately 200 High School Students from all over the State of Georgia attend the Annual Natural Resources Conservation Workshop each year. The Altamaha S&WCD, helps recruit and sponsor qualified students to this important workshop each year. In fact, the Altamaha District is one of the Workshops largest contributors sending an average of 12 students to the workshop annually. Several of the District's students have won scholarships and other prizes at the annual event.
B.H. Claxton and Johnny Faulk supervisors from Jeff Davis County with students attending the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop from Jeff Davis County.
Altamaha District Chairman Travis Cook with students selected to attend the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop from Telfair County.
School Programs:
The Altamaha SWCD is involved with many local school activities including farm-city programs, outdoor classroom development and funding, reading programs and on-hands instruction to technical and Vo-Ag students.
Zack Railey, NRCS Soil Conservationist conducts a GPS (global positioning system) field demonstration for senior students at Coffee County High School.
Conservationist of the Year Program:
Every other year the Altamaha Soil and Water Conservation District hosts a Conservationist of the Year Banquet. The purpose of this banquet is to honor a conservationist or conservationists, from each county in the District, who have done an outstanding job in the field of conservation, helped the District to further its goals of getting conservation on the land, and conserving our natural resources for future generations. The program is sponsored by local banks within the District. The Altamaha District is grateful to all its local banks for helping to support the most important program. The Altamaha District honored its 2006 recipients on February 15, 2007 in Hazlehurst, Georgia. Below are the 2006 Recipients.
Jeff Davis County: Wooten Farms: L-R: Mr B.H. Claxton (Altamaha Supervisor), Derek Wooten, Lauren Wooten, Tabitha Wooten (Altamaha Supervisor), Van Wooten
Bacon County: Barber Farms: L-R: George Yearty (Altamaha Supervisor), Joe Barber, Ed Barber, Pat Tanner (Altamaha Supervisor)
Appling County: Sellers Farms: L-R: Jason Sellers, Stacie Sellers
Coffee County: Harrell Farms: L-R: Garland Thompson (Vice Chairman, Altamaha District, Chairman State Soil & Water Conservation Commission), James Harrell, Keith Harrell, Trent Harrell, Randy Harrell
Telfair County: Alvin Stanley Farms: L-R: David Ferrell (NRCS), Alvin Stanley, Keith Granger (NRCS), Travis Cook (Chairman, Altamaha District)
