The Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors and its cooperating banks held their Annual Conservationist of the Year banquet at the Agrirama Conference Center in Tifton on Nov. 6th.

Lee Barwick Farms is the 2014 Conservationist of the Year for Thomas County. Barwick is one of the original farmers from Thomas County to move from conventional tillage to no till/strip tillage.

When asked about this method, Barwick said, “No till/strip tillage made an overall improvement to my farming operation.”

Barwick has been farming for more than a decade and his operation currently consists of cotton, corn and soybeans, as well as production of registered and certified peanuts. Barwick practices proper land maintenance on his operation by maintaining terraces and grassed waterways, planting heavy cover crops for pigweed control and erosion reduction, pest management and nutrient management. Barwick has taken advantage of NRCS’ EQIP program to convert from diesel to electric energy, to implement irrigation water management, prescribed burning on forest land, as well as to enhance wildlife habitat. He believes that assistance from NRCS has allowed his family’s farm to become more efficient.

Barwick received the Farm Family of the Year Award in 1997 and in 2005 he was awarded the Conservationist of the Year for Thomas County.

Barwick is happily married to his wife Melanie and they have a son, Michael; daughter-in-law Melinda; and grandson; Logan; and they are members of Summerhill Church.

Barwick offered the following advice to other farmers, “Keep a good attitude, take advice from the community and other farmers, and believe in God.”

This award is given to the outstanding conservationists in the nine surrounding counties that represent the Middle South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District.

Chairman Milton Ussery of Ben Hill County preceded the evening program, and entertainment was provided by the Southern Drift Band. In addition, the 2014 Middle South Georgia Essay Contest winner, Amber Winter, presented her winning essay entitled, “Dig Deeper, Mysteries in the Soil” to the audience. This annual contest awards a senior student in the district with a $2,500 scholarship to ABAC.

Additional winners included Brent Brown of Ben Hill County, Jamie Jones of Jones Farms in Brooks County, Jimmy Thompson of Colquitt County, Bayou Plantation of Crisp County, Timothy Earl Lott of Lott Farms in Irwin County, Bo McCranie of Tift County, Keith Barnette of Turner County and Zach Shanklin of Worth County.

It is through these conservationists’ efforts that natural resources are preserved for future generations.

The Middle South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District was organized on July 11, 1939 following the infamous “Dust Bowl.” The nine counties that represent the District are Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth Counties.

The goal of Soil and Water Conservation districts is to assist people and communities in the care of the natural resources in their area. Conservation districts offer technical, educational and financial assistance to private land owners. Georgia has 40 soil and water conservation districts and 370 Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors. Some districts include only one county, while other districts include two or more counties within their boundary.

Each county in Georgia is represented by at least two district supervisors, one elected for a four-year term and one appointed to a two-year term. Representing Thomas County are District Supervisor Donald Hall and District Supervisor Carrol S. Fort.

If you would like more information about the Middle South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District , contact Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Regional Representative Luke Crosson at 229-995-6001 or lcrosson@gaswcc.org.