The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District has a lot of new faces, and a few you may recognize. We’ll be taking the next few weeks to introduce and re-introduce you to our wonderful team, share more about their role at the District, and a bit about each of them. The next feature in our Meet our Team series is Perri Campis. Perri joined the District as Project Director in April of 2019, and transitioned into the role of Executive Director in October of 2019. Perri is a UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Alumni with a degree in Agriscience and Environmental Systems, and received her Masters in Public Policy from Georgia State University. Prior to her role with the District, Perri worked in the non-profit agricultural sector, most notably as the Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics. As Executive Director, Perri oversees the development and direction of District programs, manages administrative aspects of the organization, reports to and communicates with the board of 18 Supervisors, and pursues innovative partnerships and projects with conservation leaders and landowners in the region. Read our interview with Perri below!
Where are you originally from?
I’m originally from midtown Atlanta. After briefly living in Fitzgerald, I moved to Americus, Georgia where I currently live.
What impact to you hope to make as a part of the District?
I’m excited to continue the work the District accomplishes with innovative leaders, researchers, and landowners to push forward practices and programs across the region that protect and wisely use our natural resources. The District has a well-established record of outreach and implementation of irrigation and water use efficiency projects that I hope to build on. I also have always had a particular passion and interest in soil health, and look forward to expanding programming focused on soils in the District. Most of all, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to build and empower a strong team who will continue to lead and guide the organization to have the greatest positive impact possible on youth, communities, landowners, farmers, and our natural environment.
What inspires you to work in conservation?
I think for those that are passionate about conservation, there is just something that is a part of you that calls you to it in some form or fashion. I was constantly drawn to the natural world when I was growing up, but it wasn’t until later that I learned the word “conservation” helped explain these instincts. The interest has only grown since, after falling in love with agriculture in high school and better understanding the connectivity between agriculture, natural resources, and conservation. I’m constantly inspired by the beauty, intricacy, and pure wonder of natural systems, and the least I can do is be a steward and advocate of them.
If you were a common Georgia crop, what would it be?
I would be a sunflower— always standing tall and looking towards the sunny side of things!
What could we find you doing on a typical Saturday afternoon?
On a typical Saturday you’d find my fiancé and I with nearby friends and family, outside gardening, swimming, paddling, hiking, fishing, or helping out on my family’s land. Our dog, Sanu, is always close by and ready to play. And if it’s the fall, you better believe all of these activities are carefully scheduled around watching the Dawgs play some football!