Meet our Team: Summer Sheffield
he next feature in our Meet our Team series is Summer Sheffield. Summer joined the team in June 2018 as a GACD District Program Assistant for the Blakely area. As a GACD District Program Assistant, Summer supports GACD duties for Area 3, supports with administrative duties in the Blakely NRCS office, and directly supports the District in activities such as education programs, the annual poster contest, and pollinator garden initiative. Read our interview with Summer below!
TiskTask Announces Winners of the Flint River SWCD Sponsored Spring Challenge
Winners of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) sponsored “Nip Nutrient Pollution” TiskTask Challenge were announced today. The first annual TiskTask Design Showcase was hosted by the Thomasville Center for the Arts. After months of research, interviews, and exploration of the topic of nutrient pollution, students worked to develop their own solutions to address the problem in their community.
Meet our Team: Aretha Wimberly
The next feature in our Meet our Team series is Aretha Wimberly. Aretha is the newest member of the District team, she joined as a GACD District Program Assistant for the Albany area in March of 2020.
Meet our Team: Lindsey Hayes
The next feature in our Meet our Team series is Lindsey Hayes. Lindsey joined the District as the first-ever Director of Operations in January of 2020. Prior to her role with the District, Lindsey spent over a decade with the Decatur County Extension office, most recently as the County Extension Coordinator where she was named Decatur County Ag Woman of the Year. As Director of Operations, Lindsey oversees the operations and administration of all District programs, provides support in securing funding and opportunities for expanding District projects, and oversees and support the District team.

Flint River Fresh Extends Produce Box Program in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Flint River Fresh has announced a minimum two week extension to the Produce Box Pilot Program launched April 4thin response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The initial 14-day long pilot program was extended after positive feedback and additional support from local businesses.
Meet our Team: Kenneyon Webb
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. Next feature in our Meet our Team series is Kenneyon Webb (Ken). Ken has been with the District since October 2019 as a Conservation Technician. Ken is originally from Mississippi, where he attended Alcorn State and graduated in 2018 with a degree in Agricultural Science. Currently, Ken lives in Albany. As a Conservation Technician, Ken ensures District programs and projects that directly involve landowners are running smoothly, gathers critical feedback directly from participants, and supports conservation education and outreach activities.

Flint River Fresh Launches Pilot Produce Box Program in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Flint River Fresh, the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District’s Urban Agriculture Program, is working alongside private, small businesses in Albany to serve residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the launch of a pilot Produce Box Program over the next two weeks.
Meet our Team: Abby Davis
Next feature in our Meet our Team series is Abby Davis. Abby has been with the District since 2014. In October of 2019, Abby transitioned from her role as a Conservation Technician to the District’s first ever Education Coordinator to manage the District’s many growing education and outreach programs, such as Destination Ag, Tisk/Task, our annual education grants, and Wildlife Shows.

Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District Sponsors Wildlife Shows for Local Schools
On March 3, the wildlife team and their critter entourage captivated students at Calhoun County Elementary in Calhoun County and Lake Park Elementary in Dougherty County. Grady County students at Eastside Elementary and students from Spring Creek Charter Academy in Decatur County enjoyed the fascinating presentation on March 4.

Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District Announces 2020 Stewardship Week Poster Contest Theme
The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (Flint River SWCD) is pleased to announce the 2020 Stewardship Poster Contest theme: “Where Would We BEE Without Pollinators”. Pollinators are critical to agriculture and healthy ecosystems, but have shown signs of decline in recent years. This year’s poster contest encourages students to explore the importance of pollinators and pollinator habitats to our environment and food systems.
Meet our Team: Vanessa Merriweather
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. First up in our Meet our Team series is Vanessa Merriweather.

$347 Million Available in Block Grants for Farm Recovery Program
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) will begin accepting online applications for the $347 million in block grant funds on March 18, 2020.
The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District Partners with Tisk/Task Program to Challenge Middle School Students about Nutrient Pollution
The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (FRSWCD) is partnering with Tisk/Task to challenge sixth grade students at Washington Middle School in Cairo, Georgia to create solutions to improve water quality in South Georgia.

FRSWCD Participates in FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks’ Tour of the Southeast to Highlight Communication Challenges and Opportunities in South Georgia
On February 17, the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (FRSWCD) participated in Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) Geoffrey Starks’ tour of the rural Southeast to share about access issues and the importance of reliable broadband in South Georgia.
Dynamic Partnership Brings Hands-On Ag Learning to Decatur and Early County Students
Students in Decatur and Early Counties will have the opportunity this spring to participate in free programming to learn about agriculture and natural resources through a partnership between Destination Ag and the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).
The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District Announces Two Recipients of Agricultural and Environmental Education Grant
An exciting leap forward for education was taken on November 11, when two recipients for the Agricultural and Environmental Education Grant were selected by Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors at the monthly District meeting.
USDA-NRCS Announces Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District as Pilot Project Partner for Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program
On November 21, it was announced that the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $1.5 million for a three year project in the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program in the Albany project area. The Albany project area includes parts of Calhoun, Baker, Terrell, and Dougherty Counties.
Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District Partners with USDA NRCS and UGA to Expand Smart Irrigation Technologies to Pecans
A new project in partnership between the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the University of Georgia will develop innovative new tools to optimize irrigation water management for pecan production in southwest Georgia and provide outreach to pecan producers in the region.

Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District recognized in Georgia's 2019 Clean 13 Report
This year, the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District is recognized for its leadership toward more sustainable agriculture in the heart of Georgia’s breadbasket. The District is responsible for bringing millions of dollars in private and public funds to improve irrigation efficiency impacting some 13 million acres of cropland in the area.

Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District Sponsoring Agricultural and Environmental Education Grant
The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District will award up to $2,000 available in grant funds through an Agricultural & Environmental Education Grant for K-12 schools located within the District’s counties. The purpose of the grant is to promote conservation education in local schools and provide additional resources for an educator to teach students about agriculture and/or natural resources in a creative way.