DAWSON — The Lower Chattahoochee River Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors and its local sponsors held their Annual Conservationist of the Year banquet at the USDA Service Center in Dawson on Jan. 19. J.B. Jones Farms is this year’s Conservationist of the Year winner for Webster County. J. B. Jones Farms consists of 1,200 acres of row crops which include: peanuts, cotton, corn and wheat. After growing up and working on the family farm, J.B. Jones branched out on his own 4 1/2 years ago.
Conservation efforts practiced by Jones include: conversion from diesel to electric energy (with two more to go), and the installation of low pressure drop nozzles on 100 percent of his center pivots. Jones participates in NRCS’ EQIP program and incorporates the use of cover crops behind peanuts for the prevention of soil erosion, as well as the use of Strip till. He always uses cover crops, maintains terraces, and maintains grassed waterways.
Jones attends church at Macedonia Baptist Church in Webster County. Congratulations to J. B. Jones Farms as Conservationist of the Year for Webster County!
This award is given to the outstanding conservationists in the nine surrounding counties that represent the Lower Chattahoochee River Soil & Water Conservation District. Chairman Guy Beard of Randolph County preceded the evening program while Luke Crosson, regional representative for the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission, recognized the Conservationist of the Year winners. Additional winners included; Joel Durham Farm of Clay County; Trent Bone from Haley Byne Farms of Lee County; Terry Noel Gideons from Gideons Farm of Quitman County; Rodney Jackson Farm of Randolph County; Larry Dillard Farm of Schley County; W. C. Bradley Farm of Stewart County; Charles W. Clark of Sumter County; and Bill Newman Farm of Terrell County. It is through these conservationists’ efforts that our Natural Resources are preserved for future generations.