Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District

“Passenger Creek” Bluegrass Band

The Montgomery Co. Soil Conservation District together with the Kiwanis Clubs of Clarksville, recently hosted their Annual Conservation Awards Banquet & Farm-City Program the 30th of October.  This year’s event was the 64th Awards Banquet for the District, honoring more than 20 recipients.  Each year the District, Downtown Kiwanis, Hilldale Kiwanis, Montgomery Co. Farm Bureau, Montgomery Co. Conservation Club, Clarksville Chamber of Commerce award those that have shown exceptional efforts in conservation and agriculture, conservation education, conservation progress, and youth agriculturally based contests in Montgomery County.

Johnny Head, Price Hopson, Dottie Mann receive Proclamation from County Mayor Durrett.

Soil Conservation District Chairman, Johnny Head and Kiwanis Club Agriculture Committee Chair, Chris Lanier, opened the program welcoming more than 185 attendees.  Mayor Jim Durrett presented a Proclamation for Oct. 28-Nov.3 as Soil Conservation & Farm City week.  The proclamation was exemplary honoring “those that have made outstanding contributions to conservation and agriculture in our community.”  C. David Elliott provided the Invocation before the meal and Passenger Creek Bluegrass Band’s entertainment.

The 2018 Award Recipients in the following categories are:

Master Conservationist Award…….Bryant Brothers presented by Will Sanders, F & M Bank

Conservation Education Award………..Danny Boner, MCHS presented by Dottie Mann, Hilldale Kiwanis Club

Outstanding Farm Family Award…………Ronnie & Jenny McKinney presented by Jay Albertia, Clarksville Chamber of Commerce

Lester Solomon Award…………….George Marks (Received by The Family), presented by Steve Taylor, Montgomery Co. Conservation Club

1st Place 4-H Team Mont. Co. Land Judging Contest……….Holden Bennett, Jason Patton, Nena Cates; presented by Johnny Head for Farm Bureau of Mont. Co.

2nd Place FFA Team Land Judging Contest………………CHS FFA – Megan Summer, Will Comperry, Josephina Reyman, Austin Christian; presented by Barry Mayo, Security Seed

Overall Highest Scorer Award for the Mont. Co. Land Judging Contest…..Will Johnson, MCHS; presented by Johnny Head, Farm Bureau

1st Place Award for Youth Conservation Wildlife Contest………….Garrett Ross, NWHS FFA; presented by Price Hopson, Downtown Kiwanis Club

2nd Place Award for Youth Conservation Wildlife Contest & Best Records Kept for Youth Conservation Wildlife Contest……….Will Comperry, CHS FFA; presented by Price Hopson

3rd Place Award for Youth Conservation Wildlife Contest…….Taylor Adkins, Mont. Co. 4-H; presented by Price Hopson

3rd Place FFA Team Land Judging Contest……………….NWHS FFA – Logan Huggins, Wade Leavell, Nolan Henry, Cassidy David; presented by Barry Mayo, Security Seed

Overall Highest Scorer Award for the Mont. Co. Land Judging Contest…..Will Johnson, MCHS; presented by Johnny Head, Farm Bureau

1st Place Award for Youth Conservation Wildlife Contest………….Garrett Ross, NWHS FFA; presented by Price Hopson, Downtown Kiwanis Club

2nd Place Award for Youth Conservation Wildlife Contest & Best Records Kept for Youth Conservation Wildlife Contest……….Will Comperry, CHS FFA; presented by Price Hopson

3rd Place Award for Youth Conservation Wildlife Contest…….Taylor Adkins, Mont. Co. 4-H; presented by Price Hopson

David E. Hinton Scholarship for 2018 – TAYLOR BUCKNER

Conservation Progress Award……….Mark Barnett (not pictured)

We would like to say express our gratitude to those that have continually supported this banquet, so that we may encourage and honor the efforts of our 4-H and FFA students and farmers in Montgomery County! Without you, this would not be possible:

Cumberland Bank & Trust

F & M Bank

Legends Bank

Planters Bank

2018 Associate Sponsor – Security Seed & Chemical

Montgomery County Government

for additional pictures please visit us on facebook @MCSCD

COST SHARE AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PRACTICES

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS 

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Montgomery Co. Soil Conservation District are now accepting applications for cost share assistance to install conservation practices on Montgomery County lands/farms.

Operators may sign up for cost assistance for a wide range of practices including, but not limited to:

• Grassed waterways
• Alternative watering systems
• Cover crops
• Stream crossings
• Heavy use areas
• Cross & exclusion fencing
• Riparian buffer strips
• Grade stabilization structures
• Stream protection & restorations

Without proper erosion and sedimentation control, soils can be lost from croplands and reduce future productivity.  Soils carried from fields in runoffs can also degrade streams and other receiving waters.  Landusers may be eligible to receive 50 – 85% assistance for the installation of conservation smart practices!

To apply – 931-368-0252 x 3 or visit our office for more information.

2543-A Madison St, Clarksville, TN

USDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Provider, and Lender.

Montgomery SCD hosted a Grazing Workshop for Mid-TN folks interested in learning more about proper grazing techniques.  Phil M. Baggett opened up his farm, home of TN Grass Fed, to more than 70 attendees on August 16th.  Greg Brann, Grazing Coordinator for the TN Association of Conservation Districts (TACD) and Dr. Jim Green, Grazing Specialist, presented visual instruction and demonstrations on understanding plants, evaluating pastures, what happens when things go wrong, hay vs. graze economics, fencing and troubleshooting techniques, addressing feed shortages, protecting resources, and cost share program eligibility.

After indoor workshop and farm tour demonstrations, attendees sampled the 100% grass fed beef burgers raised and processed on the hosting farm.  Baggett has been working with USDA-NRCS for many years developing an effective and cost efficient grazing plan.

This event was sponsored by Montgomery SCD, the TN Association of Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the TN Dept. of Agriculture.  For more information on developing a grazing plan on your farm, please contact our office, 931-368-0252 x 3.