Awards Presented to Outstanding South Carolina Conservationists  

For immediate release     Contact: Linda Tansill
                                                         SCACD Executive Director 
                                                         803-253-3314
                                                         ltansill.scacd@sc.usda.gov

                 Columbia, SC, (January 15, 2004)--The South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts (SCACD), in conjunction with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), held its annual Partnership Conference and Awards Ceremony January 6-8, 2004. The event took place in Charleston, South Carolina, and nearly 300 attendees gathered to discuss current natural resource issues affecting the state. Conference sponsors included Progress Energy, Mead Westvaco, and BMW.

            BMW sponsored the “Excellence in Conservation” Award (Education/Public Service Project) presented to the Newberry Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), as well as the “Conservation Teacher of the Year” Award to Helen Ellis of Manning Primary School in Clarendon County. Progress Energy sponsored three awards including the “Outstanding Conservation District” Award which went to the Lee County SWCD. In addition, they awarded the “Outstanding Conservation District Employee” Award to Annette Davis of the Newberry SWCD, and the “Excellence in Conservation” (Public Outreach/Communication) Award to the Newberry SWCD. The “Outstanding SWCD Commissioner of the Year” Award was presented to James F. Huggins of Marion County.

            Featured speakers during the conference included SCDNR Director John Frampton, and Merlin Bartz, special assistant to the USDA Undersecretary of Natural Resources and Environment. SCDNR Board Chairman Mike McShane also attended the conference.

            In addition to the awards ceremony, new SCACD Executive Committee Members were elected. The new officers are: President-Charles Broadwell, Sumter County; Vice President-Greg Henderson, Greenwood County; Secretary-Michael Seymour, Laurens County; Treasurer-Rhett Bickley, Lexington County; East-Piedmont Director-Tom Henderson, Newberry County; Edisto-Savannah Director-Bobby Long, Dorchester County; West-Piedmont Director-Amanda Bauknight, Pickens County; Pee-Dee Director-Wilbur James, Horry County; National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Board Member-Tom Garrison, Anderson County; Alternate Board Member-W.D. Harrington, Clarendon County; and Past-President-Larry E. Nates, Lexington County.

            SCACD Executive Director Linda Tansill said this year’s conference focused on the importance of partnership in the protection of South Carolina ’s natural resources. “This year by far was our best year, not only in the number of attendees, but that our focus was geared to working closely together as partners and fostering new relationships as we address the state’s natural resource concerns and issues.” Newly elected SCACD President Charles Broadwell agreed. “It is going to take more than just one agency to protect our state’s soil and water resources, but I know that with our combined strength we can really make a difference.”

For more information, visit www.sc.nrcs.usda.gov/partnerships.