NEWS

Ringgold, GA, August 12, 2022: The Catoosa County Conservation District presented their 2022 Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to Mikayla Dycus at their monthly meeting held on August 12.

The Catoosa County Conservation District Scholarship is intended to reward and assist students who are dedicated to soil and water conservation and interested in pursuing a career in an agricultural related field. The 2022 Scholarship was awarded to Mikayla Dycus who is a 2018 honor graduate of Ringgold High School. Mikayla grew up on her family’s second-generation poultry and cattle farm in Ringgold. She was very involved in Future Farmers of America throughout high school where she served as an officer for two years and competed in their Career and Leadership Development events. These experiences motivated her to continue the family legacy of agriculture and pursue a career in the agricultural field. Mikayla received her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia (UGA) majoring in Animal Science, and she is now working to complete her Masters degree in Animal Science with a focus in ruminant nutrition through UGA. She will graduate December 2023. She hopes to use her education and her knowledge of conservation to benefit the cattle industry while promoting the implementation of best management practices on cattle operations that will protect water quality and improve soil health.

The Catoosa County Conservation District is a service-based organization that advocates for the stewardship, protection and enhancement of the natural resources of Catoosa County to sustain and improve the quality of life for its citizens. More information can be found at www.catoosaconservationdistrict.org or on Facebook @CatoosaCountyConservationDistrict .

Charles Lancaster (District Supervisor) with 2022 Scholarship recipient Mikayla Dycus.

JUNE 7, 2022: The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) has appointed Roger Bowman of Ringgold, GA as Board Member Emeritus. This honorary position was extended to Bowman at GACD’s June 7 Board Meeting in Macon, GA in recognition of his long and valued history with the Association and efforts in promoting soil and water conservation.

GACD Board Members Emeritus act as advisors to the Board of Directors, adding to the Board’s knowledge and experience, and provide enhanced continuity of leadership. Board Members Emeritus shall have all rights and privileges of other Board Members, except they shall not have voting privileges.

Bowman has been a District Supervisor for the Catoosa County Conservation District since 2000 and has served as Chair for 19 years. He served as a Board Member of GACD for 12 years, most recently serving as Vice- President. He was inducted into the Southeastern Conservation Hall of Fame in 2021 and the GACD Hall of Fame in 2018. His father, Roger Bowman, Sr. was a founding member of the Catoosa County Conservation District and is also a member of GACD’s Hall of Fame.

Roger grew up as the third generation on a 350-acre farm in Catoosa County. Helping his father install terraces and retention ponds on their ridgeland farm and maintain drainage systems on their bottomland farm, Roger had an early firsthand education on contemporary conservation practices. While in high school he worked as summer intern with the local Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service). This, along with his participation in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Natural Resources Conservation Program solidified his interest in natural resource conservation.

Roger graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and began working in sales for an industrial company in Nashville, Tennessee serving the mining, construction, and forestry industries. During this time Roger completed his Master of Business Administration at Vanderbilt University. In 1991 Roger founded a company distributing and servicing power generation systems in Kentucky and Tennessee. This business expanded to include operations in North and South Carolina and Georgia.

In 1997, Roger and Kay moved back to the farm in Catoosa County where now, six generations of the Bowman family have walked on Full Circle Farm. During this time Roger served the County as Chair of the Planning and Zoning Board for several years and later as Vice-Chair of the Economic Development Authority. Roger’s love of the land and its conservation also fostered a lifelong passion for hunting, ﬁshing and training bird dogs.

Roger is a long-time history researcher and genealogist, and serves on the Board of the Catoosa County Historical Society.

Roger and his wife Kay met at the University of Georgia and have been married 57 years. They reside in Ringgold and have three children, six grandchildren and one great grandson. Family is the largest part of their lives.

The mission of GACD is to advocate for the conservation of Georgia’s natural resources by providing organization, leadership and a unified strategic direction to the Conservation Districts of the state. For more information on GACD or to explore opportunities on how you can support our efforts, please visit us online at www.gacd.us or on Facebook @GACDConserve.

June 10, 2022-Local Students Win Conservation Themed Poster Contest

Education is a critical element of the conservation effort at the local, state and national levels. Educating young people about the benefits of conservation helps to ensure the next generation will be wise stewards of America’s natural resources.

The annual Catoosa County Conservation District Poster Contest provides local students the chance to have their art displayed as part of a national conservation outreach initiative. Each year, the winning posters reflect a national stewardship theme and highlight the work of Conservation Districts to protect and enhance natural resources. This year’s theme “Healthy Soil, Healthy Life” promotes the importance of soil conservation.

The winners of the Catoosa County Conservation District Poster Contest are: First Place: Eli Harper, 5th Grade, Battlefield Elementary

Second Place: Skylar James, 5th Grade, Battlefield Elementary

Third Place: Caleb Clemmons, 5th Grade, Graysville Elementary

Honorable Mentions: Selah Clemmons, 6th Grade, Ringgold Elementary, Keely Simmons, 7th Grade, Heritage Middle, Ceci Ward, 8th Grade, Heritage Middle.

All winners will receive a monetary prize and a t-shirt, and honorable mentions will receive a t-shirt. Eli Harper’s first place poster will be entered into the state level competition hosted by the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts.

The Catoosa County Conservation District is a unit of state government that directs natural resource management programs throughout the county. The Conservation District works with farmers, landowners, and with other units of government to educate and actively promote programs and practices that support the conservation, and use and development of soil, water, and related resources. More information can be found at www.catoosaconservationdistrict.org.

First Place: Eli Harper, 5th Grade, Battlefield Elementary

April 8, 2022--CATOOSA CO. CONSERVATION DISTRICT PARTNERING WITH GSWCC TO HOST LEVEL 1A RENEWAL COURSE

The Catoosa County Conservation District, in partnership with the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC), is hosting a Level 1A Recertification Course on May 11, from 8:00 a.m. to noon at The Colonnade at 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, GA in the White Oak/Barnhardt Rooms.

Persons involved in land development, construction, planning, permitting, monitoring, inspection, or land-disturbance activities in Georgia must be certified through the GSWCC program in accordance with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. This four-hour course is presented by the GSWCC to renew Level 1A (blue card). There is no test.

Upon completion of the course, certifications will be renewed for three years.

The registration fee is $125 and includes the course textbook.

Space is limited to 50 participants.

To register, please visit: https://form.jotform.com/220946360342149

Participants should arrive at 8:00 a.m for check-in and textbook distribution. The course will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Roger Bowman of Catoosa County Inducted into Southeast Conservation Hall of Fame

August 9, 2021, Gulf Shores, Alabama— Roger Bowman of Catoosa County was inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Southeast Region Hall of Fame at their Annual Meeting in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame annually recognizes and honors individuals from the Southeast Region of the United States who have had a significant impact or influence on natural resources conservation practice or partnerships at the local, state, territory, regional or national levels.

Bowman shares this honor with Bobby Plemmons of Ringgold who was previously inducted into NACD’s Southeastern Hall of Fame.

Bowman has been a District Supervisor for the Catoosa County Conservation District since 2000 and has served as Chair for 18 years. He has been a Board Member of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) for 11 years, currently serving as Vice- President. He was inducted into the GACD Hall of Fame in 2018. His father, Roger Bowman, Sr. was a founding member of the Catoosa County Conservation District and is also a member of GACD’s Hall of Fame.

Danny Hogan, NACD Representative for Georgia, congratulated Roger on this honor and recognition noting, "GACD would not be where we are today without Roger’s hard work. I could not say enough, nor could we honor him enough for what he has meant to GACD. We will continue to rely on his knowledge and expertise in years to come."

Roger grew up as the third generation on Sunrise Farm, a 350-acre farm in Catoosa County. The Bowman’s produced vegetables and marketed them to wholesalers in Atlanta and Chattanooga. By the late 1950s, they added a 500 head “farrow to finish” commercial swine operation. Growing up, Roger was involved in 4-H where he focused on row crops, forestry, livestock production and land judging.

Helping his father install terraces and retention ponds on their ridgeland farm and maintain drainage systems on their bottomland farm, Roger had an early firsthand education on contemporary conservation practices. While in high school he worked as summer intern with the local Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) technician doing survey work and cropland measurement. This, along with his participation in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Natural Resources Conservation Program solidified his interest in natural resource conservation.

Roger graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and began working in sales for an industrial company in Nashville, Tennessee serving the mining, construction, and forestry industries. During this time Roger completed his Masters of Business Administration at Vanderbilt University. In 1991 Roger founded a company distributing and servicing power generation systems in Kentucky and Tennessee. This business expanded to include operations in North and South Carolina and Georgia.

In 1997, Roger and Kay moved back to the farm in Catoosa County and named it Full Circle Farm. For several years they maintained a commercial beef operation. During this time Roger served the County as Chair of the Planning and Zoning Board for several years and later as Vice-Chair of the Economic Development Authority. Roger’s love of the land and its conservation also fostered a lifelong passion for hunting, ﬁshing and training bird dogs.

Today, six generations of the Bowman family have walked on Full Circle Farm. For over 30 years Roger has pursued his interest in family history and as an amateur genealogist has traced many of his ancestral families back to their original homes in Europe. As Roger says, “this in one project that will never be completed”.

Catoosa County Conservation District presents 2021 Scholarship to Mikayla Dycus

Ringgold, GA, June 11, 2021: The Catoosa County Conservation District presented their 2021 Scholarship to Mikayla Dycus at their monthly meeting held on June 11.

The Catoosa County Conservation District Scholarship is intended to reward and assist students who are dedicated to soil and water conservation and interested in pursuing a career in an agricultural related field. The 2021 Scholarship was awarded to Mikayla Dycus who is a 2018 honor graduate of Ringgold High School. Mikayla grew up on her family’s second-generation poultry and cattle farm in Ringgold. She was very involved in Future Farmers of America throughout high school where she served as an officer for two years and competed in their Career and Leadership Development events. These experiences motivated her to continue the family legacy of agriculture and pursue a career in the agricultural field. Mikayla is currently a third-year student at the University of Georgia majoring in Animal Science; she will complete her undergraduate studies a year early and will further her education through UGA’s Graduate Ruminant Nutrition program next year. She hopes to use her education and her knowledge of conservation to benefit the cattle industry while promoting the implementation of best management practices on cattle operations that will protect water quality and improve soil health.

Pictured representing the Conservation District is Bobby Plemmons, Roger Bowman (Chair), and Betts Berry with 2021 Scholarship recipient Mikayla, and her parents Christy and Richard Dycus.

The Catoosa County Conservation District is a service-based organization that advocates for the stewardship, protection and enhancement of the natural resources of Catoosa County to sustain and improve the quality of life for its citizens. More information can be found at www.catoosaconservationdistrict.orgor on Facebook @CatoosaCountyConservationDistrict .

GOVERNOR APPOINTS CHARLES LANCASTER TO CATOOSA COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Ringgold, Georgia – Charles Lancaster, former University of Georgia Extension Agent, was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp on April 1, 2021 to serve as a District Supervisor for the Catoosa County Conservation District. Mr. Lancaster was the Extension Agent for Catoosa County for almost 25 years before his retirement in 2018. He will serve the Conservation District for a four-year term.

2021 Scholarship Application Now Available!

The Catoosa County Conservation District scholarship is intended to reward and assist students who are dedicated to soil and water conservation and interested in pursuing a career in a related field.

AWARD AMOUNT: $500 distributed directly

to your college or university

WHO MAY APPLY: The Scholarship is

limited to Catoosa County students in public,

private or home schools. The applicant must be

a high school senior or a current college first

year student intending to major in an

agricultural degree including but not limited to:

natural resource management, horticulture,

agronomy, agricultural education or engineering, or plant pathology. The applicant must be a full- time student.

DEADLINE: All applications must be submitted by April 23, 2021. Completed application can be mailed or dropped off in person to: Catoosa County Conservation District care of UGA Extension, 43 Maple Street, Ringgold, GA 30736.

Find out more

Catoosa County Conservation District Awarded National Grant

Ringgold, Georgia, February 9, 2021 – The Catoosa County Conservation District has been awarded a grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts to host Waterwise Workshops that promote residential water conservation. The District will sell and promote the use of rain barrels that are placed below a home's gutter downspout to capture rooftop rainwater runoff. Rain barrels are an effective way to collect and reuse water for watering lawns or gardens, and to reduce the rate of stormwater runoff that carries pollutants into our streams and rivers.

Roger Bowman, Chair of the Catoosa County Conservation District remarks, “Our District is excited to receive this grant from our National Association to promote water conservation efforts throughout Catoosa County.”

The Catoosa County Conservation District promotes natural resources conservation through community and educational outreach. More information can be found at www.catoosaconservationdistrict.org or on Facebook @CatoosaCountyConservationDistrict .

Catoosa County Conservation District Installs Garden Beds for Pollinator Education

Ringgold, GA, December 8, 2020—Catoosa County Conservation District installed pollinator garden beds with Ms. Alisa Nepp’s fourth grade STEAM class at Ringgold Elementary School. The raised beds were sponsored by Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) as part of a statewide initiative to improve pollinator habitat and pollinator education. The beds include native wildflowers and grasses that will bloom in spring and summer, and will contain a crop that depends on pollinators. GACD is sponsoring the placement of these educational pollinator gardens in all 40 Conservation Districts across the state for the purpose of educating local communities on the connection between wildflowers, pollinators, and the foods we eat.