Jenkins County students attending the NRC workshop were, from left, Paul Dieteman, Walter Ivy, Marshella Herrington, Bryan Oglesby and Levi Proctor. (Photo contributed) The 49th annual Natural Resources Conservation Workshop was held June 13-17. It was hosted by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton. The workshop has graduated approximately 11,674 participants over the years and was enjoyed this year by 155 Georgia high school students including eight students from the U.S. Virgin Islands along with two chaperones. Students came from 77 counties throughout Georgia and attended the week’s activities of field trips and classroom functions with opportunities to earn college scholarships at the end of the week.

The tuition of most students was sponsored locally by businesses and organizations through the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Paul Dieteman, Walter Ivy, Marshella Herrington, Bryan Oglesby and Levi Proctor of Jenkins County attended this year’s Workshop and were sponsored by the Brier Creek Soil and Water Conservation District. Local Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors in Jenkins County are Elbert Burke and Lamar Black.

Next year, NRCW will celebrate its 50th anniversary! The executive committee would like to celebrate the workshop’s long legacy of conservation education by gathering success stories from former participating students. Alumni of the workshop who would like to share their story of how the NRCW influenced their life or career path should call 229- 391-5072 or find the organization on Facebook by searching for the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop group where they can post their story on the discussion forum.