DAWSON — The Lower Chattahoochee River Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors and its local sponsors held the annual Conservationist of the Year banquet Jan. 17 at the USDA Service Center.
Conservationist of the Year winner for Sumter County is University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agent Bill Starr. Starr works with all farmers in Sumter County delivering research and non-biased information to the growers of Sumter County.  Sumter County has a Farm Gate value of over $130 million.
In addition to his co-op position, Starr is also a member of the South Georgia Technical College Horticultural Advisory Board. In 2016, he received the Georgia Association of County Agricultural Agents (GACAA) 2016 King Cotton Award for programming and field work focusing on cotton. He stated, “Every day is different and that’s what has always interested me about agriculture. It is amazing to see the impact you can have on agriculture. It has tremendous value; you see your work pay off for the local growers. I enjoy working closely with farmers, producers, and business owners. I like having the ability to research a problem and come up with a solution. I want to help people be more sustainable and profitable. It’s all pretty gratifying, helping people find answers to questions that they have and find solutions to problems and helping them to be profitable and sustainable. I care about our growers I want them to have the best information possible.”
Starr and his wife Amy live in Ellaville with their two children Walker, 15, and Summer, 11.  They are members of Central Baptist Church in Americus.
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 Ashley Montgomery of One South Bank recognized the Conservationist of the Year winners. Other winners included James J. Storey Sr. of Schley County; and G B. Alston Farms of Webster County. It is through these conservationists’ efforts that our Natural Resources are preserved for future generations.