Jerry Graham, of Effingham County, was awarded the title of 2016 Conservationist of the Year Feb. 2 by the Bankers and Supervisors of the Ogeechee River Soil and Water Conservation Commission (SWCC) at a banquet at Statesboro First Baptist Church in Statesboro.

The Ogeechee River SWCC, which is made up of Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Screven and Tattnall Counties, hosted the 66th Annual Awards Banquet to recognize Graham for his outstanding contributions to soil and water conservation.

The evening began with a registration and a dinner that followed. After dinner was consumed, Fred Blitch, Jr., Chairman of the Ogeechee River Soil and Water Conservation District of Statesboro, introduced the special guests.

Remarks were made by David Walden, Area 4 Assistant State Conservationist, and Dustin Rushing, Regional Representative of GSWCC and the awards presentation followed.

Bernard Purvis, of South Georgia Bank in Glenville, presented the award to Graham along with award winners from other districts. Special Recognitions were made by Lavanda Lynn, Tattnall County Supervisor, who also introduced the program.

Entertainment was provided by the Men of Praise from Metter.

In an effort to protect our natural resources the District encourages landowners to use conservation tillage as a cropping system, to install terraces and grassed waterways to reduce soil erosion and plantings of grass or trees on highly erodible land to help protect our streams.