TIFTON —
The Middle South Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors and its cooperating banks held their Annual Conservationist of the Year banquet Nov. 1.
The winner for Tift County was Ponder Farms and Jones Ponder.
Ponder is a third generation farmer whose sons, Ken and Brian, continue to farm land that has been in the Ponder family for 122 years.
Ponder was one of the first farmers in Tift County to install parallel terraces in which to accommodate larger, more modern equipment. In 1973, Ponder installed one of the first center pivot irrigation systems in the county.
In the early 90’s, Ponder Farm’s was one of the first operations in South Georgia to grow cotton and peanuts in a strip till system; all 1,800 acres of which are strip tilled today.
Ponder views the conservation practices on his land as a work of art. He has passed along to his children the philosophy that if you take care of the land it will take care of you. Ponder is a past District Supervisor for the Middle South GA Soil and Water Conservation District. He served 20 years on the Tift County school board, 16 years as chairman.
In 1972, he was one of eight investors who formed South Georgia Banking Company and continues to serve as a director to this day.
Ponder and his wife of 58 years, Earline, are members of the Omega United Methodist Church and they have two sons and one daughter; Ken, Brian and Beverly. The day-to-day activities of the farm have been passed down to his two sons, but Ponder is still the lead engineer when it comes to designing the conservation plan on a new farm.
He said, “Some people like to fix up old cars, and some like to fix up old houses; I just like to fix up old farms.”
This award is given to the outstanding conservationist in the nine surrounding counties that represent the Middle South GA Soil and Water Conservation District.
Highlighting the program was guest speaker David Bridges, President of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and Chairman Keith White of Worth County, which preceded the evening program.
This award is issued to those who achieve excellence in the field of soil and water conservation. The winners are improving their land, as well as helping to improve their community and the state.
Additional winners included, Virgil Purvis of Ben Hill County, Webb Farms of Brooks County,
J.A. Norman of Colquitt County, Randy Coffee Farms of Crisp County; Troy and Nellie Jo Spicer of Irwin County, Cynergy Farms (Nathan and Josh Connell) of Thomas County, Sumner Farms (Alex Sumner) of Turner County and Henry Mims Farms of Worth County.
It is through their conservation efforts and dedication that our Natural Resources are preserved for future generations.
Local News
Related Photos
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Pictured are Earline Ponder; Jones Ponder; and Tift County Commissioni Chairman Grady Thompson. Contributed Photo
Jones Ponder amed Tift Co. Conservationist of the Year at recent banquet
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