Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District

10/22/2026

October is National Pork Month, and the Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District is celebrating the hardworking local farmers and producers who help put pork on our tables!

To celebrate, we are hosting a PORK-TASTIC GIVEAWAY featuring awesome merchandise generously donated by Loy Stock Farm!
We want to hear from YOU! Who is your favorite local pork producer?

HOW TO ENTER:
• Like this post!
• Comment your favorite local pork producer in Jefferson County or the surrounding area!

That’s it! By commenting your favorite local pork producer, you’ll automatically be entered into our giveaway! A lucky winner will be selected at the end of October!
A HUGE thank-you to Loy Stock Farm for generously donating merchandise and helping us celebrate National Pork Month! We appreciate their support and their contributions to our local agricultural community!

10/21/2026

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to spend out on the farm!!!

The Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District was proud to partner with the Jefferson County UT Extension Office to co-host an educational Pasture Walk at Humphrey Farm!

With over 70 people in attendance, we enjoyed a wonderful day of learning, fellowship, and conversations about agriculture! Participants discussed important pasture management practices, cattle forage intake, and ways to improve grazing efficiency and overall pasture productivity. We even put our thinking caps on and did a little “cowboy math”!

A HUGE thank you to Humphrey Farm for welcoming us onto their property, Tindell’s Farmhouse Bakery for catering the delicious food, and Ryan Brown for helping make this event such a success!
We are incredibly thankful for everyone who took time out of their day to join us. Events like these remind us just how important it is to bring our agricultural community together to share knowledge, learn from one another, and promote conservation practices that keep our farms productive for generations to come!

Thank you to everyone who made this pasture walk such a great success!!!

10/21/2026

10/15/2026

The Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District had a wonderful time partnering with Discover Life in America for a rain garden planting at the Jefferson City Public Library!
We were also excited to have members of the Carson-Newman University Ecology Club join us and lend a helping hand in bringing this project to life!

Rain gardens are more than just beautiful additions to our landscapes! These gardens are designed to collect and absorb rainwater runoff from surrounding areas, helping reduce stormwater pollution, prevent erosion, and protect our local waterways.
One of the most important parts of a successful rain garden is the use of native plant species!

Native plants are especially beneficial because they are naturally adapted to our local climate and growing conditions. Their deep root systems help water soak into the ground, improve soil structure, and filter pollutants before they can reach nearby streams and rivers. Native plants also provide valuable food and habitat for pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife!
By incorporating native species into rain gardens, we can create beautiful, functional landscapes that support biodiversity while improving water quality right here in Jefferson County!

A huge THANK YOU to Discover Life in America, the Carson-Newman University Ecology Club, and the Jefferson City Public Library for helping make this project possible! We love seeing organizations, students, and community members come together to make a positive impact on our environment.

We would also like to extend a special thank-you to The Standard Banner Staff Writer Steve Marion for taking the time to come out and capture some wonderful photos of our teams working together!!
We appreciate your support in helping share the importance of conservation efforts throughout our community!

Projects like this remind us that conservation doesn’t always require acres of farmland. Sometimes, making a difference starts with a small garden and a group of people willing to get their hands dirty!!

10/09/2026

The Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District would like to extend a big CONGRATULATIONS to the Finchum Family for winning our National Chicken Month photo contest!

Their creative submission, “Rooster on a Bicycle,” certainly gave us something to crow about!

The Finchum Family will be taking home a Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District hat as their prize!

We want to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated by sharing photos of themselves with their feathered friends! We loved seeing all of your chickens and appreciate everyone who joined in on the fun.

We always enjoy finding fun ways to connect with our community while celebrating agriculture and the animals that make farm life so special!

10/01/2026

Don’t forget to join us on October 20th as we co-host our Fall Pasture Tour. Topics for this field day include rotational grazing, soil sampling, and stockpiling tall fescue.
RSVP online or call 865-397-2969.

https://tiny.utk.edu/fieldtour26

Join us on October 20th as we co-host our Fall Pasture Tour. Topics for this field day include rotational grazing, soil sampling, and stockpiling tall fescue. RSVP online or call 865-397-2969.

https://tiny.utk.edu/fieldtour26

09/29/2026

The Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District and NRCS Team had a wonderful time participating in Jefferson County Farm Bureau’s 2026 Farm Day! We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to Jefferson County Farm Bureau for inviting us to be a part of such a fun and educational day for our local students!

This year, more than 430 second graders from elementary schools across Jefferson County gathered at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds to learn about agriculture and the important role it plays in our everyday lives.

Our office brought along some very special underground helpers - WORMS!!! 🪱

Using a feeding trough filled with soil and live worms, we gave students an up-close, hands-on lesson about soil health and the important role worms play beneath our feet. Students were able to dig into the soil, gently handle and observe the worms, and ask questions about worms, healthy soil, and the soil right here in our own community.
Worms may be small, but they are mighty helpers! As they move through the ground and break down organic material, they help improve soil structure, nutrient cycling, and create conditions that allow plants to grow!

Events like Farm Day are such a great opportunity to help young people understand where their food and resources come from while introducing them to agriculture and conservation in a way they can see, touch, and experience for themselves.

We are grateful to have been a small part of educating the next generation about agriculture and conservation!!

09/25/2026

We’re joining in on the fall fun!!!

The Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District is excited to be participating in the 2026 Autumn in Dandridge Scarecrow Contest! 🌾🎃

We love having opportunities like this to get involved in our community, support our neighbors, and have a little fun along the way!

While you’re out and about in Dandridge, we encourage you to take a drive or stroll around town and check out all of the creative scarecrow displays that local businesses, organizations, and residents have worked hard to put together. Be sure to keep an eye out for ours, too!

We’re proud to be a part of such a fun community tradition. Happy scarecrow hunting, Jefferson County!!!

09/22/2026

The Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District had a wonderful time visiting Barefoot Academy and sharing a hands-on rainfall simulation with the students!

During the demonstration, we compared two different soil samples- one with tilled, bare ground and another covered with grass. After introducing simulated rainfall, students were able to see firsthand how the different surfaces responded to rain.

The tilled soil produced more surface runoff, while the grass-covered soil helped slow the water down and allowed more water to soak into the ground. This demonstration is a great way to show why healthy vegetation and proper land management are so important for reducing runoff, protecting our soil, and improving water quality.

A big thank you to Barefoot Academy for hosting us and giving us the opportunity to share the importance of soil and water conservation with the next generation! We always enjoy getting young people involved in learning about and protecting our natural resources.