On the edge of Jefferson and Walker counties are two beautiful tracts of the Burton Farm in the Morgan’s Chapel and Robbins Crossroads Communities. Rolling hills and pastures with Charolais’ and Black Angus cows and bales of hay are all the eyes see from the large red barn. Similarly to how Mr. Lloyd Burton takes special pride in preparing his calves for the upcoming cattle sale, he has also taken pride and special care of his land for several decades.
For Mr. Burton, conservation of the land started many years ago in the mid-1960s with just one cow. Now with his combined tracts of 550 acres between Jefferson and Walker counties, he has implemented about five of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) program practices. Mr. Burton has installed NRCS “Environmental Quality Incentives Program” (EQIP) practices such as cross fencing, water pipelines, spraying for invasive species, heavy use areas, and even shade structures. All of these enhance as well as protect the land he farms, bettering it not just for generations of his family, but also future generations of his current 80 head of brood cows. The NRCS EQIP program offers a wide range of conservation practices for farmers of all types, including those who manage cattle and other livestock, forest land, and habitats for wildlife.
With this much dedication to land stewardship, the Conservation District is glad to award Mr. Lloyd Burton as a finalist in the first year of the new Conservation Farmer of the Year program.
“I am humbled to just be mentioned and grouped with the other fine individuals of this award,” Mr. Burton stated.
Mr. Burton received a commemorative metal sign to hang and was awarded a check for $500. Although standing stoic and reserved, Mr. Burton certainly deserves to be among the individuals awarded in the newly created Conservation Farmer of the Year awards. His dedication to his country, conservation of the land, and community involvement are evident and certainly qualify him to be awarded as a finalist in the District’s new recognition program.
article and photography by Holly Lynne Killian, District Administrative Coordinator for the Jefferson County Conservation District
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