Rutherford County Soil & Water Conservation District

10/26/2026

Putting a face to the name! 🌱

Behind the work of Rutherford County Soil & Water is a board committed to supporting our farmers and our community. These five supervisors help guide our District’s efforts and play an important role in strengthening agriculture throughout Rutherford County.

📸 From left to right:
George Belflower
Clint Green
Shannon Buckley
Ronald Hawkins
Ali High

Each of these supervisors brings agricultural knowledge, experience, and a commitment to serving the people of Rutherford County. With their own backgrounds and involvement in agriculture, they help ensure that the needs of our local farming community remain a priority in the work we do.

Our board plays an important role in guiding the District’s programs, making decisions that affect local farmers, and helping connect agricultural producers with resources and assistance to support their operations. From supporting programs that help farmers improve their land and water management practices to promoting more sustainable farming for future generations, their leadership helps strengthen the agricultural foundation of our county.

Our supervisors also help ensure that the District continues to serve not only our farmers but also the broader community through education, outreach, and programs that benefit Rutherford County. Their guidance and support help make these opportunities possible and allow us to continue building relationships with the people who make our county such a special place to call home.

This past Friday, our supervisors attended our annual Conservation Field Day, where 570+ fifth-grade students from across Rutherford County had the opportunity to learn about agriculture, natural resources, and the important role these play in our everyday lives. Their support of events like this helps us invest in the next generation and inspire students to understand and appreciate the agricultural industry that plays such a vital role in our county.

We are proud to have such a dedicated board working to strengthen agriculture, support our local farmers, and preserve the agricultural integrity of Rutherford County. Without their leadership, dedication, and continued support, the work we do throughout our county would not be possible.

Please join us in thanking our supervisors for the time and commitment they give to our District and the people we serve! 🌾

10/23/2026

🌱 What a DAY at Conservation Field Day! 🌱

Today was full of learning, laughter, and hands-on fun at our annual Conservation Field Day, hosted by Rutherford Soil & Water at Isothermal Community College’s Agribusiness facility!

Each year, we bring together all fifth-grade students across Rutherford County for an exciting day of educational experiences that connect students with agriculture, natural resources, and the world around them. This year, we were thrilled to welcome over 570 fifth-grade students for a day packed with learning, exploration, and fun! 🌎🌾

An event of this size would not be possible without the incredible support of our community partners! From sharing their knowledge and expertise to providing engaging, hands-on activities, our partners helped make today a memorable experience for every student who attended. We are so grateful to everyone who volunteered their time, shared their passion, and helped bring this event to life!
Our favorite part? Seeing students get excited about learning something new, asking questions, and discovering just how much there is to explore in the world around them! 💚

570+ students. Countless learning opportunities. One incredible community coming together!

A HUGE thank-you to all of our community partners, volunteers, educators, and everyone who helped make this year's Conservation Field Day such a success. It takes a village to make a day like this happen, and we are proud to work alongside such a supportive community to provide these valuable learning opportunities for Rutherford County students!

10/21/2026

🌱 Staff Spotlight: Charlotte Harkless 🌱

Meet Charlotte Harkless, our Education and Administration Specialist!

Meet Charlotte Harkless, our Education and Administration Specialist! A graduate of Gardner-Webb University, Charlotte brings nearly six years of experience in the school system and ten generations of family roots in Rutherford County. While she didn’t come directly from an agricultural or conservation background, agriculture is still a part of her family’s history, with ancestors who were involved in various farming operations throughout the years. She has a deep love for the community she calls home and a passion for helping it thrive by sharing who we are and what we do.

One of Charlotte’s favorite parts of her job is the opportunity to combine her background in education with her love for her community. From visiting schools and libraries to working with community groups, she enjoys creating and sharing educational programs that introduce people of all ages to conservation in fun, engaging, and memorable ways.

When asked about her favorite program so far, Charlotte would have to choose her program about worms! There’s something special about seeing the excitement on a child’s face when they get the chance to interact with the worms and discover something new. Those little moments are a big part of what makes this work so rewarding!

Outside of work, Charlotte loves spending time with her husband, her family, and friends while making memories to preserve in her scrapbooks. She is proud of her Rutherford County roots, the family she comes from, and the opportunity to give back to the county that has shaped her.

Charlotte looks forward to continuing to grow in her role, developing new educational opportunities, and helping more people discover the important work Rutherford County Soil and Water Conservation District does to support local agriculture, conservation, and our community. 🌿

10/19/2026

🌾 Why Are Soil & Water Supervisors on Your Ballot? 🗳️

Did you know that Rutherford County Soil & Water Conservation District has supervisors who are elected by YOU? Let’s talk about why these positions matter to our local farmers and community!

Our district is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors. Three supervisors are elected by voters during the general election as nonpartisan candidates, meaning they do not run under a political party. The other two seats are appointed positions.

🌱 So, what do these supervisors actually do?
We are a farmer-focused organization dedicated to helping local farmers access resources, programs, and financial assistance that support their farming operations. Our supervisors play an important role in guiding our district’s work, helping determine local priorities, and ensuring farmers and landowners can access the assistance and services available to them.
From helping farmers implement practices that make their farms more sustainable to supporting the long-term success of agriculture in Rutherford County, our supervisors help shape how we serve the people who feed our community.

🗳️ When you vote for a Soil & Water supervisor, you’re helping choose the local leaders who guide this work and help support our farming community!
As you head to the polls, take a moment to learn about the candidates on your ballot and make your voice heard. Your vote helps shape the future of agriculture and the resources available to our local farmers.

Thank you for supporting Rutherford County agriculture and the farmers who keep our community growing!

10/16/2026

The fun never stops!

Today you can find the Rutherford Soil and Water Conservation District at the Chase Middle career fair! It’s always a pleasure to talk with students and share with them who we are and what we do. 💧🌱🌎

10/14/2026

Yesterday, our team attended the Local Area 1 Fall Meeting alongside our NRCS partners! 🌱

One of the highlights of the meeting was recognizing Supervisor Ronald Hawkins for an incredible 40 years of service to conservation! Pictured with Ronald is our Chairman, Shannon Buckley, who has contributed 25 years of service to our district.

We were also glad to have Supervisor Buddy Belflower join us for this opportunity to connect with fellow conservation partners and celebrate the dedication of those who make a lasting impact on our communities.

Thank you to our supervisors and partners for their continued commitment to conservation and the farmers and landowners we serve!

10/13/2026

🌱 Voting Starts this week in Rutherford County! 🗳️

Rutherford County’s 2026 General Election voting starts Thursday, October 15, and runs through October 31! Make your voice heard on the issues that matter most to our community.

As you head to the polls, don’t forget about the Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor seats!
These local leaders play an important role in supporting agriculture and protecting our natural resources throughout Rutherford County. 🌎

Our Soil and Water Conservation District is a farmer-focused organization that works alongside local farmers to help them build more sustainable farms while protecting the soil and water resources that make agriculture possible. 🚜👨‍🌾

10/09/2026

🍂🍁 TEACHERS, LET’S GET COLORFUL! 🍁🍂
Have you ever wondered WHY the leaves change colors in the fall? 🍃🔬 Let us bring the science of the season straight to your classroom with our Fall’s Colorful Transformation program!

Students will discover the science behind the beautiful reds, oranges, yellows, and golds we see in our trees each autumn! 🍂 And the fun doesn’t stop there… we might even take a nature walk to collect inspiration and create our own colorful masterpiece! 🎨🌳
📅 LIMITED DATES AVAILABLE FOR THE REST OF OCTOBER!
Don’t let this colorful opportunity pass you by! 🍁 If you’re interested in bringing this fun, educational program to your students, send us a message right here on Facebook or give us a call to get on the calendar!

10/06/2026

Don’t forget to join me today at Mountains Branch library in Lake Lure for this fun NC Apple program!

🍎 Kids ages 5-12 are invited to join us at the Mountains Branch on Tuesday, October 6th at 4:30pm to learn about one of NC’s most important (and delicious) crops! Charlotte Harkless from Rutherford County’s Soil & Water District will be joining us for a hands-on discussion of life cycles and climate, ending with a craft. There will be samples!

🍏 Registration is required. Please call Mountains Branch at 828-287-6392 or visit us online at www.rutherfordcountylibrary.org/events to register.

10/02/2026

🌎💧 Learning, Growing & Bringing Water Education to the Classroom! 💧🌎

Last Friday, I had the privilege of attending a Project WET Workshop hosted by Cleveland County Soil and Water at Albemarle Kings Mountain!

Project WET provided an incredible opportunity to learn new, hands-on ideas and activities that I can bring back to the classroom and incorporate into our outreach programs. I left the workshop feeling inspired and excited to take these new ideas and turn them into fun, engaging learning experiences for students! 💦🌱

A special thank you to Amanda Strickland, who led and organized the workshop, and to Kelly Gay from Polk County Soil and Water Conservation, who helped alongside Amanda throughout the day. Your time, knowledge, and enthusiasm made this such a valuable and enjoyable learning experience!

I’m always looking for new ways to make conservation education fun, interactive, and memorable, and opportunities like this are a great reminder that learning never stops—even for those of us doing the teaching! 🌎💧

I’m excited to bring what I learned back to the classroom and share the importance of water, conservation, and our natural resources with students in new and exciting ways! 💙