Newton Inducted into Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame

Darwin Newton, Cheatham County Farm Bureau vice president and lifelong conservationist, was recently inducted into the Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame, which recognizes and honors individuals who have had a significant impact or influence on conservation practices and partnerships at the local, state, regional and national levels.

"I'm very honored," said Newton. "The people I have known who have been inducted, I always thought if I could do half of what they did, I'd be doing good. But I didn't have any idea anyone had even nominated me for this and then suddenly, I was told I had been selected. It's just a great honor."

Growing up on a farm in western Kentucky, Newton never thought he'd become a soil scientist, but that's exactly what he's been doing for nearly six decades. He earned his bachelor's degree at Western Kentucky University and then his master's degree in agronomy and crop science from the University of Kentucky. His career with the National Resource Conservation Service spanned over 35 years - first in Kentucky, then in North Carolina before finally ending up as the state soil scientist in Tennessee. After that, Newton spent another 15 years at his alma mater as the public relations coordinator in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on research activities in animal waste management through the Southeast. Although technically retired now, Newton currently serves as the Cheatham County Soil and Water Conservation District board supervisor.

"I always enjoyed what I did because I like to travel and see the different people in different parts of the country, but I think one of the greatest parts was having farmers tell you what the effect of conservation tillage has meant to them," said Newton. "I get real enjoyment out of listening to a farmer tell me, 'I did this practice and this practice and this practice, and my yields have gone up phenomenally and we haven't lost any soil and I can measure the organic matter content coming up.' It's those success stories I like to hear the best."

There's no doubt Darwin Newton has helped bring that success to countless farmers, not to mention his adopted children in FFA and his Envirothon efforts in soil judging for the past 40 years. He's spent his lifetime learning, teaching and sharing the story of conservation, especially when it comes to protecting one of the Earth's most precious resources - the soil.

"You can't manufacture it. You can't pick it up and put it back. You've got to take care of what you have, and that's what I've always tried to preach to people," said Newton. "You might not have the best soil, but it's the best you've got right now and you need to take care of it."

Alongside eight other individuals, Newton received this award during the National Association of Conservation Districts Southeast Region Meeting held in Louisville, Ky. No doubt, a much-deserved recognition for longtime Farm Bureau leader, agriculturalist and conservationist.