For the second time in six years, the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District received the Area 1 District of the Year Award.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Oct. 15 and recognized the department for the award.

Polk soil and water district administrator Sandra Reid presented the award and said the award is based on getting conservation on the ground. The Polk district sponsored, managed and implemented over $137,000 in best management practices and sponsored, managed and implemented over $230,000 in streambank restorations throughout the county.

Reid also said Polk’s district also participated in conservation education by sponsoring classroom presentations, sponsoring poster, essay and public speaking contest, sponsored sending a high school student for a week to the Resource Conservation Workshop at N.C. State University, sponsors land judging contests and sponsored and hosted a workshop for conservation educators.

“We are fortunate to have a board of supervisors that is actively involved in attending and participating in state meetings and organizations,” Reid said. “Our board sits on many state boards and has been instrumental in the forming and shaping of state programs. They have sponsored many resolutions that have gone through state approval to make our programs better for our citizens. Polk County has a proven record of being a leader throughout the state.”

Reid said Polk County is particularly considered leaders in the state in farmland preservation and are the first in the state to have an agricultural center.

Reid recognized the soil and water district board of supervisors, including chairman Richard Smith, David Slater, Hubert McEntyre, Charles Dean Edwards and vice-chair Frank Smith who all total 135 years of experience.

Staff members were also recognized and include Stuart Walker, district technician, Patrick McLendon, Ag center director as well as Lynn Sprague, Polk County Agriculture Economic Development Director.