CONSERVATION AWARDS
2026 Conservation Awards
The Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District is pleased to announce our 2026 conservation award winners. These winners have gone above and beyond in their service to conservation in Greenville County.
Farmer of the Year - Matthew Lindsey, Lindsey Plantation
Bravo Matthew Lindsey, whose farm—Lindsey Plantation—began in 1870 and has been a family-run operation for 4 generations and counting. Growing corn, soybeans, hay, and cattle, Matthew has made great strides in land stewardship and conservation through installing protective buffers and implementing no-till practices to improve soil and plant health.
Matthew won the 2014 Best Farm Operation Shop by the FFA, and has hosted the Blue Ridge High School Young Farmers & BRHS FFA Farm Show for over 10 years. He is passionate about sharing his success stories with land conservation with other farmers, and hopes to pass down a legacy of sustainable farming operation!
Congratulations to Matthew on the 2026 Farmer of the Year award!
Educator of the Year - Katie Delloso, Greenville County schools
Congratulations to Katie Delloso!
Katie is the Science and STEAM Academic Specialist for K-5th grade in Greenville County schools, and grew up with a love of nature that motivated her to ensure that all students have the opportunity to experience, value, and protect the natural world.
In her current role, she has contributed to the development and opening of Reedy Laurel Elementary, a school intentionally designed around environmental science and stewardship where students extend their learning through authentic contexts like greenhouses, hydroponics systems, school gardens, and recycling programs, allowing them to connect science concepts directly to sustainability and stewardship in their own communities. She also supports the Future Teacher Academy programs, helping build capacity in future educators around environmental literacy and conservation-focused instruction, and has secured over $100,000 in grant funding to support and enhance the district’s 50+ elementary STEAM labs.
Conservationist of the Year - Bruce Bannister, SC House Rep
Congrats to SC House Representative Bruce Bannister of Greenville County, who has become a prominent figure in the state’s conservation efforts. Currently serving as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Bruce plays a key role in directing state funds toward environmental protection. In July 2025, Bruce was honored as a “True Conservation Hero” by the SC Department of Natural Resources for his role in supporting legislature to preserve the state’s natural landscapes, for using his position as Ways and Means chairman to secure state funding for conservation and for emphasizing that environmental preservation is vital for the state’s tourism and outdoor economy. Other key projects include his support for the SC Conservation Enhancement Act, which aimed to provide the SC Conservation Bank with funding through deed recording fees to keep pace with rapid state development.
Congratulations to our 2026 conservation award winners!
Farmer of the Year Winners
Formerly known as Cooperator of the Year
1968 Hoke Smith
1970 Charles Jones
1972 Ralph W. Blakely
1973 Hoke Smith
1974 Lem Dillard
1975 Ben Dillard
1976 J.P. Kellett
1977 L.L. Hyder
1978 Billy Ledford
1979 John F. Lynn, Jr.
1980 Frank Ferguson
1981 Keith Merck
1982 Phillip G. Smith
1983 J. A. Goodwin
1984 Richard T. Donald
1985 Grady M. Jones
1986 Thomas D. Cooper
1987 Dr. W.N. Gressett
1988 Clyde & Carl Chapman
1989 Maurice B. Henson
1990 Artie McCall
1991 Frank Ferguson
1992 Robert Estelle – BJU Dairy Farm
1993 L.L. Hyde Farms
1994 Tommy & Charles Fisher – Fisher Brothers Farms
1995 Joe Burdette
1996 Charles Max Laye
1997 Dr. George Smith
1998 Shirley Brown & Doris Blackmon - Famoda Farms
1999 J.D. Dill
2000 Dr. William Gressette
2001 Tom Trantham – Twelve Aprils Dairy
2002 Mark Turner
2003 John Kuykendall
2004 Stephanie Clark – Riverdale Farms
2005 Jerry Munns – Big Sky Farm
2006 Charles Cox
2007 Bob & Claire Bradbery
2008 Bobby Rice – American Breeding Services Global
2009 Tim Ayers
2010 James Brannan
2011 Donnie King
2012 Davis Dairy
2013 Arthur M. (“Mickey”) Fisher – Granjammer’s Farm
2014 Tankersley Brothers
2015 Wilson Farms
2016 Sam Howard
2017 Debbie Roe
2018 Bryan and Margaret Harrison
2019 Jim Blackwell
2020 Eugene Roe
2021 (no awards - pandemic)
2022 Stephens Gregory
2023 Danielle Pereira - Farm in the Wildwood
2024 CE and Rachel Lawton
2025 Jessica Gates - Harvest Moon Flower and Farm