Chester Soil & Water Conservation

05/27/2026

I have let this sneak up on me. Our LWG meeting is next week. Please share with local landowners, producers, and groups that support this effort.

05/21/2026

Applications are open for the 2026 Learn to Farm Classroom Mini-Grants! This program provides funding to support classroom project that enhance students' understanding of agriculture, farming and food systems.

This year, the SCFB Young Farmers and Ranchers are expanding the program to offer two $500 mini-grants per SC Farm Bureau district. That means we'll award eight mini-grants across the state!

Application deadline is September 7, 2026. Learn more and apply online: www.scfb.org/mini-grant 🌱

05/20/2026

Congratulations to our photo contest winners!

6th-8th grade
First place Kamron Widener
Second place Amelia Eifert
Third place Annie Rose Clinton

9th-10th grade
First place Tucker Clinton

11th-12th grade
Kinsley Eifert

05/19/2026

POSTER CONTEST WINNERS!
Thank you to all who participated this year. We hope you enjoyed creating these and learned something about soil as well.

K-1st grade
First Place Loni Romanek

2nd-3rd grade
First Place Aubrey Beatty
Second Place Cole Spears
Third Place Laren Johnson

4th-6th grade
First Place Delilah Faulkenberry
Second Place Annie Rose Clinton
Third Place Olivia Mobley

7th-9th grade
First Place Ava Campbell
Second Place Amelia Eifert
Third Place Lillian Blanton

Congratulations to all!!

05/19/2026

If you had damage from Hurricane Helene you can apply for assistance to cover your loss. Application deadline is June 30.

The application period for the Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Block Grant is open.
The $38 million in federal aid will help cover four types of Hurricane Helene losses that aren’t covered by other USDA programs or crop insurance: infrastructure loss, market loss, future economic loss, and timber loss. Only losses in counties with a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Helene are eligible.
Find more info, and apply here: https://agriculture.sc.gov/helene

05/18/2026

Be on the lookout…

Poster and photo winners will be announced tomorrow!

05/18/2026

Jr Beekeepers Camp has been scheduled!

Get ready for a buzzing adventure learn what it takes to be a beekeeper during this 1-day Jr Beekeepers Camp.

Young explorers will journey through a bee-themed scavenger hunt filled with hand-on activities, discoveries and interactive learning stations. As campers travel through stations they will gather clues, complete activities and explore the fascinating world of honey bees and pollinators. Youth will learn about bee biology and behavior, see live bees safely displayed in an observation hive, explore real beekeeping equipment and protective gear, create bee themed crafts, and enjoy a bee and honey-inspired snack. The day is sure to to be fun filled as campers be gathering the clues needed to fill in ther very own Bee Explorer Adventure Map.

9:00AM - 12:30PM
York Technical College, Chester Campus

Youth ages: 7-12 years

Cost: $10 per youth

Registration closes: Monday June 8 (The camp is limited to 30 participants)

Participants must be registered with 4-Honline to participate.

Follow the link to sign up for Je Beekeepers Camp:
https://ChesterLancasterBeekeepers2026.eventbrite.com

05/13/2026

One of my favorite flowers.

A beautiful flower, the Iris is celebrated today as a mythical messenger of faith, hope, and wisdom. According to the U.S. Forest Service, there are approximately 280 species of irises in the world, with 28 varieties native to the United States. https://loom.ly/tJXdLow

05/13/2026

APPLICATION PERIOD OPEN FOR HURRICANE HELENE DISASTER RELIEF BLOCK GRANT

Hurricane Helene dealt a heavy blow to forest landowners across the western part of South Carolina in September 2024. Recognizing these losses, the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture applied for and received funds from the US Department of Agriculture to help offset a portion of these losses.

SCDA began taking applications for the SC Disaster Relief Block Grant for Helene today. The block grant is designed to help offset some of the financial losses suffered by farmers and forest landowners due to Hurricane Helene. Losses eligible for assistance include infrastructure damage, market losses, future economic losses and timber losses. The SC Forestry Commission is overseeing the timber loss aspect of this grant.

Here are the basics regarding timber loss:

Property must be located in an eligible county (see green counties in attached map).

Property must have been owned by a private landowner on September 27, 2024.

Property must contain at least 10 contiguous acres of forestland with at least 15% of the trees with significant damage (broken main stem, blown over or major crown damage).

No restoration work is required — these funds are designed to help offset financial losses. Participation in other federal programs does not impact eligibility for this grant.

Loss valuations will be carried out by consulting/registered foresters and by SCFC foresters.

Forest landowners who meet the following criteria can apply online by visiting the SCDA website at https://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/agency-operations/grants/helene/.
For more information about the block grant, eligibility, application process and more, please visit our website at scfc.gov/management/landowner-services/hurricane-helene-timber-block-grant.