Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District

02/27/2026

The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) is pleased to announce its 2026 Merit-Based Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. This scholarship is designed to support students with an interest in agriculture or natural resources and supports the District’s mission of promoting responsible conservation practices within our community.

Application info is below!

Please share with anyone interested!

02/12/2026

Join Us for an Important Outreach Meeting for Farmers, Ranchers & Landowners!

Learn about funding and programs available through USDA and get guidance on how to obtain a farm and tract number through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) if you're interested in starting or expanding your farming operation.

An attorney will also be available to assist with heirs’ property and estate planning services, with payment support provided by our organization.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable information and resources to strengthen your land, farm, and future!

02/10/2026

If you are interested in Farmland Preservation take a minute and listen to the podcast.

We are looking at a loss of over 1.6million acres of farmland here in NC by 2040. There are many factors that go into this loss such as urban sprawl and generational farm transfers.

The first step is to become aware and learn.

Head over to https://tinyurl.com/54a3m2tn to listen to the latest podcast episode where we sit down with a farmer who is in one of the top counties experiencing farmland loss.

For additional further reading: https://ncfarmlink.ces.ncsu.edu/nc-farmland-at-risk/

02/03/2026

All county offices have a 2-HR delay this morning and will open at 10:00 am.

02/02/2026

We will be closed today! Check back for updates to our hours!

01/16/2026

Get Your Hands Dirty & Your Mind Blown at the Resource Conservation Workshop!

Ready to swap screen time for stream time? The Resource Conservation Workshop is a weeklong deep dive into the world of conservation, where you’ll explore natural resources, tackle real-world environmental challenges, and get hands-on with soil, water, forestry, and wildlife. This isn’t just sitting in a classroom—think field studies, outdoor adventures, and behind-the-scenes tours of conservation hotspots. Plus, evening sessions help you navigate college and career choices (because let’s be real, adulting is coming). Oh, and did we mention scholarships and awards are up for grabs? RCW is specifically targeted to students interested in agriculture, natural resource management, and environmental science.

You'll be living the college life at NC State, staying in dorms, meeting awesome people, and learning at places like Williams Hall, Lake Wheeler Soils Field Lab, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, and Clemmons State Educational Forest. It’s the perfect mix of hands-on science, outdoor exploration, and future-planning.

The Resource Conservation Workshop is designed to accommodate up to 90 students. High school students who have demonstrated an interest in natural resource conservation and are nominated by a local soil and water conservation district are eligible. High school graduates are not eligible to attend. The districts should give priority to rising juniors and seniors. Students may participate only one time in this workshop.

Applications are open between January 15 and March 31. Obtain an application from and submit to your local Soil and Water Conservation Office. Find your RCW contact (scan the QR code below) to submit your application to your local Soil & Water Conservation District by the March 31 deadline. 🌿💧🌎

Application link below ⬇️
https://www.canva.com/design/DAG-luwjSyk/2LzM88sEwSSYirQMjOsxgA/view?utm_content=DAG-luwjSyk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h4340ebd6b6

12/17/2025

Bell and Bell Farms was the winner of the 2025 Franklin County Corn Yield Contest, with a yield of 226 bushels per acre. https://www.franklincountync.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=107

12/15/2025

Our Holiday Hours have been updated! We hope everyone has a safe, warm, holiday season!

11/24/2025

The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District office will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

We will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 1st.

As we enter this season of gratitude, we want to express how thankful we are for our families, producers, and the partnerships who help support the conservation efforts in Franklin County.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍂

11/05/2025

It is time for our Annual Contests! Information is included below, was sent to your child's school and there will also be hard copies at our office!

Why Participate?
• Students gain a deeper understanding of environmental issues that affect our communities.
• It's a wonderful way to build research, creative, and public speaking skills.
• Outstanding winners in each category and grade level may receive prizes and recognition at the district, Area, and State level.

We would love to have your students participate, and we believe the contests will be a rewarding experience for them. The official contest guidelines, deadlines, and entry forms are attached to this email for your convenience. I have also included standards for each grade and a slideshow for the current year’s theme in the link below.

Reach out to your child's teachers if they have heard about our contests! Their principal should have gotten the email with all of the information they need! If for some reason they did not receive it, we will be glad to get it to them/you!

Current Year’s Theme (Grades K-2): Snakes & Turtles & Frogs & Things!
• Bookmark Creation: Students in grades K-2 get a chance to express their creative minds about conservation visually.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAG3G8lL58Y/xPN1uNM9NdLW8zVstA7Pdw/view?utm_content=DAG3G8lL58Y&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h7227d0bcaa

Current Year’s Theme (Grades 3-12): We all live in a Watershed!
• Poster Creation: A chance for students in grades 3-5 to express their ideas about conservation visually.
• Essay Writing: Students in grades 6-12 can explore themes related to conservation, sustainability, and environmental protection.
• Computer Designed Slide Show Presentations: Students in grades 6-12 can present their ideas about soil and water conservation through a slide show presentation.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAG19ynn51A/XSPxeuESP_aGM4pq4CIX8w/view?utm_content=DAG19ynn51A&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hd8ef08c9d2

Important Dates:
• December 19, 2025 – Deadline for all contest submissions to our office (101-B S Bickett Blvd. Louisburg, NC 27549)
• May 1, 2026 – State Contest Judging
• TBD – Contest Awards (EOY Awards Programs) (please let us know your EOY Awards dates when you deliver your students' submissions.)

We look forward to seeing the incredible submissions this year!!

Questions?? Reach out to our office @ 919-496-8181.

10/15/2025

The fair booth is set up and ready for you!