Brown Creek Soil & Water Conservation District

07/10/2026

Please continue to use water as conservatively as possible until the water system can be fully pressurized.

07/10/2026

07/09/2026

In addition to Brown Creek SWCD assisting farmers in securing fresh water for their livestock and poultry, we ask all residents to do their part by conserving water whenever possible. Many homes and businesses throughout the county have not yet had water service restored. For those who have regained water pressure, we strongly encourage limiting water use to essential needs until service has been fully restored across the entire county.
Excessive water consumption places additional strain on the distribution system, making it more difficult to rebuild and maintain adequate pressure. By reducing water usage during this critical period, you can help expedite the recovery process and ensure water service is restored more quickly and reliably for everyone in the county.

06/24/2026

Brown Creek Soil and Water Conservation District and Anson County Government are incredibly proud to share that the Brown Creek Soil & Water Conservation District was inducted into the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Hall of Fame on June 4th, 2026!

While this honor recognizes Brown Creek as the first Soil Conservation District established in the United States on August 4, 1937, its true legacy extends far beyond being first.

Brown Creek was founded on a simple but powerful idea: that local citizens could work together to solve shared natural resource challenges. Originally spanning portions of Anson and Union Counties, the District brought farmers together to address severe soil erosion that threatened both livelihoods and the region's economy. In the years that followed, neighboring counties joined the effort, recognizing that watersheds, farmland, and conservation challenges do not stop at political boundaries.

That philosophy—local leadership, voluntary conservation, and cooperation in pursuit of common goals—became the model for more than 3,000 conservation districts across America.

The vision was championed by Anson County native Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett, the "Father of Soil Conservation," whose work transformed the nation's approach to land stewardship during and after the Dust Bowl. Nearly ninety years later, the principles that guided Brown Creek's formation remain just as relevant: conservation succeeds when communities work together, farmers are empowered with technical assistance, and shared challenges are met with shared solutions.

As Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Executive Director Ryan Heiniger noted during the induction ceremony, Brown Creek's living legacy is its ability to bring people together around a common purpose. In a time when division often dominates headlines, its story reminds us that lasting progress is achieved through collaboration, stewardship, and service to future generations.
We are incredibly proud of this award and the recognition that comes with it. We will continue to bring our citizens together for the common goal of conservation and stewardship of our natural resources for generations to come. Anson County has much to be proud of and we are proud to be part of that story.

06/15/2026

🍉 Attention Watermelon Growers! 🍉

Don’t forget to stop by H.W. Little and the Brown Creek Soil & Water Office to pick up your watermelon seeds for the 2026 Heirloom Watermelon Contest! 🌱

Grow your best watermelon for a chance to compete and win some great prizes! 🏆🍉

Get your seeds, start planting, and join the fun as we celebrate our agricultural heritage and community spirit!

The rain has returned and so have our heirloom Moon and Stars watermelon seeds for our annual watermelon contest! You can currently come by our office at 1758 Morven Road Wadesboro, NC 28170 to receive your packets for free. We will also be distributing packets to other locations soon and will update you on those locations once they are delivered. Prizes will be given to largest watermelon and most seeds returned to the District.

06/15/2026

🍉🌟 Calling All Businesses & Community Organizations! 🌟🍉

Become a Proud Sponsor of the 2026 Heirloom Watermelon Contest!

We are excited to invite local businesses, community organizations, and agricultural operations to partner with us as sponsors for the upcoming 2026 Heirloom Watermelon Contest! 🎉

Following the tremendous success of previous years’ events, we are looking forward to making this year’s contest even bigger and better — and we would love to have your support.

This special event brings together farmers, watermelon enthusiasts, families, and community members to celebrate our rich agricultural heritage and local traditions. Your sponsorship will help us continue creating a fun, memorable experience for all who attend. 🙌

Sponsor Benefits Include:

🍉 Increased business and brand visibility
🍉 Positive community recognition
🍉 Opportunities to connect with local families, farmers, and visitors
🍉 Support for preserving and promoting our agricultural heritage

By sponsoring the Heirloom Watermelon Contest, you are investing in a beloved community tradition and showing your commitment to supporting local agriculture and community pride.

We would be honored to partner with you in making the 2026 Heirloom Watermelon Contest a continued success! To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or how to get involved, please contact us today.

Together, let’s celebrate our agricultural roots and strengthen our community spirit! 🍉💚

05/19/2026

Attention: for this month only, we will be moving our monthly meeting from Tuesday the 26th to Wednesday the 27th.

📢 Board Meeting Announcement
The Brown Creek Soil & Water Conservation District will hold its regular board meeting on:
🗓 May 27th
⏰ 10:00 AM
📍 Soil & Water Office
1758 Morven Rd
Wadesboro, NC 28170
The public is welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

04/30/2026

The rain has returned and so have our heirloom Moon and Stars watermelon seeds for our annual watermelon contest! You can currently come by our office at 1758 Morven Road Wadesboro, NC 28170 to receive your packets for free. We will also be distributing packets to other locations soon and will update you on those locations once they are delivered. Prizes will be given to largest watermelon and most seeds returned to the District.

04/27/2026

Perhaps you've seen this sign while passing through Anson County. We take great pride in being the First in Conservation! If you'd like to know more about our, district feel free to reach out to us anytime!

Hugh Hammond Bennett, born in Anson County in 1881, became the first director of the Soil Conservation Service on April 27, 1935, a position he held until his retirement in 1952. Known as "Big Hugh," he grew up in the P*e Dee River drainage basin, where he developed an early and abiding awareness of the damage caused by soil erosion.

Bennett spent 50 years with the federal Department of Agriculture, devoting his career to convincing a skeptical public and resistant policymakers that topsoil was worth saving. His prescribed remedies included terracing, contour plowing, cover and strip cropping, grassed waterways, and crop rotation. The Dust Bowl catastrophe of the mid-1930s gave his arguments a new urgency and his work a national audience. He also advised on soil conservation projects in Alaska, Brazil, Cuba, and South Africa.

In 1937, Bennett established the Brown Creek Soil Conservation District in his native Anson County, the first organization of its kind in the nation. His influence on American agricultural policy was profound and lasting. Today he is honored as the "father of soil conservation."

Marker located in Anson County, NC: https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2024/01/11/hugh-hammond-bennett-1881-1960-k-55