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PAGE 2A —THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. MARCH 19. 2009 from the old cotton days and turned it into a sustainable farm enterprise.” Vamadoe said Chandler is committed not only to preserv ing the land and resources on his farm but “also to utilizing practices that will improve the soil and water quality on the land he farms.” “The practices Terry and his family have implemented over the years have improved water quality and soil properties as well as allowed a thriving wild life population to find refuge,” said Vamadoe. “We should all thank Terry and farmers like him for all they do to care for our environment while providing our food. He is a deserving district winner of the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award.” Chandler said the good ideas he employs at Still Water have generally come from other Madison County farmers, who have shared their techniques with him. “I have learned so much from our farming community in Madison County,” he said. One of Chandler’s primary focuses at Still Water has been water quality. For instance, cows can’t wander into creek water at Still Water. Instead, they drink from troughs that are fed by underwater lines. “Our long-term goal is that we want the water when it leaves this farm to be better quality and purer than the state that it arrives,” said Chandler. “I think we can do that, if we’re not already there.” Chandler’s family members have all worked hard on the farm. His 24-year-old son, Robert, is now a second lieuten ant in the Marines. His daugh ter Jennifer, 22, is a college student, swimming instructor, phlebotomist, pharmacy tech nician and aspiring RN. And his daughter, Kimberly, 16, has grabbed numerous ribbons with her cattle projects through 4-H and FFA. Chandler .cont’dfrom 1A “...She (Kimberly) is my number one hand on the farm,” said Chandler. “She can do anything with the cattle I can, some things even better.” Chandler is active with Madison County’s farm youth. He has been instrumental in the creation of the county ag center. He urges youth to con tinue learning about agricul ture, noting that technology continues to change and that farmers have to stay abreast of what’s happening, lest they get left behind. Madison County Young Farmer teacher and FFA advi sor Cindy Jones says Chandler has been a positive influence on young farmers in the county. “I appreciate all the time Terry gives to our youth,” said Jones. “He is always avail able as a field trip destina tion, to judge an FFA Career Development Event, to haul student livestock projects, or to spend one-on-one time teach ing the many skills he has to willing young men and women. He was instrumental in the success of the FFA Livestock Judging teams at both the high school and the middle school, helping to arrange live practice classes and lending his judging expertise.” While Chandler recognizes the many difficulties farmers face in earning a living, he says it’s important to consider the big picture, too, the legacy of the land. “I’m just here for a very short period of time,” said Chandler. “And what’s more important is what I leave behind, not so much what I do or what I accomplish right now. Although my name is on the deed and we pay taxes here every year, we’re not really the owners. We’re just caretakers. We’re stewards here for just a short period of time. And we feel very strongly that it’s our responsibility to leave things in better condition than we found them.” Still Water Farm Operator: Terry P. Chandler Wife: Deborah Children: Robert, 24; Jennifer, 22; Kim, 16 About the farm: located off Fowler Freeman Road, Danielsville, purchased 1987, over 200 acres, 80 beef cattle, 2 poultry houses, 50,000 heavy breeder pullets annually, conducts 75-plus bull tests annually for area farmers Ag/environmental organizations: Madison County Young Farmers, Madison County Cattleman’s Association, Madison County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, Georgia Grazing Lands Conservation Coalition, Bull Power Group LLC., Madison County Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee, Madison County Ag Center Board, USDA Farm Service Agency County Committee, Broad River Soil and Water Conservation District Stewardship practices: •Installing 5-plus miles of permanent fencing, creating eight 5-acre paddocks and nine 10-acre paddocks that are each quickly divided into 2.5-acre pens. •Over 1 1 /2 miles of underground water lines supply water to each paddock with 15 troughs and 10 heavy traffic areas. •Cattle working facilities are over 400 vegetated feet from sur face water and are contained under a roof. •An 84x108 bam was constructed for hay and equipment stor age. •The retired hog finishing floor has been converted to an indoor feeding and loading shed for the cattle. •The once degraded farm pond was drained, dredged and increased to three-plus acre-feet of impoundment. •The spring that once cooled the families’ milk has been cap tured and removed from the pasture and is fed with an additional 400 feet of drain tile. •A wet area that could not be worked has been deepened to create a wildlife pond that also serves to control downstream water flow. •Stream banks have been cleared, sloped and grassed. •Four and five foot diameter pipes have been installed for stream crossings. •Cattle have been excluded from all surface water by using combinations of permanent and temporary electric fence. •The fertile abandoned creek bottoms have been reclaimed, protected by drainage ditches and established in Jesup Max-Q Fescue. •Seasonal no-till millets, ryegrass and hybrid forage brasicas extend grazing days and improve forage quality. •The wooded acreage is set aside for wildlife. •The hog waste two-stage lagoon was completely pumped out, all solids removed, 12-18 inches of inner liner removed and increased in size to act as a catch basin for all the runoff from poultry, cattle and hay barn roofs. •Intensive rotational grazing has greatly enhanced manage ment options and opportunities with cattle. •White oaks, sawtooth oaks and water oaks have been planted for shade, wildlife and aesthetics. Taxes .cont’dfrom 1A what's being done and what we need to do next,” said Dove, who said a consultant may help the county hire a new chief appraiser. Dove noted that earlier this decade, the BOA gave hiring power to the BOC. The assessors later sought to get back that authority. Under current policies, the BOC hires the chief appraiser, but only after a recommendation is made by the board of assessors. Dove seeks to eliminate the required recommendation from the BOA, noting that only one person — interim chief Stacey Rubio — has been proposed by the assessor board for the top appraisal posi tion in the county. Earlier this year, the board of assessors nearly recommended an applicant with "appraiser IV” credentials, but the assessors voted 3-2 not to recommend that person to the commissioners. Dove has waited for months for the BOA to find more applicants, adding that there’s no more time for delays. "We can't do anything unless they (the board of assessors) bring us people to consider,” said Dove, noting that the process began in late 2008. While the BOA voted 3-1 to recommend Rubio for the chief appraiser's position, county commissioners voted 4-1 against the promotion, saying the county needs a chief appraiser with more experience. Rubio called it quits Monday. Her resignation will take effect March 27. "I don’t have anything to say,” she said Monday, when contacted by phone. Rubio’s brief March 16 resignation letter offered no explanation for her departure. And she did not indicate whether or not she has taken another job. BOA chairman David Ragland had pushed for Rubio's promotion as chief appraiser, saying that she is bright and capable of handling the responsibilities. "It's a sad day for Madison County," said Ragland, referring to Rubio’s departure. "She has done a very good job for us for a little over three years. I felt she was good enough to be our chief appraiser." The appraisal staff generally has five to six employees. Now, with Rubio’s departure, there are three vacancies: Rubio's position, the chief appraiser's post and an appraiser I position held by Regina Coker, who resigned last week due to health reasons. Rubio was the only person in the office with "appraiser III” status. And without an appraiser III, the county cannot legally complete a digest. "The Department of Revenue requires that, for a digest to be pre sented by a county, there must be a credible, certified appraiser III on staff,” said Ragland. Dove said the commissioners will take steps to have an appraiser III on staff to operate the WinGap tax appraisal software. "That's something we'll have to address,” said Dove. County commissioners agreed last week to increase the potential salary for the chief appraiser from $55,000 to $75,000 in hopes of attracting a qualified person to the important tax post. Ragland said Monday that he has received no bites since the salary increase. He said he spoke with three people about the job, but that all three ultimately said "no.” "They don’t feel the job opportunity in Madison County presents itself in a stable climate right now,” said Ragland of why the three people who spoke with aren’t interested. "They're not willing to take that risk.” Ag Day .cont’dfrom 1A around and come back. ‘Those of us involved in agriculture love what we do,” said Cindy Jones, Madison County High School ag instructor and Young Farmers advisor. “The Madison County Ag Day Celebration gives us (the ag com munity) a chance to share with the community at large our passion for the production of food and fiber that contributes toward the good life we enjoy. It’s a day filled with activities and exhibits that highlight the broad scope of agriculture.” Ag Day displays will officially open at 10 a.m. There will be a mobile dairy classroom. The Madison County Trailriders will provide "horse rides” (free to watch, but a donation is requested if you want to ride). There will be farm equipment displays from local vendors, FFA and 4-H demos, as well as displays from the Master Gardeners, the Cooperative Extension, Boutier Winery and a log cabin demo. A hay ride to the new Ag Center and back again will be offered. The Madison County Middle School FFA will man the concession stand and sell hotdog lunches. And the Madison County FFA Alumni will sell baked goodies. Several groups from the University of Georgia will be on hand, includ ing representatives from ag engineering, the vet school, plant pathology and the Wamell School of Forestry and Natural Resources — which has asked for three spaces and plans to bring turtles and snakes, organizers said. Meanwhile, the Madison County FFA is hosting animal exhibits "that are more than just a petting zoo.” “We will have ‘fitting for show' demonstrations for show calves and pigs, and an exhibit of goats,” said Jones. “The latest Ag Center info will be displayed as well. The local horse drill team, coached by Danny and Virgina Roberts, will perform on the Ag Center property.” BOC chairman Anthony Dove said the ag day event helps highlight how vital agriculture is to Madison County. “It’s our livelihood in Madison County,” said Dove. Commerce First United Methodist Church Preschool Year 2009-2010 What we have to offer: • Half Day Preschool for ages 2-4 • Experienced Staff • A BEKA Curriculum • Music and Movement classes • Chapel and Bible Time • Computers in 3 & 4 year old classes • Playground and gym Tuition from $120 to $160 per month Registration Fee - $140 Divided in two payments. For more information, call (706) 335-9589. Hudgens plans to run for insurance commissioner By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com Madison County State Senator Ralph Hudgens says he plans to run for state insurance commis sioner in 2010, provided John Oxendine, who currently holds the post, doesn’t seek re-election. Oxendine has expressed interest in running for Governor. “If John Oxendine decides he’s not going to do it (run for Governor), then chances are, I probably won’t run for it (insur ance commissioner),” said Hudgens Tuesday. Hudgens is chairman of the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee. He noted that he has worked extensively with insur ance companies and consumers and feels he could work well with both at the top insurance post in the state. "I have talked with John Oxendine and he feels I would be very fair (as insurance commis sioner),” said Hudgens. Hudgens’ District 47 seat will be up for grabs again in November of next year. Madison County Board of Commissioners ADVERTISEMENT FOR SEALED BIDS The Madison County Board of Commissioners is seeking bids for paving portions of Spratlin Mill Drive (County Road #520). Specifications may be obtained by contacting Road Superintendent Charles Temple at 706-795- 6260. Bids should be sealed and clearly marked on the outside “Sealed Bid for Paving Spratlin Mill Drive” and received no later than 12:00 Noon on March 27, 2009 in the office of the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners located at 91 Albany Avenue in Danielsville, Georgia. The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Anthony Dove Chairman BOBCAT & DUMP Resurfacing Dirt & Gravel Driveways, Clearing, Backfilling, Hauling and Much more! Gall for more information. 706-340-0373 ^ 1888 Colbert-Danielsville Road ^ Mrajjy % Danielsville, Ga. Animal Shelter Inc Is offering 01 WALK-IN RABIES CLINIC Saturday, March 28 Noon - 3 p.m. One year rabies shot - $10 Three-year rabies vaccine - $15 (must provide proof of previous vaccine for the three-year shot.) The following vaccines/services will also be offered: Distemper/parvo for dogs/puppies $10 Feline leukemia for cats/kittens $10 Microchipping $25 M 7 The shelter operates a low cost spay/neuter clinic for the public. Grooming services are also available the last Saturday of each month with all proceeds going to the shelter. Please call 706-795-2868 for a surgery or grooming appointment and pricing.