Island Fresh Seafood's Bill Cox presented with Conservation Award

COLUMBIA, SC---On Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at the annual South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts meeting, Charles R. Sharpe, Commissioner of Agriculture, presented the 2002 Conservation Awards to South Carolina farmers for their outstanding achievement in applying conservation measures to their farming operations.

Commissioner Sharpe said, “I think it is very important to recognize these efforts and bring further awareness of what farmers and other landowners are doing in the environmental arena. I have observed many outstanding conservation efforts by farmers, and it is only proper that we recognize these efforts publicly.”

Commissioner Sharpe presented awards to four area winners and an overall state winner for the South Carolina Conservation Farmer of the Year. The four area winners are: William A. “Bill” Cox of Charleston; Johnny M. Shelley of Nichols; Jack McCauley of Lancaster; and John Palmer of Easley.
The South Carolina Outstanding Conservation Farmer for 2002 was presented to Ralph Fox of Aiken.

Commissioner Sharpe said that “Bill Cox is the embodiment of conservation farming.” He added, “A leader in the development of shrimp and clam farming, Bill runs a beef cattle operation and is involved in timber management. He uses best management practices in hayland and pasture management, plants covercrops and uses no-till, creates fire breaks, uses controlled burning and establishes riparian forest buffers.” “Actually,” he said, “Bill participates in most of the programs offered for conservation.”

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Telephone (803) 734-2210
CHARLES R. SHARPE, COMMISSIONER Becky Walton, Director of Public Information
P.O. Box 11280, Columbia, South Carolina 29211 bwalton@scda.state.sc.us
www.scda.state.sc.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2003