Maxwell named Conservationist of the Year

A face familiar to the local school system has been honored for his work helping the whole state. Michael Maxwell has been named the 2021 Conservationist of the Year by the West Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District. 

Maxwell is retired from a career with Fayette County Public Schools, including serving as Principal at Fayette Middle School and as Safety Director for the district. He is currently a member of the Fayette County Education Foundation.

Maxwell, his wife Melanie, herself a retired teacher from Spring Hill Elementary, and their family own a 780-acre farm in Heard County that dates back to 1830. He strives to honor the legacy of the farm by implementing conservation practices throughout the property, and he has worked extensively with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Georgia Forestry Commission to manage the land. 

The Maxwells are also professional beekeepers and work 21 hives for honey production every year. On the land there are four ponds that offer a useful habitat for wild ducks and other fowl, as well as opportunities for fishing. Future plans for the farm include the creation of a bat habitat. 

Maxwell has also provided his farm as a site for conservation demonstrations and field days with the Georgia Forestry Commission.