Creed named district conservation director

This week Surry Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors County announced the appointment of Laken Creed as the new district conservation director. Creed started in her new role on August 1.

She succeeds in that position Tony Davis who recently retired after a career spanning more than three decades with the Soil and Water Conservation District. For the past 18 years Davis has served as the group’s director.

“I am honored to have been chosen for this role and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to better serve Surry County,” Creed said Tuesday.

“I’m excited to work with landowners to implement conservation practices and programs for the purpose of protecting Surry Count’s natural resources,” she added.

Creed has roots in this community having graduated from Surry Central High School and then gaining an associate in arts degree from Surry Community College. From there she hit the road for Boone and gained her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Appalachian State University.

A resident of the Ararat community, Creed enjoys gardening, cooking, and hiking in her free time.

The Soil and Water Conservation District said that for the past year Creed has worked with it in a variety of ways. She served as an educational resource in agriculture and natural resources for many area school students.

Glenn Pruitt, chairman of the Surry Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, said the group was pleased to add Creed to the team. “We feel she will be a great addition for Surry County,” he said.

“She is a hard worker with a great amount of knowledge but most importantly she cares about the community. We can’t wait to see what she accomplishes.”

The Surry Soil and Water Conservation District said its mission is to conserve and protecting the natural resources of Surry County.

The group also administers the Surry County Voluntary Agricultural District Program. It is designed to preserve farmland through voluntary participation and to enhance the identity of an agricultural community. Participants sign conservation agreements stating they will follow conservation practices with assistance from the organization.

The district also provides educational opportunities focusing on environmental and agricultural sciences for both educators and students in kindergarten through high school. The programs are meant to help students understand the value of our natural resources and what they can do to protect them.