Rutherford County, TN – Rutherford County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board of Supervisors Chairman Marvin Whitworth was inducted into the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame during a luncheon in June in Gainesville, Florida.

Whitworth’s family roots in farming trace back to October of 1942, when his grandfathers worked as sharecroppers. He took over the family farm in August 1970, transforming it into a successful beef cattle and hay operation. Throughout his life, Whitworth has been dedicated to serving the community in various roles. He became a Christian minister and served others in that capacity for 28-years, between 1980 and 2008. He was also the Farm Bureau president for five years, a Smyrna High School teacher for 24 years, a Farm Credit employee, Rutherford County Co-op Credit Manager, and the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts Area VI Director.

Since 2007, Whitworth has served as a member of the Rutherford County Soil & Water Conservation District and has been its chairman since 2019. Additionally, he is the Vice Chair of the Rutherford County Stormwater Advisory Committee, a member of the Rutherford County Cattlemen’s Association, and Vice Chairman of the Stones River Manor Board.

“Marvin Whitworth is so deserving of being named to the NACD Hall of Fame. I can’t think of anyone who has given so much to conservation in preserving our farmland by teaching our youth, supporting our agricultural programs and being a lifelong farmer himself here in Rutherford County,” said Rutherford County District 8 Commissioner Pettus Read. “He totally understands protecting our land today gives us a future for tomorrow.”

“Our team is proud to recognize Mr. Whitworth’s impact on the community,” Administrative Support Stacy Fuller said. “He has served not only as a leader to Rutherford County SWCD but also as a conservationist and an educator.”

• More information about the Rutherford County SWCD can be found at http://www.rutherfordscd.com/ and more about the NACD Southeast Region is available at https://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/conservation-district-directory/southeast-region/.