Randy and Barbara Guthrie were chosen to represent Area IV as the Regional Outstanding Conservation Farm Family. The Guthries were selected by the Granville Soil and Water Conservation District to compete in the area competition which included the following 11 counties: Granville, Durham, Wake, Franklin, Warren, Halifax, Nash, Johnston, Wilson, Edgecombe and Vance. As Area IV winners, they will go on to compete in the regional competition (N.C. Piedmont area). From there, the winner will compete against winners from the coastal and mountain regions. A state winner will be selected from the three regions. The North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Outstanding Conservation Farm Family award recognizes farmers/farm families who are taking the initiative to implement sound, innovative and cost-effective conservation techniques and are actively involved in conservation education.
Visitors to the Guthrie Farm will see an extensive list of conservation practices. More than 300 of the 335 acres they own are in one of four types of conservation easements: the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, Ecosystem Enhancement Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and a donated easement. These easements are held and monitored by Tar River Land Conservancy. Much of the Guthrie farm was used for tobacco and was considered highly erodible and has since been converted to pasture, wildlife or trees. Randy keeps his Soil and Water Conservation, Wildlife and Forestry Plans current and participates in many of the cost-share programs offered by the NRCS, Granville Soil and Water District and the NC Forest Service. In addition to wildlife and forestry, Randy raises over thirty Angus heifers that are sold for herd replacements. Following his conservation plan, he has implemented Best Manage Practices, such as livestock exclusion (to streams), prescribed grazing and installed waterers. Guthrie enjoys his farm and implements most of the Conservation Best Management Practices himself.
Mr. Guthrie retired as the Superintendent from the NC State University Butner Beef Cattle Field Lab in Butner. His wife, Barbara, is retired from the Granville County School System. Randy and Barbara reside on their 335 acre farm near Berea on the Gooch’s Mill Road bordering Shelton Creek. Randy has been active with conservation for many years. He has served as District Supervisor for more than 12 years, currently as Vice Chairman. He has also worked with the Tar River Conservancy and hosted their field day celebration on his farm on two different occasions. Their farm was also used to host The National Wild Turkey Federation Youth Day. Guthrie serves on the Granville Soil and Water Local Advisory Committee and was an advisor for the Granville County Volunteer Agriculture District. Randy is an active member of the NC Cattleman’s Association and NC Forestry Association. He is an avid hunter.
