The Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District works closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) each year to identify and recognize one outstanding person from each Georgia county who has done remarkable work in protecting and conserving natural resources.
The District recently held its 62nd annual Conservationist of the Year banquet at Rock Eagle, where Shawn Raff of Riff Raff Cattle was named the county’s conservationist of the year.
After managing large-scale dairies in Missouri and Texas, Raff and his wife migrated back east to be closer to family. Raff began working at Sunrise Dairy in Putnam County while simultaneously running his own beef herd with a progressive mindset toward adaptability and relevance to tomorrow’s beef cow industry.
As Raff runs 150 beef cows now, he has his sights set on expanding in the future. He prides himself on his Brahman-influenced cattle which demonstrate a strong heat tolerance, biological type, and great adaptability to the local region.
Raff has completed several conservation practices through NRCS to help protect the land and provide favorable conditions for his livestock, including the installation of several thousand feet of cross-fencing throughout the property to facilitate rotational grazing, which benefits both cattle and the ground beneath them.
In addition, Raff reduced unwanted weeds in the pasture through herbaceous weed treatment and brush management practices. Clover also has been established in much of the property to provide an additional source of nutrition. Raff also is installing a well and several water troughs throughout the property to provide clean, reliable sources of water to his livestock.