You could say that Lexington Soil & Water Conservation District Chair Jamie Gunter has deep roots in Lexington.
“I’m about as local as you’re going to get. I was born here, and my family goes back several generations. I grew up on the land that my grandparents had and farmed,” said Gunter, who was born and raised in Gilbert.
“I went to Lexington High School and took agriculture and natural resource classes. Future Farmers of America was a big part of my time in high school too.”
Gunter attended Clemson University to earn his degree in forestry. “Today, I’m a registered certified forester and arborist. I’ve been involved in tree care and natural resource management for about 20 years.”
Now, Gunter uses his background in forestry and natural resources to help him serve as chair of the Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District (LSWCD) as one of its three elected commissioners.
“It’s all about giving back. When I found out about the Conservation District, I thought maybe I could get involved and that it could be a way to use my education and knowledge to help others,” said Gunter.
The Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District was founded in 1939 as a part of the Congaree Soil & Water Conservation District and is a part of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
The LSWCD serves Lexington County through educational outreach, community events such as its Ag+Art Tour, and by awarding scholarships to high school students who plan to major in agricultural or environmental related fields.
The mission of the LSWCD is to promote the wise use and care of natural resources for the benefit of Lexington County residents. “Lexington County has wonderful natural resources, and we want to be able to sustain them,” said Gunter on the LSWCD’s goal to help the Lexington community learn how to care for the environment. “We do what we call ‘locally led conservation,’” explained Gunter.
“We interact with property owners, farmers, and people in the natural resource management industry. We do a lot of outreach and education for the community. We are also active in schools promoting agriculture. Whether you eat, drive your car, or you order something off of Amazon, and a truck comes to your house to deliver it – somewhere there was agriculture involved.”
A common misconception about conservation that Gunter sees is that people are unaware of how seemingly small actions can positively impact the environment. “We want people in Lexington County to know they can help with conservation on a small scale. They don’t have to own a lot of land. If you have a small backyard, you can put up a feeder to attract bees or other pollinators. That’s something small that people can do that magnifies out on a big scale.”
The LSWCD also hosts workshops to provide ideas on ways to improve the environment. “We have public educational workshops, like rain barrel workshops or ‘what’s in my backyard’ workshops. We have a seed library where folks can go and get some seeds for free and take them home to plant.”
Gunter has two daughters, Grace and Madeline, who both attend Clemson University. They enjoy eating and fellowship with family and friends, being on Lake Murray, and appreciating the local flora and fauna.