Every year, conservation districts across Tennessee have the opportunity to select an individual or entities for conservation farmer of the year in their district. This allows us to spotlight individuals who are demonstrating excellence in stewardship of the land.

This year, the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District chose the grazing operation of Mr. Randal Loftis as Conservation Farmer of the Year for 2024.

Mr. Loftis is originally from Cookeville, TN where his family grew tobacco, hogs, watermelon, cattle, cantaloupe, and sweet corn. With this diversification, Mr. Loftis’ family was able to make it through the farm crisis of the 1980’s. Mr. Loftis graduated from Tennessee Technological University in 1989 with a Bachelor’s degree in Ag Business and Ag Engineering Technology. His wife, Jane Ann, also graduated that same year with her degree in Elementary Education. In 1990, Mr. Loftis and family moved to Warren County where they grew tobacco, strawberries, and re-entered the cattle business, where Mr. Loftis saw potential profits in developing his genetics through artificial insemination. After obtaining farm leases and partnering with another cattle producer on some superior bulls, Mr. Loftis switched his motive to working with the land and learning from generational mistakes of land stewardship. Leaving it better than when he started is a main goal for him. From there, he contacted the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service for assistance. Through the cost share programs, Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund (TN Dept. of Ag) and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (USDA-NRCS), he was assist in installing best management practices on his
farms to improve his operation.

Conservation practices implemented on the farm to date include:

•Cross-fencing to facilitate rotational grazing
•Exclusion fence around the streams and ponds
•Water facilities to allow a clean, steady water supply for the cattle
•Stream crossing to provide controlled access year-round for cattle and equipment movement across streams on the farms
•Cropland conversion to bring cropland back into grass and hay production
•Soil testing to adjust nutrient levels to optimum levels

Since focusing on his soil health, Mr. Loftis has noted an increase in forage quantity, quality, and diversity that he has been able to maintain for his cattle. Unrolling hay has been proven successful in his operation for nutrient distribution and regrowth of legumes and grasses. He keeps his paddocks well-rested and adjusts his stocking rate for each paddock and grass height so that he doesn’t overgraze. Mr. Loftis’ began investing in his cattle genetics in 2017 with top producing bulls, focusing mainly on birth weight, weaning weight, and maternal trait EPD’s. Currently, Mr. Loftis has 74 mature cows in his herds. Each year he keeps back top heifers for replacement cows for the herds. Mr. Loftis also stores and sells semen straws from 2 co-owned bulls for anyone wanting to improve upon their genetics. On behalf of the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District and USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service, we would like to congratulate Mr. Randal Loftis with 2024 Conservation Farmer of the Year.