Regarding the July article about false promises by an RC&D Council, I have been on the board and treasurer of my local RC&D Council, Rolling Hills RC&D in western Georgia, since its inception in 1994. The list of programs our council has managed or received funding for is long and rewarding for local farming: Farm and Ranchland Protection Program funding to put conservation easements on farms, SARE funding to start a farmers market and put on workshops, NRCS grant to run a grower school, Food Security grant to start a farmer coop, and more.
    Unfortunately individuals commit fraud and the organizations they claim to represent suffer. Directors or Coordinators of RC&D Councils are U.S. government employees. But each RC&D council is a private 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with an executive board which approves projects and makes decisions. I do hope that any individual that committed fraud is punished. But please don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. RC&D can be a great partner in promoting small scale agriculture. They always need volunteer members to get involved. Hey, they may just write a grant application for you. Just make sure and 1. get a copy of the funding award letter and the contract between RC&D and the funder, and 2.sign a contract detailing the funding amount and payment schedule.
Wendy Crager
Crager/Hager Farm
Bremen, Ga.
wcrager@yahoo.com