Kenny Mullis, chair of local conservation district, honored for leadership

J. Kenneth “Kenny” Mullis Jr., chairman of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District, has received the 2025 Hugh Hammond Bennett Southeast Regional Producer Award from theNational Conservation Planning Partnership.This award recognizes Mullis’ outstanding leadership and commitment to the development and implementation of effective conservation practices.

To the left is J. Kenneth “Kenny” Mullis Jr., chairman of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and winner of the 2025 Hugh Hammond Bennett Southeast Regional Producer Award.

Mullis owns and operates Blythewood’s Twenty Creek Farm, a designated Bicentennial Farm, known as an agricultural property that has been continuously owned and operated by the same family for at least 200 years. Twenty Creek has maintained a conservation plan for decades, which Mullis continues to strengthen and expand in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

In 2015, Mullis implemented significant conservation improvements for the farm to protect soil health and water quality. Mullis has also enrolled portions of his farm in a conservation easement through the Richland County Conservation Commission, ensuring long-term protection of natural resources.

Beyond his own operation, Mullis has dedicated decades of service to conservation leadership, having been a commissioner with the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RSWCD) since 2005, where he’s serving his fifth term as chairman. At the state level, he has held leadership roles with the S.C. Association of Conservation Districts, the S.C. Forage and Grazing Lands Coalition, and the East Piedmont Resource Conservation and Development Council.

“It is an honor to be recognized by my peers at the national level,” Mullis said. “Even though my name is on the award, it isn’t just about me. As I look at the accomplishments that were mentioned, I realize that there are many others that were instrumental in making those things happen.”

Nationally, Mullis serves on the National Association of Conservation Districts’ board of directors and on the organization’s Natural Resource Policy Committee, helping to guide national conservation priorities and support voluntary conservation programs for producers.

Mullis is also recognized for advancing soil health education across South Carolina. Through workshops, field demonstrations and community outreach, he has helped producers, students and community members understand the importance of soil conservation and sustainable land management. His leadership includes supporting educational initiatives such as rainfall simulation demonstrations that illustrate the benefits of healthy soil practices.

For more information on the RSWCD and its conservation programs, visit the County’s website.

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