The Putnam County Soil Conservation

District, organized under the provisions of

the Tennessee SCD Enabling Act of 1939,

officially became a soil conservation district

on February 19, 1941, following a

referendum in which 322 landowners voted

for and 16 against the organization.

The referendum was held at four polling

places, namely Double Springs,

Cookeville, Baxter, and Twin Oak

communities.

Prior to the referendum, a petition

signed by local landowners was submitted

to the State Soil Conservation Committee

on October 2, 1940, requesting authority

to hold a referendum. Also, public hearings

were held at Cookeville on November 9, 1940, in keeping with state statutes.

Following the favorable vote for the formation of the Putnam County Soil Conservation District, local agriculture leaders submitted recommendations to the State Soil Conservation Committee to appoint two supervisors. On December 12, 1940, Mr. Asher Lafever of Twin Oak Community and Mr. B. M. Lee of Shaw Branch Community were officially named. They requested and received a Certificate of Organization from the Tennessee Secretary of State.

Following the appointment of the two supervisors by the state committee, an election was held on December 28, 1940, to elect three supervisors. Appearing on the ballot were L. B. Bohannon, H. D. McCulley, Everette Rippetoe, Lem Plunkett, W. E. Webster, and J. N. McCloud.

Under the provisions of Public Law 46, the Soil Conservation Service, a federal agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, assigned R. N. Jobe, Soil Conservationist, to work in the new district.

                                                                                                                                                The first meeting of the newly formed                                                                                                                                                             Board of Supervisors was held on                                                                                                                                                                     February 21, 1941, at the courthouse in                                                                                                                                                         Cookeville. At this first meeting they                                                                                                                                                                 elected officers of the board as follows:

                                                                                                                                                 1. Asher Lafever, Chairman

                                                                                                                                                 2. J. N. McCloud, Vice-Chairman

                                                                                                                                                 3. Lem Plunkett, Secretary-Treasurer

                                                                                                                                                 4. B. M. Lee, Member

                                                                                                                                                 5. Everette Rippetoe, Member

                                                                                                                                                 SCS officials attending included: J. W.                                                                                                                                                             Morrison, District Conservationist, R. N.                                                                                                                                                         Jobe, Soil Conservationist, and John                                                                                                                                                               Patton, SCS Technician.

                                                                                                                                                 Other business conducted included                                                                                                                                                               signing of a Memorandum of                                                                                                                                                                              Understanding and Supplemental                                                                                                                                                                    Memorandum of Understanding between the District and the SCS.

The first long-range plan for the District was developed during February, 1941.