Jared P. Conner

Jared joined AFT in March 2026. He works closely with USDA-NRCS in upstate South Carolina to provide technical support to growers and land managers who are doing conservation projects and practices. He brings to AFT many years of experience in conservation planning, farmer outreach, and scientific research. Originally from North Georgia, Jared has a BS in Water and Soil Resources from the University of Georgia, and an MS concentrating in Soil Ecology and Biogeochemistry from Virginia Tech. His undergraduate and master’s research were on biochar and its ability to recover nutrients from wastewater and improve soil health, and he has published multiple publications and spoken at multiple workshops on biochar. After finishing his Masters, he worked on a vegetable and flower farm and then worked as a Soil Conservationist at USDA NRCS in Virginia. Prior to joining AFT, he worked at the Soil Health Institute as a Soil Health Educator helping cotton growers adopt regenerative practices in South Carolina, Georgia, and Oklahoma.