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Kevin Keith, Virginia Department of Forestry Senior Forester, presented E. Wayne Clark with an Outstanding Forest Steward plaque and Stewardship Forest sign at the Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. Mr. Clark’s forestland in the Critz area of Patrick County is being managed sustainably under a written forest management plan that meets Forest Stewardship Program standards in accordance with the State Forestry Agency and the USDA Forest Service.
WYOMING EAST FARM IN THE MOOREFIELD STORE COMMUNITY PRESENTED
2020 PATRICK COUNTY CLEAN WATER FARM AWARD
The Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors and Staff nominated and presented Wyoming East Farm with the Patrick County, Virginia Clean Water Farm Award. The Clean Water Farm award was established to provide special recognition to farmers who demonstrated a strong commitment to natural resource conservation through the implementation of best management
practices and management of their lands. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation was given lead responsibility for program development and administration and the Department relies upon Soil and Water Conservation Districts to select worthy recipients within their communities.
Wyoming East Farm is located in the Moorefield Store section of the county in the Mayo River Watershed. The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Best Management Practices (BMP) Program along with the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) were used to assist Wyoming East Farm with the stewardship of the land. As part of stewardship of the land, Wyoming East Farm
has protected over one thousand feet of streams that flow through the property by fencing out livestock access. To provide livestock with water, Wyoming East Farm drilled a well, installed pipeline, and 2 frost free watering facilities. Wyoming East Farm also planted 1.4 acres of new riparian buffers which will help filter run-off from the farm. Past Patrick County Clean Water Farm Award winners include: Tim Service, Helen Clark Wood and Kate Dunnavant; Pansy, Jeff and Eddie McAlexander; Greenview Farm; Benton and Michael Culler; Pam Hall; Mulberry Farm; Joey Epperson; Joe and Denise Clark; Dannie and Kathy Anderson; Larry Hutchens; Leon and Jane Stevens; John and Rose Wood; Marion and Glenda Cobbler; Ted and Brenda Kirby; B H Cooper Farm; Dewey Moss and Roger Wilson; Clarence and Darrell Mitchell; Chester Turner; and John F. Clark. The Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District office, along with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, are proud sponsors of the Clean Water Farm Award. These individuals are role models who encourage others’ stewardship. Agricultural Producers spend time, energy and hard-earned money carrying out conservation practices that benefit many people.
In Virginia, farmers voluntarily incorporate nutrient management and other environmental safeguards within agriculture operations as their contribution toward protecting water quality for citizens throughout the Commonwealth. There are 47 Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout Virginia. If you would like to nominate someone for the Clean Water Farm Award or would like to schedule a field visit, please contact the Patrick SWCD office at 276-694-2911 or patrickswcd.org
2019 PATRICK COUNTY CLEAN WATER FARM AWARD
TIM SERVICE
TIM SERVICE IN THE MEADOWS OF DAN COMMUNITY PRESENTED PATRICK COUNTY CLEAN WATER FARM AWARD
The Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors and Staff nominated and presented Tim Service with the Patrick County, Virginia Clean Water Farm Award. The Clean Water Farm award was established to provide special recognition to farmers who demonstrated a strong commitment to natural resource conservation through the implementation of best management practices and management of their lands. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation was given lead responsibility for program development and administration and the Department relies upon Soil and Water Conservation Districts to select worthy recipients within their communities.
Tim Service was born in Norfolk and grew up in Portsmouth. In 1966, his parents bought a vacation house in Meadows of Dan. Service went to school at Virginia Tech and spent his summers there and has always loved the area. In 2002 he married his wife, Susan, and took over the responsibilities of his father-in-law’s farm. Service graduated with a degree in music, but he developed his skills as a specialized beekeeper. With the help of Kevin Keith of the Virginia Department of Forestry and the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Tim Service has established great conservation on the ground at his farm. The farm is located in the Dan River Watershed and Cherry Creek headwaters on the farm. Mr. Service is doing his part in protecting water quality and has established warm season grasses, planted riparian buffers to filter runoff from his farm, as well as several pollinator habitats. Mr. Service implemented alternative water systems and additional conservation practices and intensive rotational grazing. Josh Dodson, district conservationist worked with Service and helped him develop a “conservation plan where all the cattle are out of the streams” and because Service is “a bee producer he was also interested in not only increasing the forage for the livestock but improving the pollinator habitat. Service was approved in the “Beef and Bobs program” which assisted him with his conservation efforts. This unique program focused on establishing productive warm season forages to improve cattle production and provide acreages of prime habitat for ground nesting birds and other wildlife.