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Who Work the Land,
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HEATH AND COLLINS RECOGNIZED FOR 45 YEARS COMBINED SERVICE TO PATRICK COUNTY CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURE
Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District employees were recognized for their 45 years of combined dedicated and devoted service to conservation, agriculture, and the county by the Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors and the Virginia Department of Recreation and Conservation.
Sandra Heath, District Manager was recognized for 25 years and Tony Collins, District Conservation Specialist, was recognized for 20 years both for their dedicated and devoted service to the County of Patrick and Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District. Mrs. Heath and Mr. Collins were presented plaques at the Board of Directors meeting and were also presented service awards by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Both Heath and Collins are Patrick County natives and are dedicated to promoting and protecting natural resources, and are advocates of agriculture.
Heath and Collins work with the people who work the land. Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the Commonwealth of Virginia assist landowners with the development and implementation of best management practices (BMPs). These agricultural conservation practices are installed through cost-share and tax credit programs that focus on water quality improvement and environmental stewardship. Not only do these practices improve local environment, the installation and proper management of conservation practices also help to improve farm operational profitability.
The Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District is a political sub-division of the Commonwealth of Virginia responsible under state law for the development of programs to conserve and it supports the District through financial and administrative assistance provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. County of Patrick also provides limited funds to support the County District. Formed in 1983, the Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District (Patrick SWCD) represents one of 47 Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The District's service area covers the County of Patrick. The Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District was organized July 7, 1983. From August 26, 1944 until July 7, 1983, Patrick County was in the New River Soil and Water Conservation District, which at the time was comprised of the counties of Floyd, Carroll and Grayson. A petition to create the Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District was authorized by the Patrick County Board of Supervisors on March 24, 1982. The petition to withdraw Patrick County from the New River Soil and Water Conservation District and create a new district within the boundaries of Patrick County was approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, on May 20, 1982.
Patrick SWCD is governed by a Board of Directors. District directors are local citizens elected or appointed to a four-year term of office. The Directors are volunteers and are not paid although they do receive mileage reimbursement. The District is operated by five directors, who serve four-year terms and may be re-elected or re-appointed to succeed themselves. The District is represented by three directors elected in the general election. The other two directors are appointed by the Soil and Water Conservation Board. One of the appointed directors shall be a County Extension Agent and the other appointed director shall reside within Patrick County.
Patrick SWCD represents one of 47 Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and delivers voluntary, locally-led conservation solutions to the agriculture community. Patrick SWCD provides technical assistance for natural resource conservation to land users, farmers, foresters and homeowners in Patrick County. For more information or to schedule a field visit, please contact the Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District office at 276-694-2911 or feel free to visit the office located at 104 Via Avenue, Stuart, Virginia 24171.
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PATRICK COUNTY CLEAN WATER FARM AWARD PRESENTED TO GARLAND LAWSON
The Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District (Patrick SWCD) Board of Directors along with District Staff Tony Collins and Sandra Heath nominated and presented Mr. Garland Lawson with the Patrick County Virginia Clean Water Farm Award. Mr. Lawson's farm is located in Dobyns Section of Patrick County and part of the Mayo River Watershed. Mr. Lawson received a Certificate signed by the Governor of Virginia and a sign to display proudly at his farm.
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.
The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Best Management Practices (BMP) Program and USDA Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was used to assist Mr. Lawson with the stewardship of his land that he desired. As part of his stewardship of the land, Mr. Lawson has protected over four thousand feet of streams that run through his property by fencing out livestock access. Mr. Lawson established 3 acres of new riparian buffers to help filter run-off from his farm. A limited access stream crossing was installed to allow cattle and farm machinery to cross the stream without damaging the stream banks and channel. To provide his livestock with clean water, he installed three frost free watering facilities.
Mr. Lawson is the recipient of the 24th consecutive Clean Water Farm Award presented in Patrick County. Past Patrick County Clean Water Farm Award winners include: Lester Wood; Pansy, Jeff and Eddie McAlexander; Wyoming East Farm, Tim Service, Helen Clark Wood and Kate Dunnavant; David Collins; 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. There are 47 Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout Virginia. If you would like to nominate someone for the Clean Water Farm Award or schedule a field visit to sign up for Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost-Share, please feel free to contact the Patrick SWCD office at 276-694-2911. (Photo credits Sandra Heath)
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.
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WYOMING EAST FARM IN THE MOOREFIELD STORE COMMUNITY PRESENTED
2020 PATRICK COUNTY CLEAN WATER FARM AWARD
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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.
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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.
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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.
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