Annual Report 2022 2023

Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District 2022-2023 Annual Report Franklin, Henry, Roanoke Counties & the City of Roanoke

(540) 352-3312 www.brswcd.org

July 1, 2022 — June 30, 2023 Volume 35, Issue 1 1297 State Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151

Jenning’s Creek Farm Receives Clean Water Farm Award

Darryl Holland’s family began farming Jennings’s Creek Farm, in southwestern Henry County in 1850. Darryl Holland, a retired Agri cultural teacher of over forty-one years, along with his wife Lillian continues the family’s proud legacy of land stewardship began those many years ago. Currently, the farm operates as a cow/calf beef operation raising registered angus cattle and bulls along with raising registered Black and Tan coonhounds. The farm, nestled along the banks of the Mayo River consists of sev enty-five acres of pasture for the forty black angus brood cattle and ten regis tered bulls. Up until 1980 tobacco, corn, wheat, and barley were also grown on the farm before transitioning to a cow/calf operation although the decision to raise registered Black Angus began well before. The American Angus Associa tion recently recognized the farm for producing registered Black Angus for over fifty years. In addition to the beef herd, registered bulls are also pro duced. In addition to 75 acres of pasture, they manage a total of one hundred acres of hay land both on the farm and rented, with some of the land being grazed following the spring cutting for hay. There is a total of three hundred

acres of woodland, much of which is being managed in coordination with the Virginia Department of Forestry. Understanding the importance and responsibilities of managing a farm, Darryl and Lillian are committed to a sus tainable use of the land. They have excluded livestock from all creeks and the river working with both FSA through the CREP and the local SWCD through the VACS program. In so doing they have protected over 10,000 feet of streambank and creating more than sixty acres of riparian buffers. Because of a natural gas pipeline installed on the farm, to supply the water ing system a solar operated well had to be utilized. Given the lay of the land and these fences it enabled the fields to be rota tionally grazed and Mr. Holland follows a grazing plan developed by the local SWCD. They are currently working with the VDOF on managing the forest, and in some instances decided to select cut hardwoods to provide food and habitat for the wildlife. Much of this hard work was put on display when he hosted the SWCD’s annual Farm Tour this fiscal year. In addition to his work on the farm, much of Darryl Holland’s work has been done off the farm in his role as an agricultural educator. Across his forty-one years he has worked with countless students, taking many on to state and national championships, twice being a delegation leader for an international Agricultural Youth Exchange to Europe, hosting interna tional educators, continuing to assist with local FFA programs and providing some of his livestock to local vocational pro grams. It has been this commitment to the future of agriculture that led the program under his stewardship to be recognized as the top vocational program in Virginia in 2013 by the House of Delegates. He is also active with the local Farm Bureau and serves as a representative for Henry County on the FSA County Committee. With their commitment to agriculture and agricultur

al education both on and off the farm coupled with his utili zation of BMPs, the Holland’s work to improve both the productivity of the farm and protect the natural resources on and around it is clear. They have positioned Jennings’s Creek Farm to continue well into the coming years and there is no doubt it will be an example of how to successfully balance the needs of a working farm and the environment. A true win win for agriculture, the environment, and the Common wealth.

Environmental Education Outreach

Benjamin Franklin Middle School Nature Trail Local volunteers from Western Vir ginia Water Authority (WVWA), Franklin County Master Gardeners, Save Our Streams, the Blue Ridge SWCD, and Master Naturalists continue to assist with clearing fallen tree limbs and large patch es of invasive Japanese stilt grass in an effort to maintain the native plants that were recently planted along the BFMS Nature Trail.

2022 NACD Poster Contest

Sponsors of the 2023 NACD Poster Con test include the National Association of Conserva tion Districts (NACD) and the NACD Auxiliary. 2023’s theme was “ Healthy Soil, Healthy Life ”. The annual Conservation Poster Contest provides kindergarten through twelfth grade stu dents an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational out reach efforts of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and agen cies. The poster contest theme follows the annual National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Stewardship theme.

Robert Meredith, (5th grade) earned his Conservation Scout Patch.

Each year, the poster contest starts at the district level. The contest is open to public, private or home school students, girl scout/boy scout troops, 4H Clubs, etc. Individuals and teachers with questions regarding district contests should con tact their local district. To locate your local district search our online SWCD Direc tory or contact the VASWCD. District winners advance to the state level. Local SWCDs forward their local winning poster entries to the VASWCD office for con sideration at the state level. Finally, state winners advance to the National Contest. National winners are recognized each year at the NACD Annual Meeting. Poster Categories by Grade: ● K - 1 ● 2 - 3 ● 4 - 6 ● 7 - 9 ● 10 -12 . The NACD poster contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled students in grades K-12. Pictured is the winner of the Blue Ridge SWCD 2022-2023 Poster Contest. In addition, the following Cub Scouts from Troop #456 received their “Conservation Good Turn” Scout Patch for participating in this year’s poster contest. They are Jaxon Mize (1st place), Robert Meredith (1st place) and William Beauchamp (2nd place). Congratulations to all of the 2022 NACD Poster Contest winners!

Before cleanup

After cleanup

Since 2016, this outdoor class room area has been used annually to instruct all sixth graders in the Meaning ful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE). The WVWA has taken the lead in coordinating this very popular outdoor event by first conducting a week of indoor instruction followed by the students adventuring down to Powder Mill Creek. Students rotate between Tab let Chemical Testing, Probe Ware Chem ical Testing and Benthic Macroinverte brate collection and observations. For more information, visit our web site at www.plantvirginianatives.org/about-2

The 2022-2023 Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon program blazed the trail for the Envirothon program which is for students to test and further their knowledge on aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and the current issue “Adapting to Climate Change”. Maura Christian, the Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon

Coordinator, worked with Soil & Water Conservation Districts staff to provide them support and resources for the in-person Envirothon program. The Envirothon state competition was held at Virginia State University in Peters burg VA in May 2023 where teams competed to test their knowledge in aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and the current issue. Here is a list of the 2021-2022 State Envirothon list of winners: 1st Place overall: Jamestown High School (Colonial SWCD), 2nd Place overall: Louisa High School (Thomas Jefferson SWCD) and 3rd Place over all: Harrisonburg High School (Shenandoah Valley SWCD). The 2023 NCF Envirothon (National) was held in July 2023. Virginia, represented by Jamestown High School, placed 13th in the 2023 NCF-Envirothon competi tion in New Brunswick Canada. Interested in forming an Envirothon team in Franklin, Henry & Roanoke Counties or the City of Roanoke? Contact Kathy Smith, Program Manager/Education Coordinator at (540) 352-3314.

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Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District

Volume 35, Issue 1

Blue Ridge SWCD Watershed Updates

Watershed Dam Accomplishments

While the VACS BMP program gets most of the attention, one of the important jobs of the District is the maintenance of ten watershed dams that provide protection for life and prop erty. With two in Franklin County and eight in Henry County it can consume a lot of time keep ing an eye on them. Last year the District was able to install four remote monitors and currently has plans to install three more. The next set of remote monitors is being planned for Upper Blackwater #6 (Franklin County), Finney and Marrowbone (Henry County). The design for the rehabilitation of Leatherwood #5 is still currently at 60% design with a hope of reaching 90% in the near future. Two additional watershed dams have been recently placed on the rehabilitation list. These two include Laurel Park and Walker dams located in Henry County.

Virginia Conservation Assistance Program

The Virginia Association of Conservation Districts has been awarded a Virginia Environ mental Endowment Community Conservation Program Grant, eligible to Blue Ridge, Mountain Castles, Pittsylvania, and Skyline Soil & Water Conservation Districts. This grant provides funds that are used to accelerate the implementation of the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program in the region. The Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) is an urban cost-share program that provides financial incentives and technical and educational assistance to property owners installing eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Virginia’s participating Soil and

Installation of this Rain Water Harvesting system has just begun.

Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). These practices can be installed in areas of your yard where problems like erosion, poor drainage, or poor vegetation occur. Qualified sites shall be used for residential, commercial, or recreational purposes with a proposed practice that addresses a need.

2022-2023 Conservation Accomplishments

NRCS

Welcome to Sara Kothmann and Conservation Accomplishments by Local Farmers with NRCS. Welcome to Sara Kothmann our new Soil Conservationist who

Nutrient Management Plans Written…. 12 Cropland/Hay Land Conservation Practices Planned… 3,879.97 acres Riparian Buffers…….. 188.6 acres Cropland Practices Applied…… 3,085.34 acres Grazing Practices Applied: ….. 525.39 acres Stream bank protected ……. 11.54 miles (VDOF) Forest Practices : Forest Stewardship Management Plans – 11 Forest Stewardship Certifications — 4 Tree Planting Projects (Hardwood & Pine) acres – 72 (1,706 acres) Riparian Buffer Tax Credits – 4 Pre-Harvest Plans – 10 Projects that received Cost Share Funding – 148 (3,498 acres) Invasive Species Control Projects – 6 Prescribed Burns – 15 Wildfires Suppressed – 10 Total number of logging sites inspected — 148

started in March. She recently graduat ed with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Environmental Science from Virginia Tech. She completed her degree in three years with summa cum laude distinction. After graduation pri or to starting with NRCS, she helped on her family’s farm in Carrolton, VA. This fiscal year the Rocky Mount NRCS obligated ten Farm Bill program contracts totaling $893 thousand on 2,014 acres. The Rocky Mount NRCS is currently managing thirty seven Farm Bill contracts in Franklin and Henry County totaling over $2.7 million on 6,706 acres. These Farm Bill programs ad dress natural resource concerns like water quality and soil ero sion through installation of conservation practices.

The Blue Ridge SWCD District Board meets on the fourth Monday of each month in Rocky Mount, Virginia at 5:00 p.m. Meetings are open to the public. Contact the district office to find out the location of the next meeting. All programs and services of the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District are offered on a non discriminatory basis, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or handicap.

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Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District

Volume 35, Issue 1

2022 – 2023 Awards and Recognition

2022-2023 Blue Ridge SWCD BMP Forestry Award Recognition

Michael Drummond, Blue Ridge SWCD’s 2022 BMP Forestry Award Winner. Since 2014, Mr. Drummond has worked diligently to manage 179 woodland acres (located in Henry County) with assistance from the Virginia De partment of Forestry. Mr. Drummond’s primary objectives are geared toward wildlife for hunting and timber production. Two tracts of land became Certified Stewardship Forests in 2016 and a Certified Tree Farm in 2019. With the goal of preserving or improving existing soil and water quality, he planted all of the logging decks into wildlife food plots which minimized ero

sion following the logging operations. Also, all of the bare soil areas that were created during the pond construc tion were stabilized with permanent grass vegetation. Mr. Drummond’s land management demonstrates steward ship concepts in management of the forest land by following all of the VDOF recommendations that have been put into his Forest Stewardship Plans. He also manages his three properties for a variety of uses. Mr. Drummond promotes his conservation story by bringing other landowners by his properties to look at the practices he has successfully implemented. It is evident, he has a love for his property that one rarely sees with most landowners. He spends a tremendous amount of time working to improve his land and listens to advice from others on anything that he can do to make improvements.

Welcome Sam Chappell

We want to welcome Samuel Chappell as the district’s new Conservation Technician. He grew up in Franklin County and graduated from Ferrum College in 2021. At Ferrum, Sam joined the Boone Honors Program, Ferrum College Swim Team, and the rock-climbing team. After earning his B.S. in Environmental Sci ence and working as an intern with the SML Water Quality Program, he went on to pursue interests in conservation and public service. Outside of work, he is an avid angler and spends most of my time at Smith Mountain Lake. Sam is enthusi astic to be a part of the Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District and to work with the local farmers and community.

He can be reached at Schappell@brswcd.org or at (540) 352-3329.

Mauri Wimbush is cur rently a Program Techni cian for the USDA FSA in Rocky Mount. He was born and raised in Woolwine, VA. Work ing with his father and grandfather in their gardens and livestock,

Welcome FSA Employees

Kirstin Shelburne, native of Franklin Co., started with FSA in October of 2022. She enjoys

Trey Wash burn joined the Farm Service Agency in October 2021 as Franklin/Henry County Executive Director. As a Frank lin County native he

helping familiar faces on a day-to day basis at work. Kirstin graduated from Ferrum College with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science with and emphasis in animal science and agribusiness. When she’s not in the office you can find her on the farm, riding horses or team roping.

Mauri brings some knowledge of agriculture with him. He has worked diligently with pro ducers establishing Marketing Assistance Loans and Farm Storage Facility loans. With his new knowledge of farm programs ob tained, Mauri has been selected to be in the CEDT program to eventually become a CED (county executive director). We wish him well on his future endeavors.

takes great pride in serving the amazing pro ducers in the area. Trey graduated from Rad ford University with a major in Business Ad ministration. He currently resides in Franklin County with his wife. In his spare time you can find him cruising around the lake.

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Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District

Volume 35, Issue 1

2022-20223 Education Outreach

Environmental Education

Small Farm Spring Forum The Blue Ridge SWCD partnered with Vir

ginia Cooperative Extension, NRCS and Virginia State University to host the Small Farm Spring Fo rum. A variety of professionals from farmers to state agencies met to match agricultural interest with ser vice providing agencies by implementing the “whole farm approach” incorporating requirements and “how to’s”. This event was held at the Antioch Church of the Brethren in Callaway, VA. With approximately 40 attendees, producers provided testimonials about their experiences with SWCD programs and how participation int the VACS program has benefited their operations. Special guests speakers included Kevin Keith (VDOF), Eric Capps (NRCS), Abby Pierson (DCR), Summer Pate (New Dawn Acres), Brent No ell and Clif Somerville (both from VSU), Daniel Aus tin (Green Sprig Ag), Monty Brown (Brown & Sons Farm,) Cynthia Martel (VCE), and Trey Washburn (FSA) Michael Tabor (Sr. Conservation Specialist) and Kathy Smith (Program Manager/Education Co ordinator). This event was publicized via the district’s website, a post card mailer that was sent to local beef and dairy farmers and on the VCE’s FaceBook page. Funding for this Small Farm Fall Forum came from a variety of sources, namely: DCR, local county governments, corporate sponsorships, dona tions (for door prize drawings) and from federal and state grants.

A Day in the Woods

Outreach Nearly 1,500 K-12 students and adults participated in a

wide variety of environmental education outreach activities through out this fiscal year. A list of activities include but not limited to in

clude: Dirt Babies, Food for America Day, 4-H School Gardening Project (“See Them Sprout”), Rain Barrel Work shops, A Day in the Woods at Waid Recreation Complex, Tumbler-style Compost Workshop, Conservation Tic Tac-Toe, Meaningful Watershed Envi ronmental Education at Benjamin Franklin Middle School just to name a few. The tumbler-style composter (above) was presented to Sontag Ele mentary School. It was donated by the FC Master Gardeners and specially de signed by the Blue Ridge SWCD for their outdoor garden program.

BFMS MWEE at Powder Mill Creek

If you wish to assist our district by conserving paper, send us an e-mail requesting current newsletters, Annual Reports and flyers be sent to you via e-mail replacing the mailing of a hard copy. Please send E-mail inquiries to: Ksmith@brswcd.org.

Mission Statement : “The Mission of the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District is to promote Conservation of our natural Resources.”

Vision Statement: “The Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District, as an elected autonomous body, will strive to coordi nate the natural resource interests to achieve our mission by educating and providing technical assistance to the citizens withi n.”

District Staff B. Renee Fulcher , Admin. Financial Assistant

Board of Directors

Roger B. Holnback , Chairman, Roanoke Co.

Byron Brooks, Director-At-Large, Franklin Co.

Kathy B. Smith , Program Manager/Edu. Coordinator and FOIA Officer (person to whom the public can direct requests for public records in compliance with the provisions of §2.2-3704.2C)

J. Hubert Bowman , Vice Chairman, Franklin Co.

Freeda Cathcart, City of Roanoke

Nicholas H Beasley, (Treasurer), Roanoke Co.

Daphne W. Jamison, Franklin Co.

R. Darryl Holland, (Secretary), Henry Co.

Cynthia Martel, VCE-Franklin Co.

Michael L. Tabor , Sr. Conservation Specialist Samuel A. Chappell , Conservation Technician.

Andrew Barker, Henry Co.

Summer Pate, Associate Director

Sarah Baumgardner, City of Roanoke

Tanya Young, Associate Director

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Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District

Volume 35, Issue 1

Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District 1297 State Street Rocky Mount, VA 24151

B ULK R ATE US P OSTAGE P AID P ERMIT N O . 53

Agencies Assisting the Blue Ridge SWCD

Blue Ridge Land Conservancy City of Roanoke Dan River Basin Association

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Department of Conservation and Recreation

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Division of Soil and Water Conservation

U.S. Forest Service

Farm Services Agency

Virginia Association of Soil & Water

Ferrum College

Conservation Districts

Franklin County

Virginia Cooperative Extension Service

Franklin County Master Gardeners

Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality

Henry County

Virginia Dept. of Forestry

Henry County Master Gardeners

Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Virginia Department of Transportation

Roanoke County

Virginia State University

Roanoke Valley-Allegheny Regional Commission

Virginia Soil & Water Conservation Board

Smith Mountain Lake Association

West Piedmont Planning District

Smith Mountain Lake Policy Advisory Board

Western Virginia Water Authority

District Programs The Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District sets priorities and objectives that are defined in a strategic plan. An annual plan of work is completed by forming committees such as Budget, Soil Stewardship, Youth, Annual Report, Conservation Awards, Annual Tour, Newsletter, Scholarship, Personnel, and other committees as needed. The Board of Directors encourages land users to adopt Best Management Practices such as conservation tillage in their farm plans. This District works from a budget to effectively manage funds, facilities and equipment. The Blue Ridge SWCD supports the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board, and the National Association of Conservation Districts. The directors attend area, state, and national meetings. The Commonwealth of Virginia supports the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District through financial and administrative assistance provided by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Funding for the programs outlined in this report comes from a variety of sources, namely: DCR, local county governments, corpo rate sponsorship and donations. Other funding comes from a variety of sources, mainly federal and state grants.