Annual Report 2022 2023

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