Annual Report 2023 2024

Environmental Education Outreach

“Can You Build a Snowman” Contest The Blue Ridge SWCD en tered the 2023 “Can You Build A Snow man” contest

The 2023-2024 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 “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future”. Byron Minson, the Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon Coordinator, worked with Soil & Water Conservation District’s staff to provide them support and resources for the in-person Envirothon pro gram. The Area V Envirothon was hosted by the Blue Ridge and Patrick SWCDs and held on April 18, 2024 at Ferrum College. The following teams advanced to the state competition: Halifax County High School (Halifax SWCD) — 1st Place, Franklin County High School (Blue Ridge SWCD) — 2nd Place and Cumberland High School (Peter Francisco SWCD —3rd Place. The Envirothon’s state competition was held at Rad ford University on May 19-20, 2024 where teams competed to test their knowledge in Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, Wildlife and the Current Issue. Here is a list of the 2023-2024 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 overall: Eastern View High School (Culpeper SWCD). The 2024 NCF Envirothon (National) was held on July 28-August 3, 2024 . Virginia, represented by Jamestown High School and placed 16th overall and placed 1st in Forestry in the 2024 NCF-Envirothon competi tion in Geneva, New York . 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.

through the Frank lin County Parks and Recreation Department and was awarded first place overall in the “non - profit” category. “Mr. Conser vation’s” body was constructed out of a 55 gallon food grade pickle bar rel. The body was drilled with holes in the shape of snowflakes. A light was placed inside the barrel that illu minated the snowflakes at night. His head was made out of chicken wire, felt, and yarn pompoms. His hat was constructed out of the barrel’s lid and lid ring. This is a way to create a way our district was able to reuse/recycle bar rels that are used in our Rain Barrel/ Compost Workshops.

2023-2024 Farm Tour (Roanoke City and Roanoke County) Our guests visited several locations in Roanoke designed to highlight different initia tives currently being implemented. Stops included: Boone Tractor : Joe Boone, the President of Boone Tractor begun his career in what was a family owned and operated dealership. In 1984, the birth of Boone Tractor began as a modest tin building in Bedford, VA where Woodford Brothers & equipment once was. Fishburn Mansion: Built in 1907, This mansion is a historic home in the Mountain View neighborhood. VDOF’s Denny McCarthy, showcased the Roanoke City Urban Forestry Program and the Roanoke Tree Stewards Volunteer Program. C & F Farms: C & F Farms is a small family farm in the Bonsack area of Roanoke County. The first parcels of land that now make up the home farm for C & F Farms were purchased in 1948 by Emory Cox. The farm started out rais ing a variety of things from row crops, vegetable crops, as well as different types of livestock. Over time as the markets changed the farm moved away from crops and began concentrating more on livestock production. Rockydale Quarries: Headquartered in Roanoke County, provides a wide variety of aggregate lime, and bio-mix soils to serve the needs of many industries, including construction, agriculture, and residential since 1932. Blue Cow Ice Cream: One of the highlights of each Annual Farm Tour is to make a special stop at a local ice cream store. This year, Blue Cow Ice Cream was featured. Owned and operated by Emily Goff, Blue Cow Ice Cream went out of their way to serve our Farm Tour guests a unique variety of delicious homemade ice cream treats! This year’s Farm Tour would not have been possible without the support and generosity of our sponsors: Angle Hard ware, Bank of Botetourt, Berger Farm, Dale & Daniel Angle, DeShazo Oil Company, Exchange Milling Company, Four Oaks Farms LLC, Harvester Performance Center, Ippy’s Restaurant & Lounge, Land and Farm LLC, Melvin’s Farm to Fork, New Dawn Acres, Rockingham Co-Op (Wirtz), Rocky Mount Lifestyle Health Center, Seven Oaks Landscapes & Hardscapes, Shelton & Alderson Insurance Agency, The Growing Place, White Horse Farm and Windy Gap Apiary.

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Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District

Volume 36, Issue 1