Heath, Collins recognized for combined 45 years of service to SWCD

Two 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 Wayne Clark, George Stovall, Joseph Sparks, Richard Kreh, Christian Taylor and John Wood 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. 

Heath and Collins were presented plaques at the Board of Directors meeting. They also were 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. And both 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 the 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. The 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 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 visit the office located at 104 Via Avenue, Stuart, Virginia.