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.
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.
