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2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Letter from the Chairman Think back to 1990, thirty years ago. That’s the year Valley Conservation Council came into existence and it was a time of unprecedented change in our world. Germany was reunified, Poland began its exit from the Soviet Bloc and the Hubble Telescope was launched. The World Wide Web was in its infancy and the Shenandoah Valley was experiencing growth that few residents ever envisioned. Forward thinkers, the founders of VCC, met during this time to find ways to preserve the productive beauty of the Valley as well as the heritage and resources of our beloved landscape. Since then, tens of thousands of acres of private farmland and forests have been protected by VCC and its partners. As a life-long inhabitant of Augusta County and an agriculturalist, I find that this vision is extremely important to me and my family. VCC continues its work on a daily basis to protect a part of Virginia many consider one of the most beautiful places in the United States. Citizens and members have stepped up to the plate for preservation in ways we could only dream of in 1990. A perfect example of this is the legacy John Sweet has established by donating the Sweet Family Farm at Mustoe in Highland County to VCC for protection, education, and research. Sweet Family Farm is comprised of a tract of nearly 400 acres that is permanently protected through a conservation easement held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. John Sweet’s vision is to protect the property while allowing students and the public access to it through VCC programs to learn about land conservation and
species protection. The property affords numerous ecosystems unique to the area. Currently students at James Madison University and Rockingham County Public Schools are utilizing the farm to catalog species and map movement of wildlife. It is hoped that in the future, VCC will be able to employ an educator to enhance utilization of the Sweet Family Farm and other resources within the Shenandoah Valley region. I have seen a lot of changes in the Shenandoah Valley in my lifetime. I have seen numerous changes in agriculture, lots of subdivisions pop up, and forest land being converted to housing areas with expanded highways. I have also witnessed a concerted effort to protect the heritage and beauty of our landscape. This is where your help is needed! Valley Conservation Council is a member-supported land trust that relies on contributions and support from people just like you to protect land and conduct outreach efforts. Your contributions of time, money, and talent do make a difference! You are helping make it possible for future generations to enjoy what we sometimes take for granted. Please continue to help us keep the Shenandoah Valley region one of the most beautiful places in America. Sincerely, Eric L. Fitzgerald Chairman of the Board Valley Conservation Council
We conserve land and water. We preserve working farms and forests. We promote best practices in development. And we protect the health of our regional ecosystem. Forever.
PHOTOGRAPHY THROUGHOUT THIS REPORT IS COURTESY OF VCC’S PHOTO LIBRARY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
PHYSICAL ADDRESS Valley Conservation Council 32 North Augusta Street Staunton, VA 24401
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MAILING ADDRESS Valley Conservation Council P.O. Box 988 Staunton, VA 24402
*Our office is located within the Staunton Innovation Hub.
540.886.3541 info@valleyconservation.org valleyconservation.org
Our Mission Valley Conservation Council promotes land use that sustains the farms, forests, open spaces, and cultural heritage of the greater Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.
Valley Conservation Council @valleyconservationcouncil
VCC Welcomes New Executive Director In December of 2019, the board of directors of Valley Conservation Council (VCC) announced the hiring of Staunton native John Hutchinson to serve as its new Executive Director. Hutchinson brings with him over three decades of conservation and development experience. He has a vision to expand VCC’s membership and solidify its role as the only land trust dedicated to protecting the Shenandoah Valley and Virginia’s Western Highlands.
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Valley residents may be familiar with Hutchinson from his nineteen-year tenure at the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, where he played a key role in the founding of the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley. Prior to his work with the Battlefields Foundation, John served two terms on VCC’s board of directors, and was the organization’s Special Projects Coordinator from 1995 to 1999, where he spearheaded a study into the fiscal impacts of land use in Augusta County, developed The McDowell Battlefield Landowner’s Guide, and co-authored a study on the Middlebrook-Brownsburg Corridor.
Under Hutchinson’s leadership, Valley Conservation Council is focusing its immediate efforts on protecting high-priority farmland, forest land, and historic sites within its service area. Working with partner nonprofits and other stakeholders, VCC is identifying areas for protection within the Shenandoah Valley and Western Highlands, and then focusing its efforts on outreach and conservation within those regions.
Thirty years ago, a dozen or so visionaries who shared a passion for the iconic Shenandoah Valley came together to protect the land they loved. Valley Conservation Council, born from their vision, still partners with landowners and others to conserve land, focusing on conservation easements. Today we all reap the rewards of seeds sown three decades ago. It is an honor to carry forward the mission of this organization in which I believe. Working to conserve the place I love and call home, I hope to continue to help you turn visions into reality. — JOHN D. HUTCHINSON, V
Our Story
Our Vision
For 30 years, Valley Conservation Council has worked with communities and landowners across Virginia’s greater Shenandoah Valley region promoting land conservation and sensible models of growth. As a result, tens of thousands of acres of valuable farm and forestland, streams and rivers, and historical landscapes are now permanently protected in VCC’s 18-locality service territory.
VCC envisions a greater Shenandoah Valley region that is valued and sustained by its citizens, rural and urban alike. Growing, while maintaining its agricultural character, historical roots, and smalltown quality of life, this will be a region that:
VCC is an accredited land trust – meaning we follow the highest legal, environmental, and financial standards to hold conservation easements for landowners. We also actively promote best practices in development, support working farms and the agricultural economy, and teach future generations about the importance of conservation. Our efforts to protect the iconic region where you may live, work, or play are successful because of the generous support of hundreds of VCC members.
n Protects land to sustain natural and cultural assets in both rural and growth areas; n Remains predominantly rural with strong agricultural and forestal economies; n Attracts growth into well-designed communities with a strong sense of place, efficient services, and opportunities for continued re-growth; n Commits to the success of farms, cities and towns, fostering environmental and fiscally sound development that adds to quality of life; and n Inspires engaged and informed citizens.
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VCC Board and Volunteer Committees (2020) Board of Directors
Governance Committee
Eric Fitzgerald, Chair Anna Lawson, Vice Chair David Fuller, Secretary/Treasurer Steve Clinton, Immediate Past Chairman Mark Battin Abbie Cutter Chuck Horn Scott Kelly Alex Moore Sally Parsons Steuart Thomas Katie Wallace
Augusta Botetourt Augusta Botetourt Staunton Augusta Augusta Sperryville Augusta Augusta Staunton Roanoke
Identifies nominees to the board and committees and reviews VCC policies. n n n
Land Protection Committee Identifies priorities for land protection, ensures proper management of VCC’s conservation portfolio, updates policies and procedures regarding land protection, ensures organizational compliance with Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices. n n n n n n n
VCC By the Numbers
10,000+ 160 18 12 4
Steuart Thomas, Chair Steve Clinton Chuck Horn
Mark Battin, Chair Faye Cooper Mark Botkin Butch Snow Chuck Horn Steuart Thomas Sally Parsons
FREDERICK
ACRES PROTECTED
WINCHESTER
VOLUNTEER HOURS
WARREN
LOCALITIES SERVED
SHENANDOAH
BOARD MEMBERS
PAGE ROCKINGHAM
TEAM MEMBERS
HARRISONBURG
HIGHLAND AUGUSTA STAUNTON WAYNESBORO
BATH
ROCKBRIDGE ALLEGHANY COVINGTON
LEXINGTON BUENA VISTA
BOTETOURT
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VCC Service Area
Finance & Fundraising Committee
Public Relations & Outreach Committee
Solicits major gifts, cultivates corporate giving, and identifies major funding sources while maintaining responsibility for the overall fiscal health of the organization.
Develops our membership base, providing branding and communications support with members and stakeholders through events and volunteer programs.
n n n n n n n
David Fuller, Chair Abbie Cutter Faye Cooper Butch Snow Steve Clinton Scott Kelly Katie Wallace
n n n
Katie Wallace, Chair Scott Kelly Alex Moore
Staff JOHN D. HUTCHINSON, V Executive Director
EMILY BENDER Director of Land Protection
GENEVIEVE GOSS Upper James Program Director
john@valleyconservation.org • 540.292.0396
emily@valleyconservation.org • 540.416.2759
genevieve@valleyconservation.org • 540.886.3541
John Hutchinson joined VCC as Executive Director in 2020. For more than 36 years, John has been engaged in fundraising, development, and policy ©621 STUDIOS research related to land conservation and battlefield preservation in Virginia and nationally. Most recently, John directed land acquisition and conservation programs at the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation beginning in 2001. He has protected thousands of acres on Civil War battlefields in the Shenandoah Valley through donation, bargain sale, and fee purchase. Previously, he worked on the staff of Valley Conservation Council and the Western Virginia Land Trust and as a consultant to numerous organizations across the Commonwealth.
Emily Bender is a Bridgewater College graduate with a B.S. in Environmental Science. She has been with VCC since January 2018 and currently ©621 STUDIOS serves as the Director of Land Protection. Her favorite part of her job is building relationships with people in the Valley who care about the land around them.
Genevieve Goss was an early member of the VCC Board of Directors and has served the organization in many capacities for two decades. Her work is ©621 STUDIOS primarily focused on the southern counties in VCC’s service area. As a long-standing educator, Genevieve reaches out to farmers, foresters, businesspeople, representatives of local governments, and the general public to provide practical information about the protection of the scenic and vibrant Upper James River watershed.
John started his career in Washington, D.C., as a fundraising consultant to national nonprofits including the Wilderness Society and American Farmland Trust. He is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton and the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he double majored in American history and American literature. He also received a master’s degree in urban and environmental planning with a certificate in historic preservation at the University of Virginia in 2000 and attended Mary Baldwin College and Saint John’s College in Oxford, England. He is President of the Virginia Wilderness Committee and Treasurer of the Virginia Conservation Network. He resides in Staunton with his wife Beth.
Emily grew up attending summer camp at Camp Bethel (Fincastle, VA) and worked as a part of their staff for several summers. This experience was one that shaped her love of the outdoors and determined her educational path in Environmental Science. Emily also spent 5 months in Australia in 2017, an experience that further cultivated her love of the outdoors. Emily and her husband, Jeremy, enjoy living in Mount Crawford and spending their free time hiking and exploring in the Shenandoah Valley.
MAYA HAWTHORN GUNDERSON Office Administrator maya@valleyconservation.org • 540.886.3541
Maya Hawthorn Gunderson joined VCC in 2020 as their Office Administrator. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from James Madison University, and has lived and worked in the Shenandoah Valley for nearly two decades. After years serving families as a licensed midwife, Maya began a new chapter with an ecological landscaping company in office administration to better balance her own family life. Her attention to detail and passion for the environment combine for her to now support VCC’s mission. Maya lives in Staunton with her husband Paul and her three daughters, where they spend lots of time exploring the forests and rivers of the surrounding countryside.
In addition to assisting landowners with the conservation of their properties, she established the Botetourt Community Partnership, serves on the Board of the Upper James Resource Conservation and Development Council, and partners with Mountain Castles SWCD in the popular ‘Backyard Botetourt’ community series. Genevieve earned national recognition in 2014 from the Wildlife Habitat Council as a finalist for Community Partner of the Year, was recognized as a Dark Sky Defender in 2018 by the International Dark-Sky Association, and was named VCC’s Conservator of the Year in 2019. She holds a B.A. degree from St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame and a M.S. from Indiana University. A native of Indiana but a resident of Botetourt County for a quartercentury, she resides near Fincastle with her husband John.
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In Valley Conservation Council’s efforts to conserve land, protecting water resources is a high priority. VCC’s partners in this effort include Soil and Water Conservation Districts, river roundtables, and other non-profits with a focus on the streams and rivers that flow through the service area on their way to Chesapeake Bay (and Albemarle Sound for that part of southern Botetourt draining into the Roanoke River). In addition to partnering with the Upper James Resource Conservation and Development (UJRC&D) river roundtable in its four focus areas of land conservation, water resources, outdoor recreation, and environmental education, VCC’s Upper James Program Director, Genevieve Goss, also participates in the newly-formed Upper and Middle James Riparian Consortium. The Consortium brings together partners to facilitate water quality improvements around five areas of focus: n n n n n
Riparian forest buffers Agricultural infrastructure Stream restoration Wildlife habitat Buffer protection, easements, and maintenance
These focus areas go hand-in-hand with VCC’s land protection goals. For more information on how you can protect water features on your property, contact a VCC staff member and visit the consortium’s website: www.jamesriverconsortium.org
MAKING A LASTING IMPACT:
Leveraging Partnerships Allegheny Mountain Institute Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley Augusta Bird Club Blue Ridge PRISM Chesapeake Bay Foundation Conservation Partners LLC Cowpasture River Preservation Association Friends of the Middle River Headwaters Master Naturalists Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District Jackson River Preservation Association Land Trust Alliance Lewis Creek Watershed Advisory Committee Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District Mountain Soil and Water Conservation District Natural Bridge Soil and Water Conservation District Project GROWS Save Lucy the Bat Shenandoah Green USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Virginia Conservation Network Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Virginia Department of Forestry Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Virginia Environmental Endowment Virginia Outdoors Foundation Virginia Reforestation Virginia’s United Land Trusts Virginia Wilderness Committee
©TWIN RIVER OUTFITTERS, BUCHANAN
PARTNER HIGHLIGHT:
Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley The Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative (SVCC), administered by the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, is a partnership of land trusts, watershed groups, regional nonprofits, and state and federal agency partners working to accelerate land conservation and water quality restoration in our region. Together, partners are working with interested landowners, and communities to bring the resources and expertise to achieve shared goals in water quality, agricultural vitality and protected rural landscapes. The Alliance is a nonprofit serving the counties of Augusta, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren, where the organization advocates, educates, and connects people to conserve the natural resources, cultural heritage, and rural character of our region.
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MAKING A LASTING IMPACT:
Guiding Landowners Frequently Asked Questions Conservation easements are one of many tools in the toolbox for the protection of the Shenandoah Valley’s agricultural, natural, and historical resources.
What is a conservation easement? A conservation easement is a legal agreement in which a landowner retains ownership, management, use, and enjoyment of their property while they convey certain specific land use rights to the holder of the easement. The easement holder is a third-party that commits to seeing that the easement terms are upheld by future owners of the land. Therefore, the holder needs to be a carefully chosen partner. Conservation easement holders are typically charitable land trusts such as VCC or government agencies.
What are some of the benefits to the landowner? The benefits of a conservation easement to a landowner include the permanent protection of the land and its unique attributes, continued private ownership of the property, and a degree of protection tailored to both its features and the wishes of the original owner. Easements are voluntary, flexible, and permanent. They protect conservation values such as farmland, forests, special wildlife habitats, watersheds, and scenic landscapes. While they restrict the number of divisions and amount of development on a property, they also allow for farming, forestry, recreation, and other compatible uses. And they may provide generous tax benefits.
What are some tax benefits of conservation easements? They may include (1) federal and state income tax deduction; (2) Virginia income tax credits which may be used by the donor or sold to another Virginia taxpayer for income; (3) estate and inheritance tax exclusion and reduction; and (4) real estate property tax reduction. Please contact a tax advisor for details.
What resources can be protected by conservation easements? Conservation easements vary by the resources they protect. They all offer the same basic options and benefits to landowners. In order to qualify for federal tax advantages, an easement must be permanent and provide a public benefit by protecting an identifiable educational, natural, or historic resource. In Virginia, all conservation easements must be compatible with local land-use policies including the local comprehensive plan. A property rich in natural and historic resources may qualify in a number of categories and use a number of restrictions. For example, a farm that is on a battlefield, adjoins a stream, includes an historic home, and whose owner allows public access to a wildlife viewing trail may provide for all of these benefits and, thus, justify each category of restriction. n Easements are often used to protect open spaces, including working lands – farms and forests. n Easements can also be used as a form of historic protection. This can mean protecting architectural features of historic structures in rural or urban settings as well as historic sites or landscapes. n The most common protection found in VCC’s current portfolio of easements are on riparian buffers. These protections are used to protect the land closest to a water body, protecting the water quality and the waterway itself. This is most commonly used to protect streams, rivers, and their floodplains. n Another commonality between many of VCC’s easements are protections of scenic viewsheds. Scenic views protected in easements are viewscapes as well as historic or scenic corridors. n Lastly, easements are often used to protect high-quality native ecosystems or landforms; the habitat of rare, endangered, or threatened species; or the ecological viability of an area. This may be called a wildlife or natural heritage easement.
What are some conservation myths to bust? You can’t farm, hunt, fish, or harvest timber. REALITY: All traditional uses are permitted. You must have 100 acres or more. REALITY: Each property is judged on its merits, including parcels under 100 acres. It prohibits all development. You can’t even put up a small house on an easement. REALITY: You negotiate the terms of the deed, including the divisions and dwellings. You can’t sell your land or leave it to your heirs. REALITY: You can, but the restrictions remain. You have to grant public access. REALITY: Not required. However, a landowner may request to allow public access.
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FREDERICK
1990
WARREN SHENANDOAH
PAGE ROCKINGHAM
HIGHLAND AUGUSTA
BATH
ROCKBRIDGE ALLEGHANY
BOTETOURT
Over the past 30 years, VCC has shepherded countless individuals and organizations to solidify the long-term, positive impact associated with this visual story. Private landowners, public partners, nonprofit donors, grant organizations, and policymakers have all played a part in this tremendous, successful collaborative regional effort. In 1990, the year VCC was founded, there were very few conservation easements in the Shenandoah Valley region totaling less than 5,000 acres. By 2020, according to data from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, easements in the VCC service territory represented 178,763 acres of permanently protected land. 8
FREDERICK
2020
WARREN SHENANDOAH
PAGE ROCKINGHAM
HIGHLAND AUGUSTA
BATH
ROCKBRIDGE ALLEGHANY
Conservation Easements Other Protected Lands BOTETOURT
VCC Service Area 0
12.5
25
50
SWEET FAMILY FARM, HIGHLAND COUNTY, ©KELLY NYE PHOTOGRAPHY
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MAKING A LASTING IMPACT:
Conservation Success Stories Protecting a Six-Generation Working Farm Like many farming families in the Shenandoah Valley, the Simmons family is one that values the land and its impact on family and community. They have owned their 320-acre farm in Mount Solon in Augusta County since 1870. Now known as Big Rock Dairy, fifth generation farmer Lee Simmons’ enterprise includes beef and dairy cows, poultry, and corn and alfalfa grown for feed. Working the farm alongside his three sons, Lee rests easy knowing that conservation easements on his land will protect it and his family’s way of life long into the future. The Simmons family called on Valley Conservation Council for a conservation easement on the first of two parcels of their farm several years ago. Martin and Kathleen Simmons initiated an easement on the first parcel in 2018 and their son Lee closed an easement on the second parcel earlier this year. Valley Conservation Council collaborated with Conservation Partners to help the Simmons through the process and now hold conservation easements on a total of 302 acres.
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The Simmons family understands the importance of land conservation; maximizing the good health of soil, water, and farm animals; and the impact that has on the overall community. They have worked with multiple organizations to improve their farming and land stewardship efforts including securing technical assistance for soil, water, and nutrient management and have realized the results with greater tonnage and yield per acre of crop, better water quality, and healthier animals. Their dedication is evident in the operation of the business and its success. Valley Conservation Council shares their values and vision of conservation and we are grateful to them for giving us the opportunity to play the crucial role of guardian of their land by holding their easement. VCC focuses on education, awareness, and assistance for conservation in the Shenandoah Valley. We take pride in helping families like the Simmons preserve the natural beauty and resources of their land so they may continue their farming heritage of 130 years.
Our partners with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service produced this video highlighting best management practices on Big Rock Dairy as part of their profiles on producers across Virginia in the Conservation Stewardship Program. Visit this link to the watch the video and learn more about the improved health and yield of this protected working land. valleyconservation.org/bigrockdairy/
VIDEO STILL COURTESY OF USDA NRCS, PRODUCED BY TWISTED HOLLY SERVICES LLC
SWEET FAMILY FARM, HIGHLAND COUNTY, ©KELLY NYE PHOTOGRAPHY
Honoring a Sweet Gift John Sweet, VCC’s 2018 Conservator of the Year, is a lifelong environmentalist and outdoor enthusiast. As VCC has done with countless private landowners over the years, staff guided Mr. Sweet through the conservation easement process several years ago to protect his Highland County farm. As he worked to balance land preservation and estate planning, Mr. Sweet shared he wanted to do something to help future generations feel the same passion for nature he had enjoyed throughout his life. After searching for a way to ensure his property would continue to serve the regional community and be used to develop a conservation ethic for generations to come, Mr. Sweet’s extraordinarily generous and creative solution was to deed VCC his nearly 400-acre farm. By then, the property was held in easement by VCC’s longtime partner, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. This incredible turning point in VCC’s history ensures that Mr. Sweet’s legacy will continue for generations to come as the property will be conserved to support sustainable agriculture but will also become a hub for environmental and agricultural education. Youth from the Alleghany Highlands and greater Shenandoah Valley region will have the opportunity to visit the property for educational programming and outdoor adventure for years to come.
The property is home to several unique ecosystems and has the potential to allow students the opportunity to study and research these in a hands-on, real-life manner. Less than a year after making the gift, Sweet’s vision had already become a reality when David Weisenbeck, a student at James Madison University, approached Sweet about conducting a survey of reptiles and amphibians on the farm. What began as a component of VCC Chairman Eric Fitzgerald’s “Valley to the Bay” class at JMU soon evolved into an ongoing project during which Weisenbeck has spent many late nights out in the woods and wetlands on Sweet’s farm. Over the course of the project, Weisenbeck has gained an appreciation for the diversity of wildlife on the preserve. The project focuses on identifying and documenting as many species as possible, mapping their presence so that future researchers can identify trends in diversity and distribution. As VCC continues to find innovative ways to use this special property, this story is only the beginning of the opportunity for more rising conservationists to learn through the Sweet Family Farm’s outstanding resources.
This incredible turning point in VCC’s history ensures that Mr. Sweet’s legacy will continue for generations to come as the property will be conserved to support sustainable agriculture but will also become a hub for environmental and agricultural education. 11
MAKING A LASTING IMPACT:
Conservation Success Stories, CONTINUED
Achieving Accreditation In the fall of 2019, VCC accomplished a remarkable organizational milestone in receiving official news of national accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. This important and impressive designation affirms that VCC meets the highest legal, fiscal, ethical, and governance standards as we protect our region’s lands forever. A 30-year body of work, tireless volunteers, committed staff, and visionary board members contributed to this incredible feat for VCC. As we carry out our mission, we do so with confidence and pride around this seal of approval. With this designation, VCC joined a network of over 400 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the white black public’s trust in their work. VCC provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission accreditation signifies confidence that VCC has responsible governance, exemplifies ethical conduct, is on sound financial footing, and that its lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts steward nearly 20 million acres of land – ten times the combined size of Shenandoah National Park, George Washington National Forest, and Jefferson National Forest.
About the Land Trust Accreditation Commission The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
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About the Land Trust Alliance Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents 1,000 member land trusts supported by more than 200,000 volunteers and 4.6 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices. The Alliance’s leadership serves the entire land trust community— their work in the nation’s capital represents the policy priorities of land conservationists from every state; their education programs improve and empower land trusts from Maine to Alaska; and their comprehensive vision for the future of land conservation includes new partners, new programs and new priorities. Connect online at www.landtrustalliance.org.
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VCC MEMBERSHIP LEVELS: VALLEY GUARDIAN
MAKING A LASTING IMPACT:
Generous Supporters VCC’s impact is made possible by a variety of committed and gracious private, public, and nonprofit donors, sponsors, and volunteers.
VALLEY GUARDIAN Mr. and Mrs. Fred Andreae Anonymous Abbie and Bowman Cutter Mr. and Mrs. David Fuller Mr. and Mrs. Rod Granberry, Jr. Mr. Scott Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lawson Mr. and Mrs. Martin Lightsey Mr. and Mrs. P. William Moore, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. George Ohrstrom, II Drs. John and Sally Parsons D. Lee and Patricia Simmons Mr. John R. Sweet
Dr. Renee Godard and Mr. Richard Amstutz Mr. and Mrs. John Goss Ms. Libby Hartman Ms. Annette Kirby Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Mann Dr. and Mrs. Preston C. Manning, Jr. Mr. John Pancake and Ms. Ann Olson Michael Pelton and Tamra L. Willis Mrs. Laura Revitz Mr. and Mrs. James Rutt Mr. and Mrs. Greg Weaver Mr. Bernard Odasz and Ms. Susan Wilson
VALLEY STEWARD
VALLEY PIONEER
Mrs. Karin Banks Dr. Robert C. Bass and Dr. Moira A. Rafferty Mr. Jim Cherney and Ms. Katie Wallace Lt. Col and Mrs. Stephen Clinton Peter and Faye Cooper Mr. Bo Cutter Mr. W. Lawrence Duncan Ms. Lisa Hamilton Ms. Karen Hembree Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Hickman Virginia Hot Springs Realty Dr. and Mrs. Jim Huggins Mr. and Mrs. John D. Hutchinson, V Mr. Roger Kirby Ms. Laurie J. Landeau Mr. Thomas Lockhart Mr. and Mrs. Phil Moran Ms. Alice Murphy Ms. Dorothy Duval Nelson Mr. and Mrs. Allen Perrel Mr. Stephen and Dr. Julie Plumbley Ms. Dianne Sanford Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schreiber Mr. Jeff Shingleton and Ms. Christina Lego Mr. William Snow and Ms. Melody Tennant Mr. Daniel Truxell Mr. and Mrs. W. Denman Zirkle
VALLEY SETTLER Ms. Laurie Berman Dr. Joseph Borzelleca, Jr. and Dr. Ellen Brock Jim and Toni Brown Mrs. and Mr. Dorothy and Bob Childers Mr. Peter Dalke Ms. Janet Doerr Drs. Olimpia and Bruce Dorries Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fevrier Ms. Carolyn Ford
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A.K. Smiley Public Library Lands Trails and Parks Consulting LLC Camp Mont Shenandoah SEI Private Trust Company Ms. Ilse Ackerman Mr. Rob Alexander and Mr. Derrick Brown Mr. Howard Ellis and Ms. Eugenia Anderson-Ellis Ms. Sharon Angle Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Mr. Howard Armfield Mr. and Mrs. David Arnold Bob and Kathy Arrowsmith Mrs. Suzanne Auckerman Augusta Bird Club Augusta Garden Club Ms. Frances Battin Mr. and Mrs. Mark Battin Ms. Kathy Belcher and Mr. Joel Thompson, Jr. David and Carolyn Benjamin Donald and Juliana Benner Mr. and Mrs. David Berenson Blue Ridge Garden Club, Inc. Mr. Stanley Bright, III Mr. and Mrs. Mark Bruns Mrs. J. Stewart Bryan Mr. Reese Bull and Ms. Pamela Patrick Mr. Forbes Reback and Ms. Charlotte Buttrick Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Callison Capt. and Mrs. Davis Cangalosi Mr. and Mrs. Marsden E. Champaign Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Chatfield-Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Barry Chewning Mr. Charles Chittum Kim and Shay Clanton
$5,000 and above
VALLEY STEWARD
$1,000 to $4,999
VALLEY SETTLER
$500 to $999
VALLEY PIONEER
$100 to $499
VALLEY EXPLORER
from $30 per individual/
$50 per family to $99
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Clark Lt. Col. Philip Clayton Dr. and Mrs. Richard L.M. Coleman Mr. Brandon Collins and Ms. Judy Mosedale Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Connelly, II Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Covington Mr. and Mrs. Ray Cowan Mr. Eddie Bumbaugh and Ms. Jane Cox Warner and Barbara Dalhouse Mr. and Mrs. Bill Day Larry and Barbara Dennis Mr. E. C. Echols Mr. and Mrs. Jim Echols Dr. Robert Eggleston Mr. and Mrs. Phil Ehrenkranz Ms. Joanie Eiland and Mr. Randy Laird Dr. Lee Elliott and Mr. Bill Jones Mr. and Mrs. John Fairfield Mr. and Mrs. Rick Fauerbach Mr. Gregory Faust and Ms. Paulyn Heinmiller Piedmont Inn, LLC, Ordinary Ale Works Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Fovargue Mr. Christian Fox Ms. Sarah Francisco Mr. W. T. Francisco, Jr. Frazier Associates Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Giovanetti Mr. and Mrs. Bud Good Leslie and Joni Grady Mrs. Joseph M. Greene, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hamblin Ms. Harriet Hanger Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Harrigan Mr. Rich Harris and Ms. Karen Ford Carolyn and BJ Harvick Mr. and Mrs. William Heatwole Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hollberg Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hopkins Ms. Martha T. Irvin Ms. Sara James Mr. Scott Jost and Ms. Kathy Holm Dr. Kenneth W. Keller and Dr. Susan Blair Green Mr. Kenneth Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Kunze Dr. and Mrs. James C. LaGrua Mr. and Mrs. Larry Long Ms. Joyce Loving and Mr. Lloyd Pollitt Mr. and Mrs. Nick MacNeil Ms. Elizabeth Marth The Honorable and Mrs. Everett Martin Ms. Margie Maust and Ms. Sandra M. Bahr Mr. and Mrs. Joe McCue Ms. Nancy McDaniel
Ms. Elizabeth McInnis Mr. Edward T. McMahon Ms. Sarah Hagen and Mr. Bruce McWilliams Mr. Hugh C. Miller Mr. and Mrs. John R. Miller, Sr. Mrs. Lucile Miller Mr. and Mrs. John Mirabella Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moniot Mr. Jonathan Monroe and Ms. Andrea Pesce Mr. Alex Moore Mr. Matthew Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Grigg Mullen, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Otto Dr. Barton Pakull Mr. and Mrs. John Payne Lydia Petersson and John Gillies Mr. and Mrs. James Phemister Mr. and Mrs. George Phillips Mr. Edward Pickett Ms. Ann Pontius and Mr. Mike Stahl Mr. R. Gregory Porter Mr. and Mrs. Joe Powers Mr. and Mrs. David Pugh Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Pyle Dr. and Mrs. Don Race Mr. and Mrs. Howard Ratcliffe, Jr. Mr. Enos Richardson, Jr. Mr. John Ross Mr. and Mrs. Al Saufley Mr. Harry Shannon Ms. Sarah Sherwood Mr. and Mrs. Roller Shipplett Mr. Henry Simpson, III Mr. and Mrs. James Small Col. Hugh B. Sproul, III Jeff and Elizabeth Paradis Stern Mr. and Mrs. Craig Stevens Stevens and Barchas Ms. Nancy Stevenson Mr. and Mrs. Steve Talley Mr. and Mrs. Ray Thomas Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Steuart Thomas, III Mr. Joel Thompson Mr. and Mrs. John Thornton Ms. Eudora E. Thorpe and Mr. John Rice Mr. and Mrs. Wayt Timberlake III Mr. William Trenary, III Ms. Judith R. Trumbo Mr. and Mrs. Wick Vellines Mr. William Veno and Ms. Aubyn Barstrom Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Warner Ms. Ann Weiland Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Westfall Mrs. Ralph Wiegandt
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Wiggins Mr. and Mrs. Alec Wilder Mr. and Mrs. William Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Wise Mr. and Mrs. Jeb Wofford Mr. and Mrs. Bill Woodwell Ms. Laura Yordy and Mr. Eric Thies
VALLEY EXPLORER GE Foundation Picadillys Public House and Resturant Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Agelasto, III Ms. Lee Ann Beam Mr. Thomas Beam Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bell Ms. Nancy Bourne Dr.and Mrs. William Branscome Ms. Barbara Brothers Ms. Judy Burtner Mr. and Mrs. Bill Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Brownie Carson Mr. and Mrs. Theodore F.M. Cathey Mrs. Pat Churchman Ms. Sarah Clayton Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Cohen Ms. Mary Hill Cole Ms. Joan Comanor Dr. and Mrs. James Cooke, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David Cooper Mr. Philip Coulling and Ms. Sandra Hayslette Mr. George A. Coyner, II Mr. and Mrs. Harry Crosby Ms. Margaret W. Crosson Ms. Peggy C. Davis Mr. Louis Dolive and Ms. Ruth Arnold Mr. Robert Driver Mr. & Mrs. Walter Eyles Dr. Denis Finnegan Mr. Walter Flora Mr. Thomas Gilmore Mr. Warren D. Golightly Mr. and Mrs. William Greenleaf
Mr. and Mrs. John Harralson Mr. Donald J. Hasfurther Mr. Roger Holnback Mr. Nelson Hoy and Ms. Elizabeth Biggs Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Humphris, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Huppuch Mr. Philip Hyre and Ms. Daphne Raz Mrs. Nancy Lu Irvine Mr. Tom Joyce Mr. Timothy Keefer Mr. George Kegley Ms. Diane L. Kent Ms. Becky Kohler Ms. Corinne Landrum Reverend and Mrs. John D. Lane Dr. and Mrs. Eric Laser Dr. Swen Laser Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lehnen Ms. Carole Lewis Anderson Mr. Seth Liskey Ms. Sandy Long Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lumadue Ms. Michael Anne Lynn Ms. Laura McMillan Ms. Ann D. McMillan Mr. and Mrs. Gee McVey Mr. and Mrs. Dave Metz Howard and Beverly Miller Mr. David Mims Ms. Betty Mitchell Mr. and Mrs. J. Ross Newell, III Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nutt Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Obenshain Ms. Bonnie J. Painter Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Paxton, Jr. Rev. Wayne and Dr. Ramona Pence Mr. and Mrs. David Peters Mr. Arne M. Peterson Mr. and Mrs. David Phemister Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Phillips Dr. and Mrs. Marc Read Mr. John Reeves Ms. Grace A. Rice
Mr. and Mrs. Rodger Rinehart Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Rohrback Mr. Richard W. Roller Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Ruth Ms. Peyton Schreiber Mr. and Mrs. Erik J. Schwendeman Mr. and Mrs. Eric Sheffield Midmeadow Farm Shreckhise Shrubbery Sales & Landscaping Mr. and Mrs. David Shue Jason and Natasha Skelton Ms. Kristen Smith Mr. and Mrs. Tom Smith Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith Ms. Alexia Smith Mr. and Mrs. Randy Sorrells Ms. Susan Sticker Mr. and Mrs. Walker Stuart Mr. R. Noland Suter Mr. Colin Thomas, Jr. Ms. Laura Thurman Mrs. Doris True Mr. C.C. Tutwiler Travis and Dorothy Tysinger Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Waldon Mr. William B. Watson Mr. Chris Wise and Ms. Laura Neale Mrs. Bill Witt
EVENT SPONSORS ALTENERGY INC - Shenandoah BotkinRose PLC Conservation Partners, LLC Devils Backbone Brewing Company Flora Pettit Attorneys at Law J. E. Brown Realty Kjellstrom and Lee Construction Myers and Woods Appraisal Group Inc. Renaissance Stone Masonry Roanoke Cement Shenandoah Valley Kiwanis Club Timberlake, Smith, Thomas & Moses, P.C.
Virginia Conservation Credit Exchange WildGUYde
IN-KIND SPONSORSHIP Fort Lewis Lodge and Farm Rockbridge Vineyards Southard Audio
GRANTS Agua Fund, Inc. Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Department of Environmental Quality
EASEMENT DONORS Anonymous Anonymous D. Lee and Patricia Simmons
2019-2020 VOLUNTEERS Mark Battin Jeremy Bender Steve Clinton Faye Cooper Tyrone Covington Abbie Cutter David and Cindy Fuller Genevieve Goss John Goss Kelli Iddings Scott Kelly Brenda Mead Alex Moore Daniel Naff Charlie and Kate Nesmith Shannon O’Grady Tom and Sally Parsons Natasha Skelton Alisande Tombarge Katie Wallace
Thoughtful donor support allows VCC to advance its important mission for our region. Please consider a gift at any level to continue our land conservation efforts for generations to come. You can mail a contribution in the enclosed envelope, donate online at valleyconservation.org, or contact a staff or Board member at any time to discuss individual opportunities for giving. Your contributions allow VCC to: n
Uphold land trust accreditation standards Help landowners voluntarily conserve their farmland, forests, and open spaces n Assist farmers with implementing sustainable land use practices n Educate Valley residents of all ages on the benefits of land conservation and environmental protection n Encourage localities and citizens to promote land use that respects our region’s landscapes, abundant natural resources, and vibrant communities. n
Thank you! The Valley Conservation Council appreciates the contributions of each one of our donors. We have made every effort to make this list complete and accurate. If you notice a mistake or an omission, please accept our apologies and call us at 540.886.3541.
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VCC is an accredited land trust in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. We help landowners conserve our region’s finite natural resources. We are succeeding and celebrating
FREDERICK
the achievements of three decades of progress. Make a lasting impact to continue WINCHESTER
our conservation mission by visiting valleyconservation.org.
WARREN SHENANDOAH
PAGE ROCKINGHAM
HARRISONBURG
HIGHLAND AUGUSTA STAUNTON WAYNESBORO
BATH
ROCKBRIDGE ALLEGHANY COVINGTON
LEXINGTON
VCC Service Area
BUENA VISTA
BOTETOURT
Protecting America’s Legendary Shenandoah Valley valleyconservation.org