Charlotte County’s Barrons recognized for exemplary conservation practices
Published 6:56 am Tuesday, January 5, 2016
In Charlotte County, Lorrie and David Barron have expanded their farm beyond the traditional tobacco-growing operation typical of the region. They’re growing blackberries using innovative irrigation methods and benefitting native pollinators in the process.
In Louisa County, Albert McGhee Jr. has invested significant time and money on a centuries-old family farm to ensure his livestock have minimal impact on nearby creeks and streams.
And on the Eastern Shore, Steve Sturgis is using precision technologies to apply soil amendments in just the right amounts, reducing the risk of over application that could affect the many nearby streams and creeks that drain to the Chesapeake Bay.
These farmers are among the 10 recognized this week with a Virginia Clean Water Farm Grand Basin Award. The awards are given each year to farmers or farm owners who are doing their part to protect soil and water resources. One winner is selected from each of Virginia’s 10 major river basins.
The program is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation in partnership with Virginia’s 47 soil and water conservation districts. The awards were presented Dec. 7 during the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts annual meeting in Richmond.
“These farms represent the best in conservation farming in Virginia,” said DCR Director Clyde Cristman. “By voluntarily implementing practices such as stream fencing, cover crops, riparian buffers, nutrient management plans and more, these producers are not only improving conditions on their properties, but they’re also improving conditions for people who live downstream.”
1. Roanoke River Basin
David and Lorrie Barron
Poplar Grove and Wildwood Berries and Produce, Charlotte County
Nominated by the Southside Soil and Water
Conservation District
2. Chowan River Basin
Jeff and Liz Parrish
W.J. Farms, Lunenburg County
Nominated by the Southside Soil and Water
Conservation District
3. Big Sandy-Upper Tennessee River Basin
Justin and Lori McClellan
Meadowbrook Farm, Smyth County
Nominated by the Evergreen Soil and Water
Conservation District
4. Coastal Basin
Steve W. Sturgis
Tri-S Farms, Northampton County
Nominated by the Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District
5. James River Basin
Robert “Bobby” M. Jones
Poor House Dairy, Prince Edward County
Nominated by the Piedmont Soil and Water
Conservation District
6. New River Basin
Matthew, Chase and Don Heldreth
Heldreth Farm, Wythe County
Nominated by the Big Walker Soil and Water
Conservation District
7. Potomac River Basin
Vince and Sharon DiRenzo
North Fork Fields, Loudoun County
Nominated by the Loudoun Soil and Water
Conservation District
8. Rappahannock River Basin
Dr. Robert D. Wilbanks
Wilbanks Farm, Orange County
Nominated by the Culpeper Soil and Water
Conservation District
9. Shenandoah River Basin
James and Amanda Holsinger
Holsinger Homeplace Farms, Rockingham County
Nominated by the Shenandoah Soil and Water
Conservation District
10. York River Basin
Albert J. McGhee Jr.
Vivian Scott Richardson Sr. Memorial Farm, Louisa