Over 55 students from Chesterfield, Nottoway and Amelia High Schools participated in the Piedmont SWCD’s tour of Waverly Farm in Nottoway County on April 11, 2011. The students cycled through four different stations manned by natural resources professionals. Students were especially enthusiastic about seeing lamas and goats, participating in on-site conservation planning, and sharing lunch by the Waverly Farm pond. Waverly Farm owners and managers Patti and Stuart Rosenberg (right) are pictured here with the Conservation Friendly Farmer sign they were presented by Charlie Wootton (left) in the Fall of 2010 for the completion of many conservation practices on their farm.
An election of directors for the Piedmont SWCD will be held in the general election on November 8, 2011. The Piedmont SWCD encompasses the counties of Amelia, Nottoway and Prince Edward. Candidates for elected directors must reside within the boundaries of these three counties. Two directors will be elected to represent all citizens within each county.
Persons who wish to file the requisite nominating petition, statement of qualification, and declaration of candidacy with the general registrar must do so by August 23, 2011. For details visit www.sbe.virginia.gov.
Congratulations to Nottoway High School’s FFA Envirothon Team who will represent the Piedmont District in the State Envirothon on May 22-23 at Camp Hanover in Mechanicsville, Virginia. At the Area V competition on April 14th the team won first place overall, and first place in the wildlife and special topics oral presentation categories. This year’s special topic was “Saltwater and Freshwater Estuaries.” Team members from left to right – J.J. Fitzgerald & Nolan Powell (alternates), Mitch Wallace, Maggie Shepherd, Michael Bingham, Ashton Paul and Casey Lewis.
Hannah Roldan of Prince Edward County was the grand winner of the 2011 Piedmont SWCD poster contest. Hannah is a student in Ms. Joy Utzinger’s art class in Prince Edward County Primary School. The nine year old artist received a gift certificate for $25.00. Ms. Emily Gresham, Education Curator at the Longwood Center for Visual Arts (LCVA) in Farmville, VA judged the contest. Hannah’s poster will be display at the LCVA during the month of June.
Wilkie Chaffin presented Larkin Moyer the Virginia Association of Conservation District’s 15 years of service pin at the Board of Directors meeting on April 26, 2011. Mr. Moyer was recognized for his valuable service to the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District at the 72nd Virginia Association of Conservation Districts’ Annual Meeting held on December 5-7 in Roanoke, Virginia. Mr. Moyer represents Amelia County citizens and actively participates in District affairs. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board. A dairy farmer for nearly forty years, Moyer earned a B.S. degree in Dairy Science at Virginia Tech. Moyer’s grandfather, Charles Moyer, was on the Piedmont District’s board when it first formed and served as chairman for many years.
Chairman, Michael Russell, was recognized for his 15 years of service on the Robert E. Lee Soil & Water Conservation District Board at the 72nd Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation District’s Annual Meeting held on Dec. 5-7 2010 in Roanoke, VA.
On the morning of March 23rd, District Manager Deanna Fehrer gave the signal for the four teams competiting at the Local Envirothon to begin the first of five tests of their environmental understanding. The Local Envirothon competition, held at beautiful Twin Lakes State Park Cedar Crest Conference Center, determines which team will represent the Piedmont SWCD at the Area V competition.
“Forests for People: More Than You Can Imagine”
The Piedmont SWCD will be celebrating the National Association of Conservation Districts’ Stewardship Week from April 24 to May 1. An important part of the celebration is the annual poster contest. This year’s theme is “Forests for People:More Than You Can Imagine”. Enter the Piedmont SWCD’s poster contest to show how you much you appreciate the many contributions of the forest: protecting our air, bolstering the economy, absorbing carbon from the air and providing recreation opportunities. If chosen at the local level, your poster will be on display at the Longwood Center for Visual Arts in Farmville, Virginia and could continue on to the State and National Level! For poster contest rules and information contact the Piedmont SWCD at 434.392-3782 ext 131 or email piedmont@moonstar.com
Piedmont SWCD Director Dr. Wilkie Chaffin, center in the above picture with his wife Dora and Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Department of Soil and Water Conservation Jack Frye, is in his tenth year as an officer of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) and just completed a two-year term as president at their annual meeting in Roanoke, Virginia December 5-7.
At the VASWCD awards luncheon Dr. Chaffin and his wife Dora presented cash awards to three outstanding conservation district employees. “Having worked closely with district employees for many years, I am always impressed with their level of commitment” Dr. Chaffin stated. “In 2002, Dora and I recommended the establishment of employee awards, and offered to provide funding for these awards. The VASWCD Board endorsed this offer and approved a set of awards to be called the Chaffin Soil and Water Conservation District Employees of the Year awards.”
The couple was recognized at the VASWCD awards luncheon for their lifetime gift to the Educational Foundation of the VASWCD at the Gold Member level, and for their pledge to meet the Platinum Level. This is the only lifetime pledge of at least $10,000 ever received by the Foundation.
The Piedmont SWCD conducted a training session for approximately 20 students interested in competing in the Canon Envirothion this year. The Local Piedmont District Envirothon is scheduled for March 24th at Twin Lakes State Park, Ceder Crest Conference Center. The winner of this competition will compete at the Area V Envirothon scheduled for April 14th at the Holiday Lake 4H Center. Piedmont SWCD and Peter Francisco SWCDs are coordinating the Area V event. The State Envirothon is scheduled for May 22-23 at Camp Hanover near Mechanicsville, Virginia. Good luck to all of the competitors!
Amelia, Nottoway and Prince Edward County producers met for supper and conservation program updates at the Southern Piedmont Research Station February1.
Uncategorized | admin May 16, 2011 | 
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