AREA VI REPORTPY18 Quarter1 – VASWCD Quarterly Board Meeting – September 20, 2017

AREA VI South Eastern Virginia

Appomattox River (Petersburg and Dinwiddie)

Chowan Basin (Greenville and Sussex)

Eastern Shore

James River (Prince George and Chesterfield)

Peanut (Isle of Wight, Surry, and Suffolk)

Virginia Dare (Chesapeake and Virginia

2017 Youth Conservation Camp Counselors

Appomattox River: Appomattox River SWCD participated at their local

county fair, and hosted a farmer’s cookout. Appomattox River hosted their annual cost share roll

out. They are also hosting their Farm Day on October 5th.

Chowan Basin: Chowan Basin SWCD staff has been busy finalizing

Program Year 2017 and working on Program Year 2018 cost share sign up and data entry into the tracking program.

Chowan Basin SWCD had a booth at the Southampton County Fair where we shared information about the cost share program and the educational programs we offer.

Jennifer Coker has been working with the schools trying to get into the classrooms to do presentations with the classes and is hoping to have students participate in the Poster Contest. Greensville County Farm Day is well under way and will be held on October 13, 2017.

James River Brianna Morring was a counselor at this year’s YCC. James River’s Farmers Cookout was a success with

over 50 local producers in attendance. Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates performed their

two-year audit on August 31st.

Peanut Peanut SWCD held their annual Cost Share roll out

program and awards banquet in July with about 100 producers.

Cost Share sign has been going on and keeping us busy.

Staff is working on Isle of Wight County Fair September 14-17.  Suffolk Farm Day is October 11-12. 

Virginia Dare

JAMES RIVER SWCD SWCD REPORT

STAFF TURNOVER: JAMES RIVER HAS A NEW DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR AND EDUCATION DIRECTOR

RAIN BARREL WORKSHOPS

This spring JRSWCD, in conjunction with Chesterfield County Environmental Engineering (CEE) hosted two Rain Barrel Workshops. The workshops were led by Lorne Field from CEE, and combined water conservation education and a family fun activity. Approximatly 80 rain barrels were sold from the two workshops in May and June.

YOUTH CONSERVATION CAMP

Brianna Morring, our new District Administrator had the oppurtunity to be a counselor at this years Youth Conservation Camp .“It was a great oppurtunity to meet other SWCD employees, and interact with kids who have the same passion for conservation that I did at that age.”- Brianna Morring

FARMERS COOKOUT

James River SWCD hosted their annual Farmers Cookout at the Scott Memorial Park Pavilion on August 17th. Around 50 local producers came out to enjoy the festivities, and updates from JRSWCD, NRCS, and VCE. Our guest speaker was Dr. Glenn Chappell, II. He gave a very interesting overview of his research on the potential of Buckwheat as an alternative crop.

GRAVES, BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, AND AUDIT

Graves: Both Glenn Chappell, III, and Brianna Morring attended the Graves Mountain Training hosted by VACDE.

EVENTS:May:

New District Administrator

June: Rain Barrel Workshop

July: Youth Conservation Camp

August: Farmers Cookout VACDE Training Graves Back to School Fair

Glenn Chappell, III (JRSWCD), Carey Allen (JRSWCD Director), and Art Kirkby (DCR) at the 2017 Farmers Cookout

Brianna Morring, graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies. She went on to become the Education Intern for Tri-County/City SWCD, and while there learned many of the unique facets of working for a SWCD. She started with James River SWCD on May 15th of this

School Fair: Brianna Morring hosted a booth at Prince George County’s Back to School Fair, where hundreds of kids picked up supplies.

JRSWCD Audit for FY16-17: JRSWCD was Audited on 8/31 by Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates.