Every year, Virginia Conservation Network staff visit a new region of Virginia for a staff retreat. While bonding and relaxing in a beautiful area of Virginia is certainly a highlight, we visit these regions intentionally to learn about the area’s local environmental issues and to connect with regional partners on their turf.

Following on the heels of wonderful visits to Southwest Virginia (Abingdon) and the Eastern Shore in the past two years, VCN staff headed to Shenandoah County to take in the beautiful views and meet with local Partners, including the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, and the Spotswood Garden Club. See the fun (and learning experiences!) below.

Our first stop was at the Whiskey Creek Angus Farm in Augusta County, where Jeanne Hoffman and Bobby Whitescarver highlighted agricultural best management practices (BMPs) they have implemented through the Virginia Agricultural Cost Share Program (VACS) – a program that VCN advocates for every year so that farmers can install farming BMPs to improve water quality and deliver economic benefits to local agrarian communities.

Whiskey Creek Angus Farm’s best management practices from VACS include streamside cattle exclusion fencing and alternative drinking water sources to keep livestock, and their associated pollutants, out of streams. Bobby Whitescarver also showed us his riparian tree plantings which serve as a buffer to prevent nutrient pollution and sediment runoff. Not only will the tree planting along creeks and hillsides improve water quality, but will also beautify the farm and provide additional wildlife habitat and shading for the cows.

While it was exciting to see VACS in action, the highlight for staff may have been the baby calves on the property. After Jeanne gave a quick demonstration on how to help birth calves using our own Wyatt Gordon as a model, we had to head out to allow Bobby time to round up a freshly born calf.

Utility-scale solar facilities can sometimes draw backlash from the local and conservation communities when best management practices are not considered. VCN viewed one site where the land was leveled to make solar development easier. This resulted in heavy soil erosion and runoff, which choked local creeks with polluting sediment. Industrial infrastructure and fencing were in plain view. Native trees and vegetation were completely removed and will become shielded in time by a monoculture of non-native tree seedlings.

Just down the road, a new solar development exemplified how thoughtful utility-scale solar can benefit a community. The developers and owner on this farm work collaboratively to preserve the landscape and to ensure minimal soil disturbances so that any runoff from construction is mitigated through simple and existing soil management practices and additional BMPs. The solar panels molded to the rolling landscape, and the fencing mirrored the agricultural fencing used in the area so that the solar facility did not conflict with the community’s rural character. The project was designed to allow small wildlife to move through the fencing and will eventually house sheep that will graze and maintain the solar site, allowing the site to still offer agricultural services while simultaneously powering 2,200 homes in the area.

The new Seven Bends State Park in Shenandoah County features boat launches, picnic areas, and 8 miles of hiking trails. VCN kayaked a 4-mile stretch of the North Fork Shenandoah River with the Potomac Riverkeeper Network. It was a beautiful day to enjoy a stretch of Scenic River – a designation VCN worked to pass this past General Assembly session. While a beautiful paddle in April, the Riverkeeper reminded us that this portion of the river is also prone to algae blooms in the summer due to runoff – reminding us why the BMPs we saw at the Whitescarver farm are so critical. 

With the Potomac Riverkeeper Network’s Earth Day River Cleanup coming up, VCN pitched in to clear litter on the river before volunteers clear tires and other debris for Earth Day.

A visit to Shenandoah County wouldn’t be complete without an awe-inspiring vista view. After driving through the twists and turns that make you understand why the local state park is called “Seven Bends,” VCN hiked the short Eagles Edge Trail to reach the Woodstock Tower, which offered a beautiful view of the mountains, the Shenandoah River, and general beauty of the area.

While in the area, we couldn’t pass up the chance to see our Partners at the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley’s beautiful new office in New Market and enjoy the Spotswood Garden Club’s 90th Historic Garden Week Tour in Harrisonburg. ​​Our lodging also happened to be located right next to the Shenandoah Rail Trail, an upcoming project that will transform an unused railroad line into a multi-use, 50-mile, multi-use trail re-connecting communities, businesses, schools, and resources.

In between these visits and field trips, staff still found time for spontaneity. Unplanned pit stops included sampling potato chips at the local Route 11 chip factory, browsing antiques at the local flea market, and even posing for pictures at the local “American Celebration” parade and float museum conveniently located behind our AirBnB.