saving land in western virginia winter 2012-2013

westernvirginialandtrust.org

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2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 A n n u a l R e p o r tL a n d + L i n k P h o t o g r a p h y C o m p e t i t i o nG i b s o n s S a v e L a n d f o r G r a n d c h i l d r e nL a n d Tr u s t H o s t s “ B a y D a y ”“ T h e G r e a t Wo r k o f O u r A g e ” - C o m m e n t a r y b y L i z a F i e l d

W I n t e r 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3

Saving Land

2 Winter 2012

The sun is approximately 93 million miles away from the earth, but the extra 3,000 feet of altitude in Salt Lake City made it feel like we were on the planet Mercury.

It was dry.

Salt Lake City averages about 16.5 inches of rainfall a year. The Roanoke region averages about 43.

There was no shade.

Believe me, a dried up, solitary cottonwood is no match for a majestic, spreading oak tree when it comes to shade.

But we loved it. The land trust’s project manager, Diana Hackenburg, one of our trustees, Janet Scheid, and I had a wonderful learning experience at the Land Trust Alliance’s Rally in Utah last month. Rally is the national land conservation conference, held annually at various locales around the country. This year’s conference brought together around 1,600 conservationists to learn the latest trends in land conservation, to share experiences, successes and horror stories, to make new friends and greet old ones, and above all, to know we’re not alone.

It turns out that a tiny land trust in New Mexico is struggling for funding in this tough economy, too. And what do you know—a land trust in Maine conserved a major source of drinking water for its community, just like our land trust did at Carvins Cove. They scratch their heads over how to monitor thousands of acres of land with a handful of volunteers just like we do. But they get it done—just like your local land trust does.

No, we’re not alone. Every day, thousands of people come to work with the goal of helping the communities they love preserve the landscapes and special places that made them fall in love in the first place. Every day, thousands of people just like Diana and I are on the phone with landowners, exchanging e-mails with lawyers, bushwhacking through the understory looking for an old fence line, or talking with schoolchildren about land and why it’s more than dirt.

During our four days in the Utah desert (okay, most of it was spent inside an air-conditioned hotel or conference center), we learned an awful lot, and we’ve brought that back to Virginia to help make your local land trust more vibrant, stronger and more effective.

And that means more of this beautiful Blue Ridge countryside forever protected for the benefit of our children and theirs.

So thank you, Salt Lake City. We’ll see you all again next year—in the Big Easy!

David Perry

Western Virginia Land Trust

Promoting the conservation of western Virginia’s natural

resources – farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes.

722 First St., SW, Suite LRoanoke, VA 24016-4120Phone/fax (540) 985-0000

www.westernvirginialandtrust.org

Board of TrusteesSandy Light, President

Stephen M. Claytor, Vice PresidentF. Fulton Galer, Treasurer

Whitney H. Feldmann, Secretary

M. Rupert Cutler Lynn M. DavisLucy R. Ellett

Peter M. FellersBroaddus C. Fitzpatrick

Robert H. HuntGeorge A. KegleySamuel B. Long

J.W. “Bill” Mason David N. MaxsonJohn H. Parrott, Jr.

Linda W. PharisJanet Scheid

James M. Turner, Jr.

Advisory CouncilLiza T. Field

William M. HackworthTalfourd H. Kemper

Robert B. Lambeth, Jr.Barbara B. Lemon

Stephen W. LemonJeanne M. Martin

John B. Williamson, III

Staff

David C. Perry Executive Director

Diana M. HackenburgProject Manager Cover Photo: Land+Link Photography Competition First Place Winner

“Redbud Heart” by Jess Lloyd of Blacksburg.

From the Director’s Desk

It was hot.

Winter 2012 3

The Western Virginia Land Trust’s days are numbered!

That’s right—when you read the next issue of Saving Land, it will be from the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, the new name the Board of Trustees has chosen for the organization.

Why the change? A number of reasons. First, we no longer cover Western Virginia in the same way we did when

we served 23 counties all the way to the Kentucky and Tennessee borders. Our service area is much more focused on the Roanoke region, consisting of Roanoke County and the six counties that border it, as well as the cities of Roanoke, Salem and Bedford. So we needed a name that spoke to this region’s identity better than the old name did.

Second, the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is embarking on a multi-million dollar campaign to brand our region—from Lexington to Blacksburg and all points in between—as “Virginia’s Blue Ridge,” and we knew the timing of their announcement was more than coincidence.

Third, we needed a name that evoked a passion for the work that we do, and nothing stirs up images of mist-covered blue-green hills, quiet country farms and clean-flowing streams like the name “Blue Ridge.” Fourth was the change from “Land Trust” to “Conservancy.” For too many, “land trust” meant a bank or financial institution, while “conservancy” harkens to an organization that is protecting nature and the great outdoors.

And lastly, we’ll no longer be confused with our neighbors at the West Virginia Land Trust, who do great work in the Mountaineer State but don’t have much of a presence in the Commonwealth! We hope you’ll agree our decision to “re-brand” ourselves was a wise one, and one that will result in more interest in land conservation and more of our beautiful Virginia countryside protected in perpetuity.

On behalf of the natural treasures of the Blue Ridge, I wish you a joyous—and scenic—holiday season.

President’s Point of View

Feature 6 - 13 2011-2012 Annual Report

Departments 2 From the Directors Desk 3 President’s Point of View 4 News & Events 14 People & Places 16 Celebration 2012 Recap

Table of Contents Winter 2012 - 2013

“Through the Looking Glass” by Ricardo Valdivieso of Boones Mill – a finalist in the 2012 Land+Link photo competition.

Sandy Light

4 Winter 2012

Tis the season for giving! There are many ways to support the land trust this holiday season:

• Makeyouramazon.compurchasesusingthelinkonthe front page of westernvirginialandtrust.org and the land trust receives a small commission on each purchase – at no cost to you.

• Makeadonation to the land trust inhonorofyourfamily and friends this season. They’ll receive a special card announcing the gift as well as a year’s worth of our Saving Land in Western Virginia magazine.

• Alandtrust-affiliatedKrogergiftcardmakesauniquepresent for the hard-to-shop-for recipients on your list. Each time they refill the card, WVLT receives a small commission at no cost to the cardholder.

• Consideralargergiftofappreciatedstock,realestate,or used vehicles.

• Help us by donating the little things that keep usrunning. Currently, we are in need of: carpet, copy paper, gas cards, and grocery store gift cards

When most of us hear the word “classroom,” we envision a room with four walls, a blackboard, and desks neatly tucked into rows. This description did not hold true during October for Botetourt County fourth graders as they literally traveled out of the classroom and into the creek – Looney Creek that is.

On October 16th and 2 3 r d , t h e We s t e r n

Virginia Land Trust brought these students to the Preece property near Buchanan to experience firsthand their connection to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Funds for the trips were provided by a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund through the sale of Chesapeake Bay license plates.

Looney Creek, which meanders through the Preece property, flows into the James River near the town of Buchanan. The James River then flows eastward across Virginia, emptying into the Chesapeake Bay at Hampton Roads. Commonly, students here at the headwaters do not realize the important

role their communities play in the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The land trust worked with local organizations to create five distinct activity stations related to the Chesapeake Bay. Students rotated throughout the stations, hearing from experts in each field of study and completing hands-on activities to increase their understanding of the various ecosystem components.

The partner organizations and their respective activities were Clean Valley Council doing a stream school to analyze the water quality of Looney Creek; Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District and the Western Virginia Water Authority using the Enviroscape Model to teach about watersheds, Camp Bethel with soils and soil erosion, the Virginia Department of Forestry talking about the importance of forests, and Claytor Nature Study Center and the Virginia Cooperative Extension Agency teaching about animal adaptations.

To learn more about Bay Day and to view photos from the trips, visit www.westernvirginialandtrust.org/news_events/bayday.

Give this season to WVLT

Botetourt Fourth Graders Discover the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

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Students dressed like beavers to learn about their many adaptations.

Winter 2012 5

It’s time to voice your opinion to determine this year’s People’s Choice Award. Visit www.westernvirginialandtrust.org/photo to

choose your favorite of the finalist photos. Voting ends December 4th and the winner will be announced at the December 5th closing reception.

Vote for the People’s Choice Award

Over 30 participants wowed us with their interpretations on the theme of “Nature’s Gift” in this year’s

Land+Link Photo Competition.

Our celebrity judges - Pete Eshelman, Director of Outdoor Branding for the Roanoke Regional Partnership; Nancy Gray, President of Hollins University; Mark Taylor, Outdoor Editor of The Roanoke Times - had the difficult task of sorting through the submissions and choosing the best of the best. After much deliberation, “Redbud Heart” by Jess Lloyd of Blacksburg was chosen as this year’s winning photo and it appears on the cover of this issue of Saving Land. The judges also named “Golden Sunshine” by Alyssa Bennett of Roanoke the winner of the Young Photographer’s division.

The winning photos and finalists will be displayed at the O. Winston Link Museum through December 5th. Also, from now until December 4th, we encourage everyone to visit www.westernvirginialandtrust.org/photo to help pick the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

The exhibition will end on December 5th with a free, open-to-the-public closing reception from 6-8pm at the Link. We invite everyone to attend the reception and bid on the finalist’s photos in a silent auction to benefit the land trust and Link Museum.

Land+Link Photo Competition and Exhibition

Winter 2012 5

Open Division Third Place – “Foggy February Morning on the Farm”

Young Photographer’s Division First Place – “Golden Sunshine”by Alyssa Bennett of Roanoke

Open Division Second Place – “Nature’s Cotton Candy”by Connie Pruitt of Axton

by Sherri Quick of Bedford

6 Winter 2012

Carly Simon sang “these are the good old days,” and we agree.

We mean it. The economy is rocky, business is slow, and too many folks are unemployed, but your local land trust had one of its best years in 2011-12. To quote another famous person, US Admiral David Farragut, the year’s theme could have been “Damn the torpedoes—full speed ahead!”

The fall started with yet another fantastic Conservation Celebration, where we honored two of Roanoke’s finest, George and Louise Kegley, with the Vic Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award. At the same time, we held our first photography competition in conjunction with the O. Winston Link Museum, titled appropriately “Land+Link.” Our top-notch judges (Hollins University President Nancy Gray, Roanoke Times outdoors editor Mark Taylor, and Roanoke Outside’s Pete Eshelman) selected a fine group of finalists and overall winners. These prints were then auctioned off at the Conservation Celebration as fundraiser for both the land trust and the Link Museum.

As winter turned into spring, the land trust lost one of its long-time stalwarts—lost him to the golf course, that is. Executive Director Roger Holnback retired after 11 years with the trust and was sent off with a party at Sandy Light’s home and a pair of Gore-Tex hiking boots after more than a decade of wet feet. Assistant Director David Perry stepped forward to assume Roger’s role, and was soon followed by Diana Hackenburg, WVLT’s new project manager and a product of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.

Diana got right to work on two of the land trust’s projects, the new garden club initiative and the annual Race for Open Space. The garden club, which graced the cover of the fall issue of Saving Land, taught nearly 30 children at Roanoke’s Grandin Court Elementary School the connection between the farm and the food on their tables. It was such a success that the land trust is planning on expanding it to more schools in the spring of 2013. Meanwhile, June’s Race for Open Space drew around

150 runners, featured a new 5K Classic, and raised about $4,500 for the land trust’s outreach and stewardship programs.

And to wrap up the year, more than 5,000 acres of land were permanently protected with conservation easements in the WVLT service area. To give you an idea of how much land that is, picture yourself walking across a football field from the back of one end zone to the other. Now repeat that 4,999 more times. That, my friend, is a lot of land.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the generous financial support from the community. Thanks to YOU—the person who realizes how important protecting our environment for tomorrow’s generation is—we’re able to carry out our mission and keep the lights on at the same time. Let’s say that again—thanks to YOU—our donors, our volunteers, our wonderful board, and our partners, the landowners who have voluntarily placed conservation easements on their land—the Western Virginia Land Trust can call 2011-12 a successful year.

One more quote, this time from Janet Jackson: “What have you done for me lately?” That’s right—the work doesn’t stop, and neither do we. We’re only as good as the work we accomplish today. Check back next year for even more good news.

On behalf of our region’s irreplaceable forests, farms, streams and mountaintops,

2011-12 Annual Report - Western Virginia Land TrustLetter from the President and Executive Director

David Perry Executive Director

Sandy Light President

WESTERN VIRGINIA LAND TRUST 2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Winter 2012 7

• Anadditional5,000acresoflandwereprotectedinthe Western Virginia Land Trust’s service area. This is approximately the same area as 5,000 football fields—quite an accomplishment!

• TheWesternVirginiaLandTrustBoardofTrusteesvoted to change the organization’s service area by focusing more intensely on the Roanoke area and surrounding counties. Other local land trusts and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation will focus on three counties to which WVLT will devote fewer resources.

• ThelandtrusthonoredGeorgeandLouiseKegleyofRoanoke with its annual A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award at the Conservation Celebration in Roanoke County in September. George and Louise permanently protected their historic Monterey Farm with a conservation easement in 2007 and have been tireless advocates and supporters of the land trust. The Conservation Celebration, which featured a gourmet local foods dinner, bluegrass music, local beer, wine and cider, and a silent auction, raised nearly $30,000 for WVLT’s land preservation efforts.

• Inthefall,WVLTandtheO.WinstonLinkMuseumheld their first joint project, the Land+Link photography competition. More than 100 photos were entered. Two dozen finalists were selected along with three overall winners, while the public voted on a People’s Choice winner at a reception in September. The winning photographs graced the front and back covers of the winter 2011-12 edition of Saving Land.

• InMay,WVLTpresentedourcontinuingeducationprogram entitled, “Conservation Easements: A Changing Landscape” to a live audience at the Roanoke Higher Education Center and as a webcast. Land conservation professionals including Fulton Galer, David Hurt, Robert Lambeth, Stephen Lemon, Sam Long, and Dave Perry presented on the ins and outs of conservation easements.

• WVLTboardmember and former president JanetScheid was selected as the Roanoke finalist in the Virginia’s Cox Conserves Heroes Program. Created in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, Cox Conserves Heroes recognizes local environmental volunteers and makes donations to local environmental nonprofits on their behalf. Janet graciously chose the Western Virginia Land Trust as the recipient of her $2,500 award.

• FormerAssistantDirectorDavid Perrywasnameddirector in March after the retirement of long-time Executive Director Roger Holnback. Perry had been with the land trust for about five-and-a-half years prior to stepping up to the top spot. Diana Hackenburg joined the staff in April as the new project manager. An Ohio native, Diana holds degrees from Marietta College and Indiana University.

• ThesecondpotluckdinnerforWVLTmemberstookplace in March at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Roanoke. The program by Jonna McGraw was about a coffee growing initiative in Rwanda that helped settle the tragic genocide in that country.

• WVLTheldthefourthannualRaceforOpenSpacein June. New this year was a 5K Classic in addition to the popular 3K run/walk. Around 150 people participated in the event along the Roanoke River in Roanoke County’s Green Hill Park and the event raised more than $4,500 for the land trust.

• Newtrusteesjoinedthelandtrust’sboard,includingPete Fellers, a farmer from Bedford County, Broaddus Fitzpatrick, a retired attorney from Roanoke, David Maxson of Roanoke County, formerly in development, Bill Mason, who works in HVAC sales and lives in Roanoke, and John Parrott, a vice president with Rutherfoord.

Highlights from 2011 - 2012

George and Louise Kegley accept the A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award.

Cox Conserves Heroes Finalist Janet Scheid (third from left) poses with WVLT Trustees and Staff.


8 Winter 2012 8 Fall 2012

Goals for 2012 - 2013

The land trust’s top goal in the 2012-13 fiscal year will be to produce a new strategic plan that charts a bold

course for the organization. Utilizing input from each of the land trust’s working committees, the plan will focus on:

• Broadercommunityawarenessthroughtherolloutofthe organization’s new name in 2013 and new outreach efforts such as a film and discussion series;

• Expandededucationaleffortsthroughprogramslikethe garden club and Bay Day-type experiences;

• Evaluation of special events to ensure appropriatereturn on investment and attainment of goals;

• Developing a strategic land conservation plan toprioritize where the land trust will focus its efforts to address the region’s conservation needs;

• Increasedfundraising,bothforoperationalexpensesand for the land trust’s stewardship fund at the Foundation for Roanoke Valley;

• Increased interactionwith government officials asconservation programs receive scrutiny during tight budget times at the state and federal levels;

• Makingperiodicchecksofthelandtrust’sreadinessfor reaccreditation with the Land Trust Alliance in 2016;

• And developing community partnerships bynetworking with community leaders in the land trust’s service area, participation in service and civic clubs by staff, and working with local citizens to identify their own local conservation priorities.

The Western Virginia Land Trust is also proud to announce it will host the 2013 VaULT (Virginia’s United Land Trusts) conference at the Hotel Roanoke in April of 2013.


2011-2012 Giving ListThe following individuals, families, companies, and foundations donated to the Western Virginia Land Trust in

the fiscal year 2011 (from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011). Our deepest thanks to all of these supporters who make our land conservation work possible.

Benefactor ($5,000 or more)William M. Claytor Family Memorial FundIn memory of William M. ClaytorMr. & Mrs. George A. KegleyLand Conservation Fund at the Foundation for Roanoke ValleyLanford Brothers Co.Conservation Celebration and Race for Open Space sponsorMr. & Mrs. William J. and Barbara B. LemonLand Conservation Fund at the Foundation for Roanoke ValleyWoltz & Associates, Inc. (in-kind)Wordsprint (in-kind)Conservation Celebration sponsor

Conservator ($2,500-$4,999)Blue Ridge CateringConservation Celebration sponsorCox Enterprises and the James M. Cox Jr. FoundationMr. & Mrs. Frank EllettRace for Open Space sponsorFarrell FoundationConservation Celebration sponsorMr. & Mrs. Al Hammond Conservation Celebration sponsorMs. Mary L. KegleyIn honor of father, George KegleyNancy O. Gray and David N. MaxsonThe Morris Family Foundation

Sustainer ($1,000-$2,499)Appalachian Power Co.Conservation Celebration sponsorBoxley Materials CompanyConservation Celebration sponsorMr. & Mrs. John P. BradshawLand+Link sponsorCoca-Cola Bottling Co. ConsolidatedConservation Celebration sponsorConservation Partners, LLCConservation Celebration sponsorCorrugated Container CorporationConservation Celebration sponsor

Cox CommunicationsConservation Celebration sponsorDixon, Hubard, Feinour, Brown, Inc.Conservation Celebration sponsorEarth Environmental and Civil, Inc.Conservation Celebration sponsorElbert H, Evelyn J, Karen H Waldron Charitable Foundation, Inc.Mrs. Betty H. FieldMr. & Mrs. Spencer FrantzMr. Roger B. HolnbackIn memory of Olive and Peter HolnbackHometown BankConservation Celebration sponsorJordan’s Custom FramingLand+Link sponsorJim & Pat KermesConservation Celebration sponsorMrs. Anna LawsonMs. Anne P. LongMr. John L. ManettaMatched by Norfolk SouthernMs. Deborah MouraNorfolk Southern FoundationThe Ohrstrom Foundation and Bryant Crane Charitable FundThe Orvis CompanyConservation Celebration and Land+Link sponsorRoanoke CountyThe Roanoke Star-Sentinel (in-kind)Conservation Celebration sponsorRockydale Quarries CorporationConservation Celebration sponsorRutherfoord, Inc.Conservation Celebration sponsorSteel Dynamics Roanoke Bar DivisionConservation Celebration sponsorMr. & Mrs. Glenn O. Thornhill JR.Conservation Celebration sponsorMr. & Mrs. David and Rebecca WallenbornWestern Virginia Environmental and Social Trust Foundation

Steward ($500-$999)Mrs. Karen L. BarnhartBrown Edwards and Company, LLPConservation Celebration sponsorBrughs Mill Country StoreConservation Celebration sponsorCherry, Bekaert & HollandConservation Celebration sponsorMr. & Mrs. William D. ElliotMrs. Robert N. FishburnDr. & Mrs. R. Wayne GandeeGE FoundationMatched gift of Mr. & Mrs. Gene R. RichterGraham-White Manufacturing Co.Conservation Celebration sponsorMr. & Mrs. William M. HackworthMr. & Mrs. David A. HurtCynthia Petzold and Lowell InhornMr. & Mrs. James and Anne Jennings Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Ed Kohinke Sr.Knotty Oak Hill LLCIn memory of Frank Otey SmithMr. Robert B. Lambeth Jr. Mr. Daniel F. LaymanMs. Sandy LightMr. & Mrs. Richard G. Long Jr.Martin, Hopkins & Lemon PCConservation Celebration sponsorMr. & Mrs. John W. MasonMeyers and Woods Appraisal Group, Inc. Miller, Long & Associates, Inc.The Newbern FoundationPartners in Financial Planning, LLCConservation Celebration sponsorPeaks of Otter Conservation AssociationMr. & Mrs. Bittle W. PorterfieldConservation Celebration sponsorMrs. Carol W. PrunerRoanoke GasConservation Celebration sponsorRoanoke Natural Foods Co-opConservation Celebration sponsorMr. Paul D. Ross Jr.Mrs. Betty WareIn honor of George and Louise Kegley


Associate ($250-$499)Mr. & Mrs. Thompson BerdeenBlue Ridge CopierRace for Open Space sponsorBotetourt County Board of SupervisorsMr. Guy W. BufordCarilion ClinicCity of Roanoke Parks and RecreationRace for Open Space sponsorDeke and Jane CoulterDr. Paul A. DistlerDraper Aden Associates, Inc.Race for Open Space sponsorLinda E. Durham Ph.D.Mr. & Mrs. Robert K. EgbertEnvironmental Services & Consulting, LLC Garden Club sponsorMr. Scott FauberDr. & Mrs. Mark E. FeldmannMr. W. Heywood FralinMr. & Mrs. James S. Frantz Jr.Mr. F. Fulton GalerMr. & Mrs. Ray L. GarlandGentry Locke Rakes & Moore AttorneysGlenn, Feldmann, Darby & GoodlatteRace for Open Space sponsorMr. & Mrs. David R. GoodeMr. David HigginbothamMr. Robert H. HuntMs. N. Jane IngramMs. Annette S. KirbyMr. Frank M. Lacy Jr.Mr. & Mrs. W. Tucker LemonMr. & Mrs. Kirk LudwigNan Mahone and Bill WellbornMartin’s German Service Race for Open Space sponsorDr. & Mrs. John R. MertenMoore-Harvey, Inc.Mrs. Elizabeth H. MuseJoel & Bob RichertRoanoke OutsideRace for Open Space sponsorMr. & Mrs. Donald G. SmithDr. & Mrs. Anthony R. StavolaElizabeth Stinson and Paul L.

AngermeierDr. & Mrs. Daniel TemelesJean and Dick WertzJason Wilson and Debra LineweaverMr. & Mrs. Clifton A. Woodrum IIIRace for Open Space sponsorMr. & Mrs. Robert Woody

Friend ($100-$249)Mr. & Mrs. Leonard AdkinsJ. M. Ambrose-CosbyMr. & Mrs. D. Stan BarnhillDr. & Mrs. A. Sidney Barritt IIIBedford County Hunt ClubMs. Elizabeth H. BelcherMs. Laura E. BenjaminDr. Jean A. Smith and Dr. Michael BerryMr. & Mrs. Hugh H. BondMr. David A. BowersMr. & Mrs. Frank A. Boxley Sr.Brambleton ImportsRace for Open Space sponsorMs. Anita M. BraunIn memory of Larry BraunMr. & Mrs. Lawrence L. BrightMr. & Mrs. Mervin W. BrowerMr. & Mrs. George B. Cartledge Jr.Chevron Humankind Employee FundsMr. & Mrs. Daniel S. ChitwoodMr. and Mrs. John M. ClaytorIn honor of Steve Claytor and the Claytor familyThe Honorable Glen E. ConradCopperhead Plumbing and HeatingRace for Open Space sponsorMr. T. Joseph CrawfordMark and Susan CurrieMr. & Mrs. Milton DannerMs. Lynn M. DavisPeter and Sandy DawyotMr. & Mrs. W. Howard DickersonDr. Charlotte D. DietzMr. Walter M. Dixon IIIMr. & Mrs. John and Hoye DuckworthMrs. Patricia P. EbbettMr. & Mrs. Frank R. EllettFellers Family Limited PartnershipMr. & Mrs. James A. Ford

Mr. & Mrs. D. Norris FordMr. & Mrs. David L. FosterMr. Christopher L. FowlerMr. & Mrs. John C. GarberDr. & Mrs. John M. GilkeyGlobal MetalfinishingRace for Open Space sponsorThe Honorable Robert W. GoodlatteDr. & Mrs. William N. GordgeMs. Joyce L. GrahamDr. & Mrs. J. Bruce HagadornMs. Alice T. HaganIn memory of Hugh J. Hagan, Jr. MDMr. F. Stanley Hester Jr.Fred and Mary HitzMs. Carol B. HodgesMs. Phyllis Bagley HoeferIn memory of Philip Rutherford BagleyMr. William E. HolemanHomestead CreameryRace for Open Space sponsorMrs. Anne M. HowardIn honor of Lynn and TimMr. James E. HowellMatched by Norfolk SouthernMr. & Mrs. William J. HunleyMr. David S. Hunt and Ellen AikenMr. & Mrs. W. Arnold HurtInteractive AchievementRace for Open Space sponsorMrs. Susie V. JamisonMr. David A. JenkinsMr. & Mrs. James F. JohnsonDr. David C. JonesMr. & Mrs. Warren R. KarkMr. & Mrs. Richard J. KellyMr. & Mrs. Talfourd H. KemperMr. & Mrs. Alton L. KnightonMs. Christina C. KoomenMr. Richard M. KurshanMr. & Mrs. Stanard F. Lanford Jr.Mr. & Mrs. James B. LeeDr. & Mrs. Edmund M. LeskoMr. & Mrs. Joseph D. Logan IIIDr. & Mrs. James L. LyndeMr. & Mrs. Richard M. LynnMr. & Mrs. J. Granger MacfarlaneMr. & Mrs. Thomas J. MalishauckiBrooke and Emily MalloryMr. & Mrs. Robert L. MartinMr. & Mrs. Robert R. Martin


Ms. Emily Ann MasonMr. Alex McIverDr. & Mrs. Julien H. Meyer Jr.Mr. Philip E. MontanoIn honor of the hard working staff at WVLTDr. & Mrs. W. T. Norris Jr.Mr. & Mrs. James G. OverholserMatched by Norfolk SouthernMs. Wanda C. PartykaPhoto USALand+Link sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. PitnerMr. and Mrs. Frank D. Porter IIIMr. & Mrs. James W. QuigleyMr. & Mrs. Michael K. QuinnR.M. Johnson and Sons Roanoke Appalachian Trail ClubJ. David and Frankie RobbinsIn memory of Evelyn Marie MitchellMr. Walton I. RutherfoordMr. and Mrs. Charles B. RyanMr. & Mrs. David M. SavitzMs. Janet Scheid and Mr. Bud LaRocheRace for Open Space sponsorMr. Tim C. ShankMr. John R. SimmermanIn memory of Thomas M. Jackson Sr. and Betty Jackson WardMr. Paul K. SimmsIn memory of L. Earl SimmsDr. Victor S. Skaff Jr.Race for Open Space sponsorMr. & Mrs. Michael K. SmeltzerMr. & Mrs. Walter M. SpanglerMrs. Robert H. TeterJohn and Linda ThorntonOak Grove InsuranceRace for Open Space sponsorMr. James M. TurnerTurner Long Construction, Inc.Race for Open Space sponsorMr. & Mrs. D. Kyle Umberger IIIMr. L. Robert VaughanMatched by the GE FoundationMr. Loren H. WalkerMr. & Mrs. Douglas WatersDr. Dale A. WickstrumWilderness Adventure at Eagle LandingRace for Open Space sponsor

John and Marilee WilliamsonMr. & Mrs. James M. WilsonDr. & Mrs. John R. WoodMs. Suzanne R WrightMr. & Mrs. Edward D. Yost

Supporter ($50-$99)Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. AylingMr. & Mrs. Arthur BallasDr. & Mrs. Walter S. BartonMr. & Mrs. Charles D. BissellMr. & Mrs. W. Chan BollingMs. Nancy A. BourneMr. Denis J. BrionMr. & Mrs. Daniel W. BrownMr. & Mrs. C. Whitney Brown Jr.Bryant Crane Charitable Fund of the Vanguard Charitable Endowment ProgramPaula L. BumgarnerMr. & Mrs. M. Caldwell ButlerIn honor of George and Louise KegleyMr. & Mrs. Stephen B. CatesMs. Beth A. ChristopoulosMrs. Mary S. CopenhaverMr. & Mrs. James L. CrowgeyDr. & Mrs. Malcolm Rupert CutlerMr. & Mrs. H. Lawrence DavidsonMs. Amy K. DeHartMs. Pauline B. DickensRev. & Mrs. Park P. DickersonMrs. Barbara M. DickinsonIn memory of Robert FishburnMs. Ruth Alden DoanMr. & Mrs. David R. DoughertyDr. & Mrs. F. Joseph DuckwallMs. Jeanne M. DuddyMr. John Eckman and Carol NashExxonMobil FoundationMrs. Nancy Felch IIIMs. Liza T. FieldIn honor of Rupert and Gladys CutlerMs. Doris FlandorfferMs. Sharon H. FosterIn memory of Margaret and Arlie A. Corbett and in honor of Arlie and Sam HarperMr. & Mrs. Robert Allen GarlandMrs. & Mrs. Josh C. GibsonLeslie Giles and Daniel PezzoniIn honor of George and Louise Kegley

Ellen W. GloverMr. & Mrs. Robert E. GoadIn honor of George and Louise KegleyMr. & Mrs. R. Gene and Laura GoleyMatched by ExxonMobil FoundationMrs. Nancy H. GreerIn honor of her childrenMr. Kossen GregoryMr. Pete HaislipMr. & Mrs. Edward R. HarrisDr. Joanna H. HarrisMr. & Mrs. James D. HarshfieldMr. Paul A. HaskinsMr. & Mrs. Henry W. Herzog Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Martha and Brian K. HookerMr. & Mrs. Royce HustedMr. & Mrs. R. Devereaux JarrattMrs. Geneva K. JenkinsIn memory of John Jenkins Jr.Ms. Myra-Delia D. KageyIn honor of George and Louise KegleyMr. Richard F. KegleyDr. Thomas F. KellerMrs. Margaret H. KelleySally and Joe LemmerMr. & Mrs. Rodney LorenceMr. & Mrs. Charles R. LovegroveIn honor of Rich and Lisa LovegroveCharles C. ManningMs. Betty MarrMs. Mary A. McMichaelMr. & Mrs. Richard M. MillerMr. David B. MillerMr. William J. ModicaMr. David M. NaffDr. Robert L. NuttMr. & Mrs. Charles H. OsterhoudtIn honor of Sandra LightBob and Kristin PeckmanMs. Linda PharisStaci Hunt-Ramsey and Derek RamseyMr. & Mrs. Jerry L. ReedMr. & Mrs. William F. ReidenbachDr. & Mrs. John W. RobinsonDr. & Mrs. William H. RobisonMrs. Donna RogersMs. Mary Lou ShafferMr. Thomas W. Skelly


Elaine Stephenson Interiors, Inc.In honor of Mrs. Martha HartleySustaiNS CommitteeMr. & Mrs. William A. ThomassonMs. Paula A. ThompsonMrs. Frances M. TrentMr. Maurice C. TurnerMatched by Norfolk SouthernDr. & Mrs. Edgar N. Weaver Jr.In honor of Mark and Whitney FeldmannDr. & Mrs. Jesse A. WebsterMrs. Betty K. WeddleMr. John P. WhittleMr. Ryland A. Winston Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Donald WittMr. & Mrs. Henry L. WoodwardMr. Joseph E. Yates Jr.

Member (under $50)Ms. Shonna L. AllenDr. Karen Mays AsburyMr. Bane Atkinson Jr.Dr. & Mrs. Vincent T. BasileIn honor of Sandy LightMr. & Mrs. Richard A. BayntonMr. & Reverend Michael L. BentleyIn honor of sons Alex and MatthewMr. Thomas BrobsonMrs. Martha Brooks BrownDr. & Mrs. Joseph G. BrownMs. Patricia A. BuckMichael and Monica BurgoonCamlach FarmEleanor M. ClarkMr. Samuel Edmond CoffeyMr. & Mrs. Robert R. CoptyMr. & Mrs. Lawrence M. CovingtonMr. & Mrs. James E. Covington Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Roy & Barbara CreasyThelma DalmasMr. & Mrs. Curtis E. Davis Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Carl DietrichMs. V. Anne EdenfieldMr. & Mrs. Roger W. EhrichGloria Elliott & AssociatesDr. & Mrs. Mark E. Feldmann Jr.Mr. Hugh C. Fisher Jr.Mr. John D. FrascaMs. Wileina F. Furrow

Rev. and Mrs. Tupper GardenMr. & Mrs. J. Randolph Garrett IIIMr. James R. GrayMrs. Jane HaddadRev. C. Nelson HarrisMr. Alfred A. HawleyMs. Judith L. HensleyMr. Michael HertzMr. Michael R. HicksMr. & Mrs. David P. HillMrs. Barbara A. HortonMs. Jane C. HundleyMr. & Mrs. Kevin S. HurtMr. Bruce E. IngramMs. Sandra L. JenningsStephen C. and Liza R. JettIn honor of Ned and Janet YostMrs. E. Pam JohnsonMr. & Mrs. McMillan H. JohnsonMr. Richard JonesMr. & Mrs. Clayton G. JonesDr. & Mrs. James A. KellyDr. & Mrs. Stephen S. KennedyMr. Marc KillingstadMs. Jan KinseyMr. & Mrs. David L. LemonMary Jean and John LevinMr. Peter A. LewisIn honor of George and Louise KegleyMr. Robert E. LockhartMr. David LovegroveMr. James T. Lucas Jr.The Luminescence Foundation, Inc. Ms. Letitia LunsfordMr. Robert S. McNamaraDr. & Mrs. J. Milton MillerMr. Robert H. Minor Dr. & Mrs. Chimer D. Moore Jr.Mrs. Rose MotleyIn honor of Juan MotleyGinny and Bob MullenMs. Dorothy A. MundyMr. & Mrs. Richard E. O’DellMs. Emily PainterMr. & Mrs. William L. ParkerJudge and Mrs. Richard C. PattisallMr. & Mrs. Anthony H. PayneMs. Rebecca S. PerdueRoanoke Valley Garden ClubVirginia and Michael ReillyMrs. Nancy B. Robertson

Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. RohrbackMrs. Kathleen SimpkinsMs. Helen SmythersSouthern Environmental Law CenterMr. & Mrs. Wayne G. StricklandMr. & Mrs. Daniel C. Summerlin IIIMr. Frederick D. SwartzendruberIn memory of Dr. Edwin WilliamsMr. & Mrs. H. G. G. TornatoreMrs. Betsy P. VannoyMr. & Mrs. William G. Wall IIDr. & Mrs. Jackson R WebsterMr. & Mrs. W. Keith WeinwurmMs. Virginia K. WestFrances H. WilliamsMr. Mark J. WilsonMr. Harry W. WoolridgeMs. Mary Jane Zody

Garden Club SupportersFralin & WaldronEnvironmental Services & Consulting Jesse FreedmanJudy HensleyMulch N’MoreNorthwest True ValueJanet ScheidScotts Miracle GroSouthern Exposure Seed ExchangeSt. Elizabeth’s Episcopal ChurchTownside Gardens

GrantsChesapeake Bay Restoration Fund GrantLand Trust Alliance Excellence Enhancement ProgramSoutheast Land Trusts Matching Grants Program


Winter 2012 13

FINANCIAL SUMMARYFY 2012: July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012

Sources of RevenueContributions $82,781 47.2%ConservationCelebration $40,925 23.3%StewardshipFund $20,000 11.4%RestrictedContributions $8,108 4.6%RaceforOpenSpace $7,015 4.0%Misc. $5,113 2.9%NewsletterAdvertising $3,750 2.1%KrogerCard $3,601 2.1%Seminars $3,300 1.9%Investments $850 0.5%

Total Income $175,443

Where Your Dollars Go

Management $52,231 30.0%Stewardship $39,173 22.5%Development $34,821 20.0%LandownerEducation $26,115 15.0%CommunityOutreach $21,763 12.5%

Total Expenses $174,103

47%Contributions

23%ConservationCelebration

11%StewardshipFund

5%RestrictedContributions

4%RaceforOpenSpace

3%Misc.

2%NewsletterAdvertising

2%KrogerCard

2% Seminars 1%Investments

30%Management

22%Stewardship

20%Development

15%LandownerEducation

13%CommunityOutreach

The Western Virginia Land Trust is audited annually by

TheWesternVirginiaLandTrust(WVLT)wasformedin1996andworkstopreserveourre-gion’suniquescenic,historic,agricultural,recreationalandnaturalfeatures.WeworkinsevencountiesintheRoanokeregion:Bedford,Botetourt,Craig,Floyd,Franklin,Montgomery,andRoanoke.WVLTisaprivate,501(c)(3)non-profitandisaccreditedbytheLandTrustAccredi-

tationCommission,anindependentprogramoftheLandTrustAlliance.


Foti, Flynn, Lowen & Co.

14 Winter 2012

From a comfortable farmhouse at the bottom of a long, green hill in the middle of Franklin County,

William “Benny” and Martha Sue Gibson enjoy part-time retirement and part-time babysitting for four small grandchildren. They have saved their 375-acre farm with a conservation easement for the benefit of those little folks.

After much family discussion, the easement was fully supported by their four sons. “We wanted them to have a place to call home,” Benny Gibson said about his sons and grandchildren. Two of their daughters-in-law are expecting two more grandchildren, raising the future babysitting roll to six.

The family treasures a hilltop view of the Blue Ridge, a long stretch of woodland with walking trails, a two-acre lake for fishing and a two-mile road frontage they are saving as open land. The easement, held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, will allow additional house sites.

Gibson taught for 15 years and served as principal for another 15 at Franklin County High school. He does part-time human resources work for Interactive Achievement, a Roanoke diagnostic testing firm for schools. Martha Sue Gibson, a longtime nurse, continues in outpatient surgery two days a week, when she isn’t doing grandmother chores.The sons who approved the easement are Bays, a physical

therapist in Roanoke; Jacob, a partner in Interactive Achievement, where his father works; Abe, who is completing a doctorate in the history of science at Florida State University, and Josh, who works in land conservation. When asked, Josh stated that his parents have always been interested in family heritage and this was something they wanted to do.

Their beef cattle farm is rented by Mike Altice of Burnt Chimney. The farm once produced tobacco, corn and soybeans, but it’s about 60 percent pasture now and the rest is in forest. The Gibsons cut timber and replanted almost 75 acres of white pine. They often see wild turkeys and deer on their hills.

The Gibsons are following traditions started by the late Dr. F. B. Wolfe, Martha Sue Gibson’s father and a respected Franklin County doctor and medical examiner for many years. After the Gibsons met at East Carolina University, they married and settled on Dr. Wolfe’s farm 37 years ago. After an 1870 house burned while they were away on vacation in 1996, they replaced it with their two-story frame home on Buck’s Creek. It’s surrounded by rows of colorful flowers, Martha Sue’s project, along with her cooking and babysitting skills.

Originally from Coeburn in Wise County, Wolfe came to Franklin County after World War II with a fellow physician, Dr. Henry Lee, a native of the county. Wolfe bought three farms, including what is now the Gibsons’ acreage, and established a stock farm with registered cattle in the Pleasant Hill community, a short distance west of Rt. 220, south of Rocky Mount.

Wolfe found time to operate Camp Pleasant Hill, a summer day camp for youngsters in a cabin on a hill above the fishing lake. He brought doctors of different specialties to take care of the campers.

Article and photo by George Kegley, WVLT Trustee

Benny Gibson holds grandchildren Miles and Ainsley while Martha Sue is holding Addison and Lera.

Ainsley and Addison are twins.

Gibsons Save Franklin County Farm for Grandchildren

14 Winter 2012

“We wanted them to have a place to call home”

Winter 2012 15

The Land You Save May Be Your Own“Keep up the Great Work!”

That’s my feeling toward all the noble souls undergirding this land trust, protecting farms, mountainsides and

creeks, visiting landowners, or doing the nitty-gritty of fund-raising, paperwork, seminars and other chores.

The “Great Work” of our age, as Father Thomas Berry perceived, is to keep our lovely, miraculous, once-in-a-universe biosphere from premature demise. If we can bring the other species to extinction, we can also protect them—now, in the only time possible to do so.

Humans, after all, love the living world, and are sparked with a genius and yearning for life that can step up and do this Great Work of our age. Land trusts like WVLT do that work more efficiently than any other conservation endeavor I’ve seen. If saving life on earth were a for-profit business (in a society that valued life more than money), a land trust like WVLT would top any Fortune 500 in profitability.

Yet within our land trust (and any conservation organization), there’s an overlooked means of increasing these yields. And it doesn’t require any phone calls or meetings, grants or budget-drain! Most land trust members influence a small piece of this planet. Whether their home address or a churchyard, a school or hospital campus, even the kitchen sink and driveway that drain into a nearby river—these add up to huge potential for helping the biosphere.

Most of us learned our landscaping habits from chemical/ lawn-equipment industry ads—and the flattened, unnatural, green-carpet monoculture they’ve promoted to spawn like algae, all around us. Our ancestors, 100 years ago—greatly helped by the apple, cherry and nut trees around them, the oaks and

maples cooling their homes, the native greens, healing wildflowers and insect-eating songbirds protecting their gardens, the rich compost bins and clotheslines—might feel astonished that we not only live without these natural resources, but purposely eliminated them as too uncouth for our elevated position on earth.

The newer, life-depleting landscapes, known by ecologists as “the suburban desert,” have spread like an algae bloom across the U.S., eradicating phenomenal acreages of native habitat. “In my childhood, the singing of the birds in the morning was almost deafening,” Roger Martin, a retired park ranger in Patrick County, told me. “Now the silence is deafening. I haven’t seen a scarlet tanager in years and they once were common...Many other species have seemingly disappeared.”

A main reason: lack of former nesting habitat—here, where our perfect lawns spread out today.

To restore protective thickets, groves and biodiversity that welcome back songbirds, tree toads, owls, pollinators, native plants and a sense of joy, the National Wildlife Federation offers tips for home, school, churchyards and businesses. (See www.nwf.org.)

Meanwhile, shade trees to cool your dwelling, canopied islands and pathways instead of the gas-guzzling lawn, a clothesline for “solar drying,” and a curtailment of sink and car-washing chemicals will over time reduce chunks of mountaintop removal, coal-burning soot, climate change and water pollution.

Land conservation works great at home. After all, conserving the home planet is Great Work.

By Liza Field, WVLT Advisory Council Member

“Vista Blue” by Kerry Kinnison

NoNprofit org.U.S. poStage

PaidWytheville, Va

permit No. 172

722 First Street, SW, Suite LRoanoke, Virginia 24016-4120Phone/Fax 540/985-0000

Conservation Celebration 2012Cherishing the land and those who work to protect it

The evening was cool for a September night, but that didn’t stop the fun at this year’s Conservation Celebration. Over

150 supporters gathered at Braeloch on September 16th to celebrate the achievements of Mrs. Barbara Lemon and Mr. and Mrs. Ned Yost. The land trust would like to thank all of the attendees for helping us create an unforgettable, special event. Thank you to all of the individuals and businesses

who sponsored the celebration and bid at our silent auction. By the end of the night, we raised over $34,000 to help us preserve our region’s greatest natural landscapes.

To see more photos of the celebration, visit www.westernvirginalandtrust.org/celebration. See you next year at the 2013 Conservation Celebration!

From left to right: Bill Lemon, David Perry, A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award recipient Barbara Lemon, and WVLT Trustee Lucy Ellett.

Janet and Ned Yost accept the Land Saver Award.

Photos by Alex Smythers

saving land in western virginia winter 2012-2013

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