Saving Land Newsletter - Winter 2015-2016

Saving Land WINTER 2015/2016

Newest Conserved Farm Features Wagyu Beef Bay Day Grows!

Golden Wings – Landowner Goes Above and Beyond

blueridgelandconser vancy.org

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Vol. 19, Issue 3

Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Promoting the conservation of western Virginia’s natural resources- farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes Board of Trustees Linda W. Pharis, President Betty H. Lesko, President-Elect F. Fulton Galer, Treasurer Whitney H. Feldmann, Secretary C. Whitney Brown Frank G. Carter Diana K. Christopulos Stephen M. Claytor M. Rupert Cutler Thomas M. Dunkenberger, Jr Broaddus C. Fitzpatrick Joshua C. Gibson Quinn F. Graeff William M. Hackworth Anne M. Jennings George A. Kegley Nelson W. Lafon

Advisory Council Lucy R. Ellett Liza T. Field Talfourd H. Kemper Robert B. Lambeth, Jr. Jeanne M. Martin

Staff David C. Perry, Executive Director Meagan R. Cupka, Project Manager Deborah Ullmer, Office Assistant Erica Reed, Outdoor Educator

NO MORE ENDLINGS Land Conservancy alum releases new book on threatened species

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lue Ridge Land Conservancy veteran Allison Hegan, who was the conservancy’s office assistant before leaving for the Wildlife Foundation last winter, has released a new book, No More Endlings. Allison, who is the book’s editor, spent five years piecing together the stories of some of the Earth’s threatened plants and animal species which are in some cases down to their last few members—the endlings. Spanning every continent but Antarctica, No More Endlings documents the scientists and conservationists who are working to save species from the North American grey wolf and South American jaguar to the lowly (but important) African Malagasy yam and European field cricket. The very human stories of the people working to protect these species from becoming endlings is balanced and complimented with approachable information about each species.

Allison is donating 50 percent of the proceeds from her book to conservation organizations. You can purchase No More Endlings by visiting allisonhegan.com or amazon.com.

Table of Contents • winter 2015/2016 Owner Conserves Wagyu Farm........................................... 3 Bay Day Returns, Prepares to Grow!.................................... 4 Golden Wings: Landowner Goes Above and Beyond .......... 5 Donor Spotlight: Carol Pruner............................................ 6

722 First Street SW, Suite L Roanoke, VA 24016 540-985-0000 blueridgelandconservancy.org PHOTO COVER: 2013 Land + Link entry

A Night to Remember......................................................... 7 Board Member Spotlight: Nelson Lafon.............................. 7 A Summer of Adventure..................................................... 8 Annual Report..................................................................... 9 Giving List........................................................................ 11 Financial Summary........................................................... 15

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Newly conserved “

faalong rm Big Otter River

Dale and Lisa Moore

Dale Moore is a busy company chief, farmer, land saver, grandfather

omebody has got to save the land or what is it going to be like down the road?” Dale Moore asked as he sat in his home on a windy hilltop near Altavista, about 50 miles east of Roanoke. Dale has signed a conservation agreement with the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, to protect 255 acres of hill and dale along the Big Otter River.

Dale, founder and chairman of a large electrical and mechanical company, said his goal is to “make a model farm” to show his son and daughter and six grandchildren “the right way to do it.”

He’s well on the way with a herd of over 100 Wagyu beef cattle, a large barn, a couple of Tennessee Walking Horses and clean pastures. Dale’s wife Lisa keeps honeybees on the farm. Nestled in Campbell County, the farm enjoys a striking view of the Peaks of Otter.

Dale and Lisa are very close to their grandchildren. Dale drives two of them two school. Bailey, the oldest grandchild, is on a mission trip in Kenya. All of the grandkids love to ride kayaks on the river, play in the tree house Dale built next to the river, and ride the Tennessee Walking Horses around the farm.

Dale’s love and appreciation for farming began when he was young. His grandfather handed down the love of looking after the land. He spent several years purchasing properties to form the farm he now owns. He had been raising Angus beef cattle for 20 years before tasting Wagyu beef at lunch one day. After sampling the meat, he was determined to set the farm on a new direction. Dale called his father-in-law and business partner, Jim Wharton, and

told him they were going to make the switch to Wagyu cattle.

Because the breed is well-guarded by Japan, Dale first had to make several changes to how the farm operated. He installed remote waterers, fenced off creeks, and purchased special feed. The family operation follows a strict plan set forth by their Japanese consultant that includes the cattle being grass-fed and finished with a Japanese finishing method. It takes a long 30 months to finish Wagyu beef. This diet and extended finishing leads to increased marbling, which commands a higher price. In addition to selling meat, Dale sells individual cattle as well as Wagyu embryos and semen.

Dale’s efforts to save land started with a nearby Virginia Tech-sponsored meeting, promoting projects to reduce pollution in streams. There he learned about a Natural Resources Conservation Service program which would pay part of the cost of fencing off streams. This applied to his 1.5 miles of frontage on Big Otter River. As he thought about caring for his land long-term, the next step was a conservation agreement.

Dale says he does about 95 percent of the farm work, with help in hay season. But he says, “Farming is not like work. You can go from daylight to dark on a farm and it’s not like work.” At 62, “I feel like a boy,” he adds.

With Dale’s commitment to conservation, we are happy to say he will be able to enjoy working the farm for years to come thanks to the newly-signed conservation agreement.

Fall 2015 3| 3

BAY D AY Fourth grade students wade through Looney Creek to stir up debris

“Bay Day” Returns, Prepares to Grow!

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or the fourth year in a row, Botetourt County’s fourth grade students made their way to the Preece Farm to romp and stomp and learn in the protected fields and stream. This year, like all years, aimed to get the students doing hands-on lessons about the environment, natural resources, and how their actions can affect places like the Chesapeake Bay even from a far distance.

Although wind and rain pushed the Bay Day field days back by a week, nearly perfect weather greeted the students on the mornings of October 7th and 8th as they stepped out of their buses on the conserved farm near Buchanan.

The students met with four learning stations. Each station was led by a local organization. Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District with Tim Miller focused on clean water and ways to test for the health of a stream.

This included students (and teachers!) getting into the creek and looking for macroinvertebrates – small spineless water insects. Denny McCarthy and Joe Bosworth led the Virginia Department of Forestry station, where students learned

By Meagan Cupka

what makes up a tree, how to count growth rings to determine the tree’s age, and why trees are important to have around water. Camp Bethel led an exciting soils and erosion game, showing students how soil which washes away during storms can harm what lives in and around rivers and streams. The final station with the Western Virginia Water Authority brought it all together by showing how pollution flows downstream and can wind up being a big problem to those who live at the end of the river, even if that pollution came from as far away as Botetourt.

The topics covered also fall under Virginia SOL 4.9 topics such as natural resources and water quality. We designed the stations with this in mind so that students would be able to look back on their experiences at the Preece Farm when it came time to take their tests.

was a success. We couldn’t have done it without the grant from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund or the volunteers who helped pull this together. Along with the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, we believe it’s important to help grow the next generation of people who value their environment and want to preserve it.

That’s why we are excited to announce that, thanks to funding from the Virginia Department of game and Inland fisheries and the Roanoke Kiwanis Club, as well as the Community Foundation for the New River Valley, we will be expanding the “Bay Day” program as “River Day” programs in Roanoke and Floyd Counties and the City of Roanoke. We look forward to bringing this exciting field trip to more students!

This Bay Day, like the others,

4 | Winter 2015-2016 Students look through debris from Looney Creek to find macroinvertebrates.

A male Golden Winged Warbler Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Golden Wings

by Meagan Cupka

Landowner goes above and beyond with conserved land

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or many landowners with conservation agreements, going through the process of having their land protected is the final step in preserving their land for generations to come. They will continue to farm or forest, and raise their families like they’ve always done.

For others, it’s just the beginning. Bruce Ingram, whom we awarded the Land Saver Award in 2014, has been taking steps to turn his property along Sinking Creek Mountain into habitat suitable for the Golden Winged Warbler. This species, once native to Virginia, has been listed as “Near Threatened – Likely To Become Endangered” according to the IUCN Red List. That list is the most comprehensive and respected guide to endangered animals in the world. Most importantly, the habitat which the bird uses for breeding and for food is disappearing.

Bruce informed me that the GWW is an animal that has very specific needs. It looks for areas in upper elevations with a young forest, yet at the same time with older oak and cherry trees around. The birds feed on the caterpillars which live off the older oaks and cherry trees. They also prefer thickets nearby, with plants like Little Blue-Stem grasses and blackberry

A view of the habitat Bruce Ingram has created

vines. Areas with these mixed habitats are increasingly rare. Bruce saw the plight of this bird and had an idea. The habitat the GWW needs is exactly what is preferred for hunting game, and he owns BRLC-conserved land which he uses to hunt in Craig County.

Managing this landscape was a no-brainer for Bruce: he loves to hunt, and he loves to watch birds. He had the why; he had the where; but how?

That’s where Bruce’s contact Andrew Rosenberger comes in. He is a private lands biologist dually funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). Andrew helps landowners write conservation plans.

Landowners can apply for programs that help cover the cost of making those plans happen. In Bruce’s case, preparing habitat for the Golden Winged Warbler qualified under the Working Lands for Wildlife program (WLFW). The program helps certain species through voluntary private landowner action, typically helping farmers make their land more environmentally friendly and to increase their bottom line.

Andrew explained that species like the Golden Winged Warbler depend on “middle growth” forests. There are many old and young forests

in Virginia, but the middle-aged forests are disappearing. He described middle growth as something between managed pasture and mature timber. He and Bruce sat together and made a plan to remove invasive species, clear small spots of land of trees, and to plant wheat and clover. The WLFW program helped to cover the cost. Bruce gives the credit of the plantings to James Hancock, a local wildlife manager from Daleville, who specializes in habitat improvement projects.

With the habitat now created on the Sinking Creek land, Bruce expects to hear the Golden Winged Warbler’s song in the next several seasons. He hasn’t heard the bird’s call in nearly ten years. For him, this project is all about continuing the stewardship of his land.

He thinks the time, effort, and money is well spent. We couldn’t agree more.

Have a habitat improvement project you would like help or guidance with?

Contact James Hancock: 540-598-0170 Have questions on qualifying for the Working Lands for Wildlife or other NRCS program funding?

Contact Andrew Rosenberger: 540-381-1221 ext. 128

Winter 2015-2016

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Donor Spotlight Carol Pruner, Long-time supporter of BRLC Edited by Meagan Cupka

Shot Tower in Wythe County near Carol Pruner’s farm

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arol Pruner wants to save the land and water. And she’s doing something about it. This Roanoke resident has been a generous and consistent supporter of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy for years as a way to prevent pollution in streams and preserve wildlife habitat. To Carol, unchecked development and pollution is horrible.

Her inspiration is personal. When her mother passed away about 15 years ago, she left her daughter a 200-acre bottomland farm, below the Shot Tower along the New River in Wythe County. She protected that farm with a conservation easement, held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the New River Land Trust. Carol also cheered Betty Field in her successful effort to save Mill Mountain from development.

As a child growing up in Arlington, she would visit her grandparents’ dairy farm near New River. She recalls pleasant memories of reading books in the famous Shot Tower, then owned by the Jackson family. That area is now a state park.

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Her late uncle, Tom Jackson, was a prominent Wythe County farmer and a nearby school, Jackson Memorial, is named for the family which has lived there for generations.

Pruner moved to Roanoke 40 years ago with her late husband, Bob Pruner. She was “glad to get out of Arlington.” Bob was an orthopedic surgeon who took care of the Patrick Henry High School football team for 30 years. He was also a Russell County native and Emory & Henry College graduate, and served in Vietnam before he came to Roanoke. Together they raised two sons, with one having relocated to Austin, Texas and the other remaining in the Roanoke Valley.

Even after pursuing a career as a physical therapist, and now playing tennis and riding her bike along the Greenways almost every day, Carol’s top priority is to “save the earth.” That’s why she’s a solid backer of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy’s program of saving land through conservation agreements.

By Meagan Cupka

Nelson Lafon

Continuing our board member spotlight is Nelson Lafon, a Pulaski County native who joined the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy’s board of trustees in July 2015. Nelson sits on our Stewardship Committee and helps to review potential conservation projects that come our way.

The main drive for Nelson’s love of the outdoors stems from a childhood growing up in Pulaski.

He recalls spending a lot of time outdoors with friends, visiting his grandparents’ farm, and helping his cousins on their farms as well. He

was particularly close to his father and brother. Cutting wood, hunting, and working the land with them are all things he remembers fondly. The trio would often head out on hikes starting when Nelson was 5 or 6 years old. By 11, Nelson had his own bird guide. By 14, he could identify all the trees on his parent’s property.

When Nelson was a sophomore in high school, he realized he wanted to work some way with the environment.

One thing Nelson brings to the BRLC board is his knowledge of the outdoors. Currently working for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, he received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech before spending two years in Montana and Utah with the U.S. Forest Service. There he worked on wildlife crews, timber crews,

and doing trail work and fighting wildfires. When a full-time position opened up out west, he realized in his heart he wanted to return to this part of the world. He came back to Virginia Tech to pursue his master’s degree in Wildlife Science, and now works for VDGIF as one of two statewide deer project coordinators.

In this job, he focuses on helping individuals and localities manage deer populations.

Being a part of BRLC’s board of trustees is an honor for Nelson. He loves preserving rural viewsheds, rural pastures, and also preserving land for wildlife. To him, helping BRLC is where his long-term personal views of the environment and his career meet and work together. To us, it is an honor to have him involved with the land conservancy!

Board Member Spotlight

A new addition: Nelson Lafon

Honoring Betty Field, Liza Field, and Mr. and Mrs. Jim and Jill Woltz

By Meagan Cupka

A new venue greeted guests as they arrived at this year’s Conservation Celebration, but familiar music and delicious food awaited them. Guests mingled through The Glenn at Glenburn Farms enjoying the perfect weather and the stunning view from Al and Nancy Hammond’s new music pavilion. This sixsided building was inspired by a trip to Turkey and as Al claims, was “designed at 3 a.m.” The band, Easy Pickin’s strummed out hits and traditional bluegrass favorites alike. Blue Ridge Catering put on a magnificent spread. Their fried chicken was by far the crowd favorite.

But the real highlight of the night was presenting our awards to our local conservation heroes. It was an honor to present Betty and Liza Field with the A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award.

This mother and daughter are conservation stalwarts in the local area for taking action to protect Mill Mountain in Roanoke and Big Survey in Wytheville. Many hearts were touched as Betty Field explained her love for and the importance of the land, and her gratitude upon receiving the award.

We were also pleased to present the Land Saver Award to Mr. and Mrs. Jim and Jill Woltz. Through Jim’s successful career with Woltz and

Associates, this couple has been able to protect thousands of acres over the years, including: areas of trout stream below Twin Falls in Floyd, and 6,000 acres of conserved lands along the New River in Grayson, Carroll and Wythe Counties. The couple also worked to conserve more than 1,500 acres on Poor Mountain. Most recently, Jim Woltz facilitated the agreement to turn Natural Bridge into a state park in Rockbridge County.

Including a live auction led by Jim himself, the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy was able to raise over $34,000 through the festivities which will go to preserving our rural and beautiful area.

Conservation Celebration 2015

Dave Perry with Betty and Liza Field Winter 2015-2016

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Rupert Cutler looks for birds on our May Bird Walk

A Summer of Adventure— excitement for you, by you!

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ur Outdoor Adventures Series kicked off in May, and we had a great time taking you outdoor enthusiasts out and about around the area to visit great rural and wild places!

You scaled the unruly Cahas Mountain. Or maybe you splashed in the Roanoke River looking for crawdads. Maybe you enjoyed a beautiful afternoon nailing a bat box together to help Virginia’s threatened bats. Whatever you enjoyed this summer, we had a blast hanging out with you.

Our public adventures are over for the season.

Missed one? Relax! Even though there are no more events for the year, stay tuned for the announcement of next year’s activities.

We’ll be bringing back your favorites as well as rolling out new and exciting activities for Summer 2016!

Above: A huge crawdad was found on our Water Bug Walk!

Right: Families build bat boxes at Mill Mountain

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Our original goal for the series was to bring folks out to the different conserved areas around the region. These are made with you in mind! Have an idea for an Outdoor Adventure? Tell us! Contact Meagan at mcupka@blueridgelandconservancy.org or call us at 540-985-0000.

Saving Land

is forever

Annual Report 2014-2015

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Linda Pharis & David Perry

aving land now and forever is a mighty task. Blue Ridge Land Conservancy has promised a lot of people to protect their beloved land forever. The only way such man-made agreements can be upheld forever is if it matters deeply to people like you.

A seed is planted, fed, watered, protected from the cold of winter and the heat of the summer, until it grows into a strong oak that will see dozens of generations enjoy its shade. Our Blue Ridge Land Conservancy is like that oak.

People who care to ensure that our protected lands will endure for future generations of Virginians must nurture it. That’s why we MUST matter to you. To protect the land you want to see protected. To save the rural ways of life that you want to exist in the future. To teach your children and grandchildren about clean water, air that’s fit to breathe, and how living things grow. To preserve the views that can take your breath away.

This past business year, we launched an Outdoor Adventure Series that kicked off in May with a bird hike, and in June climbed to House Rock on Franklin County’s Cahas Mountain. We held a “Fun Run” at Roanoke County’s Green Hill Park. Students, teachers and land conservancy volunteers braved the cold to build raised garden beds at Roanoke’s Highland Park Elementary School. A full house packed Braeloch in Roanoke County to see Roanoke Valley Greenways Coordinator Liz Belcher and conservationists Bruce and Elaine Ingram of Botetourt County honored at the Conservation Celebration.

We’ve set new priorities for saving land based on what you want us to fight for—mountaintops, farms, rivers and streams, scenic views in areas adjacent to national parks and forests.

Because if you don’t feel a part, if you don’t care, if we don’t matter to you, we won’t be around anywhere close to forever to keep our promise to protect land. Land conservancies aren’t made of stone—they’re made of people like those listed in the pages that follow. People like you. Thank you for giving of yourselves to save land.

You’re making a lasting impact.

Linda W. Pharis President

David C. Perry Executive Director

Fall 2015

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2014–15 Highlights ENTSMINGER FARM SAVED

BELCHER, INGRAMS HONORED

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES KICK OFF!

BRLC HELPS EFFORTS TO FLATLINE PIPELINE

The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy helped local landowners Harold and Janet Entsminger save their beautiful farm in Botetourt County near Buchanan. The rolling homestead features too many springs to count and breathtaking views of Purgatory Mountain.

In September, the land conservancy honored Roanoke Valley Greenways Coordinator Liz Belcher with the conservancy’s highest honor, the A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award at the conservancy’s fall Conservation Celebration. Conservationists Bruce and Elaine Ingram received BRLC’s Landsaver Award for their land conservation efforts in Botetourt and Craig counties and their conservation advocacy.

With a bird walk on Roanoke’s Lick Run Greenway, a Fun Run in the Sun and a hike to the top of Franklin County’s Cahas Mountain, the first Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Outdoor Adventure Series shot out of the gates and headed towards summer.

Hardly a highlight but definitely worth mentioning, the land conservancy joined with thousands of concerned citizens and dozens of local conservation groups in Virginia and West Virginia to battle the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline. Plans for the 42”, buried pipeline carrying fracked natural gas from West Virginia called for the line to cross three properties protected with Blue Ridge Land Conservancy conservation agreements.

2015–16 Goals The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy will once again apply for and obtain national accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance. Accreditation is a recognition that the conservancy meets the highest standards of conservation excellence, an honor bestowed on fewer than 20 percent of all land conservation organizations nationwide.

REACCREDITATION

20th ANNIVERSARY

The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy turns 20 in October 2016, and plans will be underway in the 2015-16 business year to celebrate this important milestone.

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The “Bay Day” field experience is expanding to Floyd, Roanoke City and Roanoke County thanks to local grants.

We look forward to bringing this great program to students in the area!

Expand Education

DEVELOPMENTS

Land conservancy staff and trustees will continue to grow the Barbara B. Lemon Fund for the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy at the Foundation for Roanoke Valley, in addition to implementing a true “Friends of the Land Conservancy” membership program, a monthly giving program and a special 20th anniversary fundraiser.

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2014-2015 Giving List The following individuals, families, companies, and foundations donated to the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy in the fiscal year 2015 (from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015). Our deepest thanks go to all of these supporters who make our work possible.

McAfee’s Knob ($5,000 and up)

William M. Claytor Family Memorial Fund of Foundation for Roanoke Valley Mr. & Mrs. Frank & Lucy Ellet Gift to Barbara B. Lemon Stewardship Fund Mr. & Mrs. Harold and Janet Entsminger Gift to Barbara B. Lemon Stewardship Fund Mr. David Maxson & Mrs. Nancy O. Gray

Brush Mountain ($2,500 - $4,999)

Member One Federal Credit Union Conservation Celebration Sponsor

Cahas Mountain ($1,000 - $2,499)

Dr. M. Rupert Cutler In Honor of Barbara Lemon Mr. Thomas Dunkenberger, Jr. Dr. Linda Durham Ph.D. Mr. & Mrs. William Elliot Mr. F. Fulton Galer Mr. & Mrs. William Hackworth Mr. & Mrs. Albin Hammond II Ginny and Shields Jarrett In Honor of Broaddus & Luann Fitzpatrick Mr. & Mrs. James Jennings, Jr. In Memory of Barbara Lemon Mr. & Mrs. Edward Kohinke, Sr. In Honor of Rose M. Kohinke The Kroger Company Lanford Brothers Co. Conservation Celebration Sponsor Mrs. Anna Lawson Mr. Bill Lemon In Memory of Barbara B. Lemon Dr. & Mrs. Edmund Lesko Mr. & Mrs. Richard and Mary Long, Jr.

Mrs. Carol Pruner Roanoke County Western Virginia Environmental and Social Trust Foundation

John’s Creek Mountain ($500 - $999)

Mr. & Mrs. Bud LaRoch & Janet Sheid Appalachian Power Co. Conservation Celebration Sponsor Dr. Karen Barnhart Mr. & Mrs. C. Whitney Brown, Jr. Central VA Land Conservancy Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Conservation Celebration Sponsor Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Frank Ellett Evergreen Burial Park Conservation Celebration Sponsor Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Mark Feldmann In Memory of Barbara Lemon and In Honor of Mark & Whitney Feldmann Fellers Family Limited Partnership Mr. & Mrs. Spencer Frantz In Memory of Barbara Lemon Dr. & Mrs. R. Wayne Gandee GE Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Scott Graeff Mr. Robert Kegley Mr. & Mrs. George Kegley In Memory of Barbara Lemon and In Honor of George & Louise Kegley Mr. Frank Lacy, Jr. Ms. Anne Long Mr. & Mrs. Kirk Ludwig Bobby and Emily Mountcastle Mr. & Mrs. William Nash Mr. & Mrs. James Overholser In Memory of Katherine Hultquist Mrs. Linda Pharis In Memory of Barbara Lemon and In Honor of George & Louise Kegley Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor

Roanoke Outside and Roanoke Regional Partnership Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. Paul Ross, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Thornhill, Jr. Valley Bank N.A. Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Ms. Betty Ware

Buffalo Mountain ($250 – $499)

Accelerated Ecommerce, LLC In Honor of Frank & Lucy Ellet Mr. R. Craig Balzer Brambleton Imports Race for Open Space Sponsor Carilion Clinic Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Murray K. Coulter Ms. Anne Covert In Honor of Rupert Cutler Draper Aden Associates, Inc. Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. John & Hoye Duckworth Mr. & Mrs. Broaddus Fitzpatrick In Honor of Broaddus Fitzpatrick Mr. G. Franklin Flippin Mr. W. Heywood Fralin Mr. & Mrs. James Frantz, Jr. In Memory of Barbara Lemon Mr. & Mrs. Ray Garland Mr. David Hunt & Ellen Aiken Interactive Achievement Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Dr. David Jones Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Kelly Mr. & Mrs. Talfourd Kemper Ms. Kathleen Koomen Matched by Norfolk Southern Foundation Mr. Robert Lambeth, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. James Lee Mr. & Mrs. W. Tucker Lemon Martin’s German Service Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Winter 2015–2016

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2014-2015 Giving List Mr. & Mrs. John Mason Mr. J. Mark McClain Mrs. Elizabeth Muse Myers and Woods Apprasial Group, Inc. Norfolk Southern Foundation Matching Gifts Program Mr. & Mrs. Harry Norris Dr. & Mrs. W. T. Norris, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pitner Ms. Leigh Powell In Honor of Diane & Art Strickland Mr. & Mrs. Michael Quinn Mr. Joel & Bob Richert Matched by GE Foundation Rockydale Quarries Corporation Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Donald Smith Mr. Bill Wellborn & Mrs. Nan Mahone Jean and Dick Wertz Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. Barry Wirt Mrs. Betty Woody

Carvin’s Cove ($100 -249)

Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Adkins Ms. Jane Ambrose-Cosby Dr. Karen Asbury Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ayling Mr. & Mrs. D. Barnhill Dr. & Mrs. A. Barritt III Dr. & Mrs. Vincent Basile In Honor of Broaddus Fitzpatrick Mr. Larry Bechtel Ms. Elizabeth Belcher Ms. Emily Bender In Memory of Edward Bender Ms. Laura Benjamin Mr. & Mrs. Thompson Berdeen Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Boggs Mr. & Mrs. John Boyle, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John Bradshaw Mrs. Betty Branch Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Bright Ms. Marta Brinberg MS, EA Mr. & Mrs. Mervin Brower Mr. & Mrs. Guy Buford Bundy Group Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. & Mrs. Steve & Debbie Cates 12

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Winter 2014–2015

Mr. Daniel Chitwood Ms. Beth Christopoulos Mr. & Mrs. John Claytor In Honor of Steve Claytor Mr. & Mrs. Steven Claytor The Honorable & Mrs. Glen Conrad Copperhead Plumbing and Heating Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. Thomas Crawford Mr. & Mrs. James Crowgey Mr. & Mrs. Mark Currie Mr. & Mrs. Milton P. Danner Matched by GE Foundation Ms. Patricia Davidson In Memory of Rick Hudson Nancy Gray and Eric Day Ms. Carole Denney Rev. & Mrs. Park Dickerson Dr. Charlotte Dietz Mr. Walter Dixon, Jr. Ms. Ruth Doan Dominion Electric Vehicles Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Dr. & Mrs. F. Joseph Duckwall In Honor of Lucy & Frank Ellet and George Kegley Mr. & Mrs. Gary Duerk Mr. Gregory Edwards Mr. & Mrs. Robert Egbert Mrs. Helen Fitzpatrick In Honor of Broaddus Fitzpatrick Mr. & Mrs. D. Norris Ford Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Forsyth Mr. & Mrs. J. Randolph Garrett III Dr. & Mrs. John Gilkey Mr. & Mrs. David Goode Dr. & Mrs. William Gordge Richard & Mary Gray Mr. Gunther Greimel Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Dr. & Mrs. A.B. Hammond III Drs. David & Cheryl Hartman In Honor of Rupert Cutler Mr. F. Staley Hester, Jr. Mr. Roger Holnback Mr. & Mrs. William Horton In Memory of Mr. & Mrs. William Rugh Horton and In Honor of Zac & Nikki O’Brien Mr. James Howell Matched by Norfolk Southern Foundation Mrs. S. Caecilia Hubbard

In Memory of Charles Townsend Hubbard Mr. James Huizenga & Mrs. Susan Koch Mr. & Mrs. William Hunley Mr. & Mrs. W. Arnold Hurt Mr. Douglas Hyre Mrs. Joyce Jaeger Mr. & Mrs. James Johnson Mr. Richard Kegley In Honor of George & Louise Kegley Ms. Mary Kegley In Honor of George Kegley Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Keller Kennard-Pace Co., Inc. Plumbing, Heating, AC & Electrical Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Ms. Claire Kennett Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Logan III Dr. & Mrs. James Lynde Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lynn Mr. Brett Magenbauer Mr. & Mrs. Brooke Mallory Mr. & Mrs. Robert Martin Mr. & Mrs. Robert Martin Mr. & Mrs. George McLean, Jr. Mr. David Miller Mr. Philip Montano In Honor of Montano Family Mr. Michael Morrissett In Honor of Dino Scout Morrissett Mr. & Mrs. G. Marshall Mundy Oak Grove Insurance Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Mr. J. Lee Osborne Pieterman Living Trust Mr. & Mrs. James Quigley Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club Dr. & Mrs. John Robinson Mr. David Rose Mr. Walton Rutherfoord In Memory of Barbara Lemon Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ryan Mr. & Mrs. Jared Schweitzer In Memory of Barbara Lemon Schweitzer Real Estate Valuation and Consulting SERVPRO Outdoor Adventures Series Sponsor Nancy Shively Mr. Paul Simms In Memory of L. Earl Simms Mr. Thomas Skelly

2014-2015 Giving List Mr. Michael Slayton Mr. & Mrs. Edward Smith In Honor of Broaddus Fitzpatrick Spencer, Hager & Mosdell, PC Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Temeles The Branch Family, LLC John and Linda Thornton Mr. & Mrs. D. Umberger III Ms. Tamara Vance and Andrew Kassoff Mr. L. Robert Vaughan Matched by GE Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Loren Walker Matched by GE Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Waters Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Joyce Waugh In Honor of Rupert Cutler and Brenda McDaniel Dr. & Mrs. Jesse Webster Mr. John Whittle Dr. Dale Wickstrum Mr. & Mrs. John Williamson Mr. & Mrs. James Wilson Mr. Ry Winston, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. John Wood

Sharp Top ($50 to $99)

Ms. Leslie Allen Ananda Farm, LLC Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Ballas Dr. & Mrs. Walter Barton Theodore W.M. Bayler and Ardith J. Bayler Living Trust Mrs. Betsy Bohannon Mr. & Mrs. W. Chan Bolling Mr. D. Vest & Bree E. Brostko DALMP, LLC (Mr. & Mrs. Danny Thompson) Mr. & Mrs. H. Lawrence Davidson Ms. Lynn Davis Mr. & Mrs. Thomas and Jean Denton Mr. & Mrs. David Dougherty Mr. Luke Dubois Ms. Jeanne Duddy In Memory of Beth Duddy Mr. Tamera Duvall Mr. & Mrs. R. Thomas Edwards Mrs. Nancy Felch, III Dr. & Mrs. Mark Feldmann, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Richard Normand & Elaine

Fleck Mr. Hugh Fisher, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. James Ford Mr. & Mrs. Kossen Gregory Mr. Sanford & Mrs. Holly Peters Gurian Mr. John Heil Mr. & Mrs. Henry Herzog, Jr. Mr. Michael Hicks Rev. & Mrs. Paul Hinlicky Mr. & Mrs. Brian K. & Martha Hooker Mr. & Mrs. Jeno Inancsi Mr. Bruce Ingram Mr. & Mrs. R. Devereaux Jarratt Dr. & Mrs. James Kelly In Honor of Mark & Whitney Feldmann Mr. & Mrs. Richard Kelly Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kemnitz Mr. & Mrs. Reif & Susan Kessler Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Lemmer Mr. Peter Lewis In Honor of Broaddus Fitzpatrick Ms. Sandy Light In Memory of William Hubard Mr. & Mrs. Rodney Lorence Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lovegrove Mr. Randy Lundberg Ms. Betty Marr Dr. & Mrs. J. Milton Miller Mr. Robert Minor Dr. & Mrs. Chimer Moore, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. David Naff & Sally Naff Mr. & Mrs. Walter & Therry Neilsen-Steinhardt In Honor of Linda & John Pharis Mr. & Mrs. Richard O’Dell Ms. Emily Painter Ms. Rebecca Perdue In Memory of Barbara Lemon Mr. Carl Pfeiffer Mr. & Mrs. Bob & Kristin Peckman Ms. Karen Peters Mr. David Pitonyak, PhD Ms. Bonnie Pulliam Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Reed Mr. & Mrs. William Reidenbach Mr. & Mrs. Donald Robinson Adrienne Ryder Mrs. Mary Shaffer Mr. Patrick Shea In Memory of Joan P. Shea Mr. Jeff Smith

Mr. Glenn Stafford Ms. Doris Stanley Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Strickland In Honor of Mac Houck Sugar Loaf Garden Club Mrs. Robin Thomas In Memory of A. Victor Thomas Ms. Stephanie Thomas Mr. Paul Thomson, Jr. Mrs. Frances Trent Ms. Vicki Tuke Ms. Fayetta Weaver In Honor of Mark & Whitney Feldmann Dr. & Mrs. Jackson Webster Mr. & Mrs. Don Witt

Mill Mountain ($25 – $49)

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Adams Ms. Laurie Adkins Mr. & Mrs. Andrew J. Airheart Matched by GE Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Bane Atkinson, Jr. Ms. Elizabeth Bachelder Ms. Lindsey Barrow The Honorable William Bestpitch In Honor of Rupert Cutler Ms. Nancy Bourne Mr. Ken Briggs Mr. & Mrs. Daniel W. Brown In Honor of George Kegley Mr. & Mrs. Michael Burgoon Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Canada Ms. Eleanor Clark Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Covington Ms. Ann Davis Ms. Martha Dillard Ms. Mimi Elrod Mrs. Theodosia Evans Barbara Falcone Mr. & Mrs. David Foster Garden Arts, Inc. Ms. Ellen Glover Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Gibson Elizabeth Gilbert Ms. Anne Gillespie Ms. Mandy Griffin Will Grimsley In Honor of David & Agatha Grimsley Winter 2014–2015

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2014-2015 Giving List Ms. Carolyn Haase In Honor of Mother Earth Mrs. Jane Haddad Mr. James Hare, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. James Harshfield Matched by GE Foundation Rev. C. Harris Ms. Judith Hensley Mr. Carl Hill, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. David Hill Raymond Hundley, Jr. & Faye Adamson Hundley Mrs. Geneva Jenkins Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Jett In Honor of Ned & Janet Yost Mr. Pegram Johnson, III Mr. Richard Jones Ms. Alice Karras Ms. Janis Larosa Mr. Robert Lockhart Mr. & Mrs. David Lemon Mr. & Mrs. Robert LeNoir, Jr. Mr. James Lucas, Jr. Mr. Gene Marrano Ms. Sarah Martin Mr. Daniel Miles Mr. & Mrs. Richard Miller Ms. Laura Mitchell Mr. William Modica Mr. & Mrs. R. E. Mullen, Jr. Ms. Dorothy Mundy Ms. Vivian Norkus Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Orr Mr. & Mrs. Charles Osterhoudt In Honor of Sandra Light Mr. John Price Ms. Erica Reed Mr. & Mrs. Gene Richter Roanoke Valley Garden Club Mr. & Mrs. Robert Rohrback Mr. Jerald Schaefer Heather Schultz P. Annie Seago Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Shawver Mr. Philip Sheridan Ms. Charlotte Sieber Courtney Shindeldecker In Honor of Bryan Sicher Ms. Gloria Simmons In Memory of David Simmons Mrs. Kathleen Simpkins Softerware, Inc. 14

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Winter 2014–2015

Southern Environmental Law Center Mr. Frederick Swartzendruber Mr. & Mrs. William Tanger Ms. Linda Vanluik Mr. Jeffery Vaught Mr. & Mrs. W. Weinwurm Mr. & Mrs. William Thomasson Ms. Paula Thompson Ms. Natalee Waters Mr. & Mrs. William Watts Ms. Virginia West Mr. Mark Wilson Mr. Robert Wilson Mr. Harry Woolridge

Supporters ($1 - $25)

Mr. Thomas Sample Ms. Shonna Allen Dominic Basile Ms. Norma Beckner Cynthia Britt Ms. Liza Field Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Joanna Finton In Memory of Leigh & Frances Hanes Ms. Mary Ann Hansen Allison Hegan Mr. & Mrs. Roberta & Bob Johnson Mr. Daniel Karnes Jean Mistele Mr. Robert Mooty Susan Tapp Ms. Elizabeth Tracy Mr. J. David Wright Mr. Jan Wright

Grants

Chesapeake Bay Trust Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Conservation and Recreation The Kiwanis Club of Roanoke Land Trust Alliance

Financial Summary

Income Income

Amount

Percent

Investments $3,517.62 $95,571.79 Contributions Conservation Celebration $43,241.00 Stewardship Fund Contributions $23,437.00 Outdoor Adventure Series $5,694.28 Misc $2,676.79 Kroger Card $2,841.59 Grants $6,302.37

Total Income: $183,282.44

1.9% 52.1% 23.6% 12.8% 3.1% 1.5% 1.6% 3.4%

1.6% Kroger

3.1%

Outdoor Adventure Series

misc.

1.5%

3.4% Grants

Miscellaneous

1.9%

Investments

52.1%

Contributions

12.8%

Stewardship Fund Donations

23.6%

Conservation Celebration

Expenses 6.6%

★

misc.

Programs

Miscellaneous

0.4% 3.2%

Conservation Celebration

23.5%

Management

13.7% Landowner Outreach

15.1% Community Outreach

15%

Stewardship

expenses Management Stewardship Development Community Outreach Landowner Outreach Conservation Celebration Programs Misc Total Expenses:

Amount $47,851.70 $30,521.90 $46,055.67 $30,706.81 $27,853.90 $13,409.29 $915.03 $6,562.18

Percent 23.5% 15.0% 22.6% 15.1% 13.7% 6.6% 0.4% 3.2%

$203,876.47

22.6%

Development

Winter 2014–2015

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The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a mark of distinction in land conservation. BRLC is also a proud member of the Land Trust Alliance, the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Conservation Network.

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Wordsprint, Inc. Permit#172

722 First Street, SW, Suite L Roanoke, Virginia 24016-4120 Phone/Fax 540-985-0000 www.blueridgeconservancy.org Member of:

Giving

to

BRLC

Are you planning on giving back to your community this holiday season? Consider donating to the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy.

There are many ways you can help us!

• Make a Donation! Visit www.blueridgelandconservancy.org •

Shop on Amazon through the link on the BRLC website, and part of your purchase will be donated to us. Simply click the “Shop to Save Land” link under the “Support Us” tab on our website..

Sign up your Kroger Plus card to the Community Rewards program, and earn money for your local land conservancy! Visit our website and click the “Kroger Community Rewards” link under the “Support Us” tab. You’ll then find directions on how to link your Kroger Plus card.

•

• Give a Gift: Honor Family or a Friend: Give a gift in honor or in memory of a loved one, and they’ll receive a special card announcing your gift as well as a year’s worth of our Saving Land newsletter.

• Think Outside the Box: Possible gifts include used vehicles, real estate, or appreciated stock.

Remember, BRLC is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Gifts to the land conservancy are tax-deductible.

For more information, please contact David Perry at 540-985-0000 or dperry@blueridgelandconservancy.org