Awards and Recognitions

Clean Water Farm Award

The Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation sponsors the Clean Water Farm Award Program. Local Conservation Districts provide awards to deserving farmers who implement conservation practices to protect water quality. These farmers deserve recognition for their work and also for the fact that they serve as role models who encourage stewardship in others. From the pool of local Clean Water Farm Award recipients, up to 10 grand winners are selected each year from Virginia’s major river basins.

For more information, or to nominate yourself or another farm, click here:  Information & nomination form for Clean Water Farm Award.

Recent winners of the TJSWCD Clean Water Farm Award:

2021
James River Basin:  Springwood Farm, Will Hueston and Pam Hand
James River Basin:  Highlawn Farm, Rosalyn Koontz and David Hurd
York River Basin:  Georgewood Farm, Jim Riddell

2020
James River Basin:  Harrison Cattle Co., Rob Harrison (also won 2021 Grand Basin Award)
York River Basin:  Elk Creek Farm, Bill Morris and the Chisholm Family (also won Grand Basin Award)

2019
James River Basin:  Oakencroft Farm, Dorothy Batten (owner), Logan Collins (manager)
York River Basin:  Dragonfly Farm, Bruce and Katherine Johnson

2018
James River Basin:  Magnolia Farm, Mike and Ashley McMahon (also won Grand Basin Award)
York River Basin:  Greeno Farm, Holly Reynolds

2017
James River Basin:  Innisfree Farm
York River Basin:  Spring Valley Farm, Jack and Sharon Manzari

2016
James River Basin:  Deer Creek Farm, Campbell Family (also won Grand Basin Award)
York River Basin:  Burnley Farm, Fisher Family (also won Grand Basin Award)

2015
James River Basin:  Dovedale Farm, Corky Shackelford (owner) & Dave Norford (manager)
York River Basin:  Vivian Scott Richardson, Sr. Memorial Farm, Albert McGhee (also won Grand Basin Award)

2014
James River Basin:  Fox Mountain Farm, Ronnie Morris (also won Grand Basin Award)
York River Basin:  Palo-Alto Farm, Richard C. Hartley

2013
James River Basin:  Woodstock Farm, Paul Coleman
York River Basin:  James Kean family farm

2012
James River Basin:  Friendship Court, and Modesto Farms, George Goin
York River Basin:  Bracketts Farm, E.A. Nolting Charitable Foundation

2011
James River Basin:  David Norford, Piedmont Manor Farm
York River Basin:  Mark & Doniphan Howland, Corduroy Farm

2010
James River Basin:  Rivanna Farm
York River Basin:  Robert Norton, Norfields Farm

Recent winners of the TJSWCD Envirothon

2021
Special Topic:  Water Resource Management: Local Control and Local Solutions
The 2021 Envirothon season was a virtual competition at all levels.
Albemarle High School, Louisa County High School, Saint Anne’s Belfield School, and Western Albemarle High School competed at the regional level.
Louisa HS and Albemarle HS advanced to the State competition.
Louisa HS places 1st overall (out of 15 teams) at the State Envirothon and advances to the National Envirothon Competition, representing Virginia.

2020
The 2020 Envirothon season was cancelled at all levels (local, regional, state and national) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in lieu of the Envirothon, the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts offered an opportunity for students to individually participate in a statewide Natural Resources testing week. Several of the LCHS students kept their competitive spirit and placed in the top ten in all categories. Congratulations! Those results are:
Aquatics – Gordon “Buddy” Alexander, Jacob Barlow, Shayla Carter and Moriah Moss.
Forestry – Gordon “Buddy” Alexander, Jacob Barlow, Shayla Carter and Moriah Moss.
Soil – Gordon “Buddy” Alexander, Jacob Barlow, Shayla Carter and Moriah Moss.
Wildlife – Gordon “Buddy” Alexander, Jacob Barlow, Shayla Carter and Moriah Moss.
Current Issue (Water Resource Management: Local Control and Local Solutions) – Moriah Moss.
We can also congratulate Kim Jancaitis-Martinak for placing in the top ten in the Forestry and Aquatics testing when the Natural Resources testing week was extended to Natural Resource professionals, SWCD employees and Envirothon coaches to participate.

2019
Special Topic:  Agriculture and the Environment, Knowledge and Technology to Feed the World
Monticello High School, Western Albemarle High School, Louisa County High School, and Albemarle High School compete at the local level.
Louisa HS and Albemarle HS advance to the regional competition.
Louisa HS advances to State, placing 2nd out of 17 teams (1st in Oral Presentation and in the 2019 Current Issue/Special Topic, 2nd place in Aquatics, and 3rd place in Soils and Wildlife).

2018
Special Topic:  Pastureland Management
Monticello High School, Western Albemarle High School, Louisa County High School, Albemarle High School, and Fluvanna County High School compete at the local level.
Louisa HS and Albemarle HS advance to the regional competition.
Louisa HS advances to State, placing 3rd out of 13 teams (1st in Soils, 2nd in Aquatics, and 3rd in Forestry)

2017
Special Topic:  Agricultural Soil & Water Conservation Stewardship
Fluvanna County High School, Western Albemarle High School, Louisa County High School, and Albemarle High School compete at the local level.
Louisa HS and Albemarle HS advance to the regional competition. AHS places 2nd / LCHS places 4th.
Albemarle HS advances to State, placing 5th out of 16 teams.

2016
Special Topic:  Invasive Species
Western Albemarle High School, Louisa County High School, and Albemarle High School compete at the local level.
Louisa HS and Albemarle HS advance to the regional competition. LCHS places 2nd / AHS places 5th.
Louisa HS advances to State, placing 6th out of 17 teams

2015
Special Topic:  Urban and Community Forestry
Louisa County High School and Albemarle High School compete at the local level.
Louisa HS and Albemarle HS advance to the regional competition. LCHS places 3rd / AHS places 4th.
Louisa HS advances to State, placing 8th out of 20 teams.

2014
Special Topic:  Sustainable Agriculture, Locally Grown
Albemarle High School, Louisa County High School, and Monticello High School compete at the local level.
Louisa HS and Albemarle HS advance to the regional competition. AHS places 2nd / LCHS places 3rd.
Albemarle HS advances to State, placing 7th out of 16 teams.

2013
Special Topic:  Forage and Grassland Ecosystems
Louisa County High School and Albemarle High School advance to the regional competition.  AHS places 3rd / LCHS places 4th.
Albemarle HS advances to State Competition.

Albemarle HS at state Envirothon competition

Teacher of the Year

Periodically, the TJSWCD awards a deserving teacher, the Teacher of the Year Award. In 2016, Kim Jancaitis-Martinak, of Louisa County High School was awarded this honor. Mrs. Martinak has taught in the Louisa County Public Schools for 12 years and holds triple endorsements to teach science – earth science, biology, and chemistry. Kim has found avenues for students to connect to science & conservation, and Envirothon is one of them.