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Eastern Shore SWCD's Annual Awards Dinner

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It is important we all do our part to keep our waterways- our Chesapeake Bay clean.  However, with growth and change, we have to be ever so vigilant in our conservation struggle to keep our environment healthy, safe, beautiful and pristine. The Eastern Shore SWCD annually awards members of our local Eastern Shore community who have been remarkable stewards of the land and in the promotion of conservation. The awardees are recognized at an awards dinner hosted by the District, typically in mid December. ​​

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2025 Annual Awards Dinner

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The 2025 Annual Awards Dinner was held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Island House Restaurant in Wachapreague, VA.  

  • 2025 Conservation Education Award:

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The District awarded  Dr. Richard Snyder, Professor and Director, at Eastern Shore Laboratory of Virginia Institute of Marine Science, with the 2025 Conservation Education Award.  
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As the Director of VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory, he is responsible for ensuring safe and effective access for visiting students and faculty to the spectacular coastal habitats of the Eastern Shore of Virginia and providing laboratory facilities for classroom and experimental work capitalizing on that access. 
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Mr. Snyder has been instrumental in facilitating a number of events for ESSWCD.  He has been helpful for a number of years.  In 2020, VIMS ESL hosted the tour for the Area VI Region Spring Meeting.  In 2024, the Northampton 4-H Agent and I decided to bring back the Eastern Shore Regional Science Fair.  When we were having a problem finding a place to host the science fair, Dr. Snyder and VIMS quickly stepped forward to offer their facilities.  When approached about hosting the Area VI Regional Envirothon in 2024, they happily agreed even though it was only three days before the regional science fair.
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For the past two years, we have partnered with VIMS to offer Seaside Explorers, a day camp focused on marine ecology.  This camp has been so well received that we will be doing two of them next them summer.
All of these events required not only letting us use the space, but set-up, clean-up, and other support.  In addition, he has volunteered to judge the science fair and wants to continue in that role when he retires. Dr. Snyder and his staff have gone above and beyond to help to make science available to the Eastern Shore and its’ students.
Left to right: Julie Head- ESSWCD Education Director, Dr. Richard Snyder, Nick Thomas- ESSWCD Chairman

  • 2025 Clean Water Farm Award

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The Clean Water Farm Award is a State award sponsored by the VA Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) and is given to VA farmers who are exemplary in their protection of the State's soil and water resources.  The 2025 Clean Water Farm Award was presented to Tommy Davis of Davis Farms.  Tommy is the son of Tom Davis and a 5th generation farmer.  Like his father, Tommy graduated from Broadwater Academy then attended James Madison University.  He lives on the same farm purchased by his great grandfather during the closing of the Great Depression through the sale of farmland timber. Tommy is a regular participant in the District's annual Whole Farm Approach Cost Share program.  He maintains a current nutrient management plan through the District's VACS BMP Cost Share program.  The Davis' are grain farmers and grow wheat, soybeans and corn.  They practice no-till farming exclusively with minimal turbo till use. A special chopper header has been added to the operation to maximize residue cover on the fields. Cover crops of vetch, barley, and winter wheat are planted to reduce erosion and nitrogen leaching as well as provide a good residue base for the next field crop.  They maintain 25' buffers around field edges with streams or sensitive areas. Tommy enjoys spending his free time with his wife Meredith, daughter Audrey and three sons, Ty, Colby and Willie. His strong faither and family core guided him to success and keeps him focused.  As the 2025 Clean Water Farm Awardee, the District then nominated him to the State for the 2025 Grand Coastal Basin Award which he also was awarded on December 8, 2025 in Williamsburg, VA at the VASWCD Annual Conference.
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Tommy Davis, Davis Farms
2025 Clean Water Farm Awardee

  • 2025 District Scholarships:

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The District awarded the W. Foster Fletcher Conservation Scholarship to one high school graduate in 2025. 
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A 2025 Broadwater Academy graduate, Leah Smith from Exmore, VA, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.  Leah will be attending Washington and Lee University to form a strong educational base within their liberal arts program.  She plans to be majoring in environmental studies and coastal conservation at the University of VA because of her passion for the environment.  In the future, she hopes to follow her passion and help save the environment by creating a harmonious relationship between humans and the environment. 
Leah Smith, 2025 W. Foster Fletcher Scholarship awardee
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