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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 in mid December. ​​

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2024 Annual Awards Dinner

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The 2024 Annual Awards Dinner was held on Monday, December 16, 2024, at the Island House Restaurant in Wachapreaque, VA. 

  • 2024 Conservation Farmer Award:

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Each year the District acknowledges a local farmer who regularly applies best management practices to improve water quality and promote soil and water conservation.  In 2024, the District awarded Matt Young of Young Farms of Parksley, VA, with the Conservation Farmer Award.  Matt tends 1,380 acres in Accomack County.  He maintains a current nutrient management plan with the District and uses a number of best management practices (BMPs) in his farming operation including no-till planting, buffers, and cover crops.  His cash crops include soybeans and corn.  He also maintains a small herd of beef cattle. The staff and Board of the Eastern Shore SWCD awarded Young Farms with the Conservation Farmer Award for their tireless conservation efforts. 

  • 2024 Conservation Partner Award:

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The District recognized a conservation partner who works with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to enhance wildlife habitat and to protect water quality. Nominated by the NRCS Accomack Office, the 2024 Conservation Partner Award was presented to Robbie Lewis- Area Forester, VA Department of Forestry.  Robbie developed a passion for the outdoors as a child when he was hunting with his grandfather.  As the district forester for the Eastern Shore he helps manage the local forests and provides help and advice to private landowners on their forestry practices.  He is active with wildfire suppression, coastal resiliency work, and has been the Eastern Shore Envirothon Forestry Judge for many years. The Eastern Shore Soil & Water Conservation District recognized Robbie Lewis with the 2024 Conservation Partner Award for all of his conservation efforts.
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Robbie Lewis- 2024 Conservation Partner Awardee and Nick Thomas- ESSWCD Chair

  • 2024 Conservation Educator Award:

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Each year the District chooses an educator who has made significant contributions towards educating others about our natural resources and conservation practices.  In 2024 the District awarded Angela Neal.  Angela currently works as the guidance counselor at Chincoteague Elementary School.  She was formerly a 5th grade teacher focusing on science and mathematics at CES.  She enjoyed bringing hands-on experience to her students. She has pushed her students to think beyond the test and understand the why’s and where’s of the concepts. The staff and Board of the Eastern Shore SWCD awarded Angela Neal with the Conservation Educator Award for the many contributions she has made to education on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
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Angela Neal- 2024 Conservation Educator Awardee and Nick Thomas- ESSWCD Chair

  • 2024 Conservation Stewardship Award:

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The District awards deserving landowners who participated in the VCAP program to improve water quality on the Eastern Shore.  The District’s 2024 Conservation Stewardship Award was presented to Norman and Susan Colpitts. When Norman and Susan Colpitts moved to their property, they quickly realized that there were significant erosion issues with their shoreline. The shoreline was vulnerable due to the wave action caused by wind and boats but also an odd phenomenon where fresh water was seeping from underground onto the affected shoreline. After learning about the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) they applied and were approved to begin construction on 164 linear feet of living shoreline.  The project included a 3-level oyster castle enclosure, tons of sand that were brought in, coir logs, and marsh grass plantings.  After the main structures were put into place, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation provided oysters in hopes of repopulating them on the shoreline. Eastern Shore Soil & Water Conservation District recognized Norman and Susan Colpitts and awarded them with the 2024 Conservation Stewardship Award for all of their conservation efforts related to the success of their Living Shoreline practice.   
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Norman Colpitts- 2024 Conservation Stewardship Awardee and  Nick Thomas- ESSWCD Chair

  • 2024 Clean Water Farm Awardee:

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The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries have 11,684 miles of shoreline—more than the entire U.S. west coast.  Approximately 51 billion gallons of water flow into the Bay each day.  It is important we all do our part to keep our waterways clean so we are pleased to recognize farmers who are good stewards of our soil and water resources.  The Clean Water Farm award, is a State award sponsored by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, DCR, given to Virginia farmers who implement nutrient management plans and are exemplary in their protection of the State’s soil and water resources. The 2024 Clean Water Farm Award was presented to Nathan Eulo of Eulo Farms. Nathan farms about 1,50 acres of cropland and has about 20 acres of woodland. He utilizes several BMP’s including no-till farming methods, cover crops, and 100-foot buffers on any farmland adjacent to wetland soils. He also follows nutrient management plan to help decrease run-off into the Chesapeake Bay.  He has participated in career days with local schools explaining the importance and role of a farmer.  The staff and Board of Eastern Shore SWCD felt Nathan was well deserving of this award and was a model steward of the land so much so, they also nominated him for the Grand Coastal Basin Award which he was also awarded during the VASWCD Conference in Roanoke, VA. 
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Nathan Eulo- 2024 Clean Water Farm Awardee and  Nick Thomas- ESSWCD Chair
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  • 2024 District Scholarships:

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The W. Foster Fletcher Conservation Scholarship is available to Eastern Shore of VA residents who have graduated high school and will be attending college in the fall. The William H. Beasley, Sr. Memorial Scholarship is available to Eastern Shore of VA residents who are current enrolled in college.  Both scholarships require curriculums related to natural resources to qualify. The District awarded two W. Foster Fletcher Conservation Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each in 2024.    
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​W. Foster Fletcher Conservation Scholarship​

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Luke Young of Parksley, VA, 2023 graduate of Broadwater Academy, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.  Luke will be attending VA Tech majoring in Agribusiness. He plans to return to the Eastern Shore after graduation and work with alongside his father on the family farm in Parksley.
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Luke Young- 2024 W. Foster Fletcher Conservation Scholarship awardee

W. Foster Fletcher Conservation Scholarship​​

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​Colin Hopper of Cape Charles, VA, 2023 graduate of Northampton High School, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Colin will be attending VA Tech in the fall in the ag program.  He would like to complete his degree in ag and come back to the Eastern Shore and farm with his father and grandfather.  He wants to be the farmer looked at for good soil practices and one that does not pollute the creeks with run-off.  Colin said, "I love farming. It is my passion to grow the best crop and feed the world". 
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Colin Hopper- 2024 William H. Beasley Sr. Memorial Scholarship awardee
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