The Potomac Valley Conservation District’s annual awards luncheon was held Oct. 5 at the North Fork Ruritan Club building. The event celebrates the region’s deep agricultural roots and the people, both young and old, who continue to shape its future. Guests enjoyed a hearty buffet meal before Charlotte Hoover, chairperson, and Lois Carr, supervisor, kicked off the afternoon’s recognitions.
This year’s program placed special emphasis on the Century Farm Awards, recognizing families who have farmed the same tract of land for a century or more, a testament to the longstanding agricultural traditions of the Potomac Valley. In some cases, the farms have remained in the same hands for 150 years (sesquicentennial) and even 200 years (bicentennial).
The only Bicentennial Award was presented to the Nelson family of Circleville, whose Legacy Nelson Land dates to 1793 when the original 169 acres were land-granted to John Nelson, Sr. The property has remained in family hands for more than two centuries, with generations continuing the grazing and livestock operations that define its history. The current owner, Lorella Lee Nelson-Mitchell, raised sheep and cattle on the property until 2003, and it is still in operation.
Another Bicentennial Award was presented to Helen and the late John Heavner of Upper Tract, whose Heavner Farm has stood since 1872 and now spans several hundred acres of cropland and pasture. Today the farm currently has 200 head of cattle, 570 acres of corn, 70 acres of wheat and 200 acres of hay.
Three Hardy County operations joined the distinguished list with Century Awards.
Doug and Cindy Crites and David and Allie Rohrbaugh were recognized for their Rock Island Farm in Hardy County, established in 1868 and still producing Charolais cattle and crops on the same land their ancestors purchased more than 150 years ago.
Amy Crites Kile and her husband, Allan, were honored for the Little Em Cattle Company, established in 1924 and known for its purebred Charolais herd.
McCauley Black Acre Farm, founded in 1881 and still operated today as a cattle farm by Steve McCauley, was recognized.
Hoover congratulated all the winners, acknowledging that the families represent the heart of farming in the Potomac Valley and help showcase how vital agriculture is to the area’s land and way of life.
Conservation Farm Awards, which recognize exemplary conservation practices and stewardship of natural resources, were also presented. The Traditional Conservation Farm Award went to Joe Alexander and family, while Hope Yankee and her family’s Wilding Woolly Farm received the Non-Traditional Farm Award. Both operations will represent the Potomac Valley in the upcoming state-level competition in Flatwoods.
Youth achievements were also recognized. Several Envirothon teams received awards, including students from Hampshire High, East Hardy High School, and Moorefield High School, whose team placed sixth in statewide competition. Gretchen Cremann, Moorefield advisor, was honored as the 2025 West Virginia Envirothon Adviser of the Year.
Grant recipients were also recognized for their community outreach projects. Missy Whetzel, a Petersburg High School teacher and FFA adviser, was applauded for her $8,800 grant from the West Virginia Conservation District focused on reintroducing agriculture to one’s backyard, with an emphasis on processing poultry at home. Gini LaMaster was also recognized for securing two grants totaling $20,000 for her sustainable and small-scale climate smart agricultural programs in partnership with Powder Keg Farms. Carr noted it was a pleasure working with both of these ladies in securing their grants.
Longtime district supervisors were also recognized for their years of service, including David Parker and Lois Carr (five years), Frank Weese (10 years), and George Leatherman and Ronald Miller (15 years).
