SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23106415D I SENATE JOfferedJOINT FebruaryRESOLUTION 17,NO. 2023 N Commending the River Basin Grand Winners of the Clean Water Farm Award.

––––––––––366 TE Patron––PetersenCommending Rthe ––––––––––River OBasin WHEREAS,Grand theWinners Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts provide farmers throughout the Commonwealth with education, technical assistance, andD incWHEREAS, the General Assembly passed legislation in 1998 to establish the Clean Water Farm UAward. Award Program, which is administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation;

andN Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2023 R Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 22, 2023 O WHEREAS, the CleanDepartment Waterof FarmConservation Awardand ProgramRecreation furthersand the Commonwealth'sSoil waterand qualityWater goalsConservation CL byDistricts recognizingprovide farmers activelythroughout engagedthe inCommonwealth implementingwith importanteducation, conservationtechnical practicesassistance, thatand cEntrolL nutrients,incentive sediment,programs andto otherencourage agriculturalnutrient nonpointreduction sourceand pollutants;water quality improvement;

and WHEREAS,Award theProgram, Soilwhich andis Wateradministered Conservationby Districts selected local farms across the DDepartment ComWHEREAS,of farmsConservation have been selected to represent the Commonwealth's major river basins and toRecreation; recognize the exemplary efforts of such farms in implementing best management practices;

andandarm E WHEREAS, the 2022Clean winnersWater are:Farm Award Program furthers the Commonwealth's water quality goals D by recognizing farmers actively engaged in implementing important conservation practices that control nutrients, sediment, and other agricultural nonpoint source pollutants;

Steve and CharlieCommonwealth Smith,for Holstonrecognition Vistain Farm,2022 Washingtonas County,winners forof the BigClean Sandy-UpperWater TennesseeFarm RiverAward; Basin;

Johnandthe Shepherd,WHEREAS, Shepherdfarms Grainhave Farms,been LLC,selected Nottowayto County,represent forthe Commonwealth's major river basins and to recognize the Chowanexemplary Riverefforts Basin;of such farms in implementing best management practices;

Theand TeelSteve Family,and CloverCharlie GreenSmith, Farm,Holston LLC,Vista AlbemarleFarm, Washington County, for the JamesBig Sandy-Upper J Tennessee River Basin;

J6 TheJohn HudginsShepherd, Family,Shepherd DRHGrain Farm,Farms, WytheLLC, Nottoway County, for the NewChowan River Basin;

6R KarlaJim H.Evans, Evans Farms, Accomack County, for the Coastal Basin;

The Hudgins Family, DRH Farm, Wythe County, for the New River Basin;ames River Basin;

Karla H.

Jacob and Jennifer Gilley, Heaven's Hollow Farm, Madison County, for the Rappahannock River BasBrian Hall, IJN, LLC, Halifax County, for the Roanoke River Basin;

BrianWeldon Hall,Heatwole, IJN,Cedar LLC,Ridge HalifaxDairy, Inc., Rockingham County, for the RoanokeShenandoah River Basin;

andWeldonand Heatwole,The CedarSedwick RidgeFamily, Dairy,Lakeland Inc.,Farm, RockinghamOrange County, for the ShenandoahYork River Basin;

Thenow, Sedwicktherefore, Family,be Lakelandit Farm,commend Orangeand County,congratulate forthe River Basin Grand Winners of the YorkClean RiverWater Basin;Farm Award;

now,and, therefore, be it RESOLVED byFURTHER, theThat Senate, the HouseClerk of Delegatesthe concurring,Senate Thatprepare thecopies Generalof Assemblythis herebyresolution commendfor andpresentation congratulateto the River Basin Grand Winners of the Clean Water Farm Award;Award as an expression of the resources and their outstanding conservation achievements.erving the Commonwealth's natural

and, be it 34 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare copies of this resolution for 35 presentation to the River Basin Grand Winners of the Clean Water Farm Award as an expression of the 37 resources and their outstanding conservation achievements.erving the Commonwealth's natural 2