John Hutchinson Named Executive Director
By Scott Kelly on Tuesday, December 10th, 2019 in Land Conservation | No Comments
By Scott Kelly on Tuesday, December 10th, 2019 in Land Conservation | No Comments
The board of directors of Valley Conservation Council (VCC) announced today that Staunton native John Hutchinson will serve as its new Executive Director. Hutchinson, who brings with him over three decades of conservation and development experience, will take the helm of the organization on January 1, 2020, aiming to expand Valley Conservation Council’s membership and […]
By Scott Kelly on Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 in VCC Programs | No Comments
As the first leaves begin to turn along the ridge lines that surround us, we are reminded that time brings change to VCC as well. Throughout our history, we have facilitated land protection, promoted smart growth, advocated for appropriate transportation solutions, and most recently, served as the “boots on the ground” to put more land […]
By Scott Kelly on Friday, October 4th, 2019 in Land Conservation, Natural Resources, VCC Programs | No Comments
When John Sweet made the decision to donate his 400-acre Highland County farm to VCC, his hope was that the farm might be used to help educate future conservationists for generations to come. Less than a year after making the gift, Sweet’s vision had already become a reality when David Weisenbeck, a student at James […]
By Scott Kelly on Wednesday, August 28th, 2019 in VCC Programs | No Comments
Use the link below to read our 2018 Annual Report: VCC_Annual Report 2018
By Scott Kelly on Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 in Conservation Easements | No Comments
Staunton, VA (Aug 6, 2019) – Conserving the farms, forests, and open spaces of the Shenandoah Valley since 1990, Valley Conservation Council (VCC) has helped protect tens of thousands of acres and countless miles of rivers and streams. VCC recently received word that it has achieved national recognition – joining a network of over 400 […]
By Scott Kelly on Friday, June 21st, 2019 in VCC Programs | No Comments
Valley Conservation Council will soon be looking for a new Executive Director to lead the next chapter in VCC’s growth and development. Under the leadership of Natasha Skelton, VCC doubled the amount of land we steward, received a gift of a 400-acre farm in Highland County on which we plan to host educational seminars and […]
By Scott Kelly on Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 in VCC Programs | No Comments
This October, Valley Conservation Council (VCC) celebrated the completion of its 50th conservation easement, a significant milestone in the organization’s history. Over the course of the past year, VCC has worked with landowners to protect six new properties in four counties to ensure the permanent preservation of over 1,100 acres. Combined with the donation of […]
By Scott Kelly on Friday, November 16th, 2018 in Agricultural Vitality, Conservation Easements, Land Conservation, Natural Resources, VCC Programs | No Comments
Marc and Eileen Read feel strongly about conserving land, especially when they look across the river from their 89- acre farm and see the small lot subdivision developed in recent years. To ensure that this would never happen to their property, they recently donated a conservation easement to VCC. The easement is designed to protect […]
By Scott Kelly on Friday, November 16th, 2018 in Land Conservation, VCC Programs | No Comments
Highland County resident John Sweet has been named Valley Conservation Council’s Conservator of the Year. The award, presented at Valley Conservation Council’s (VCC) annual conservation celebration, recognized Sweet’s lifetime of environmental stewardship, culminating most recently with a donation of his 386-acre farm to the organization. “When it came time for VCC’s board and staff to […]
By Scott Kelly on Wednesday, September 26th, 2018 in VCC Programs | No Comments
Valley Conservation Council (VCC) is pleased to announce the promotion of Natasha Skelton to Executive Director. Skelton, who joined the organization in early 2017 as Associate Director for Outreach, brings with her a background in agricultural education and communications management along with a lifetime of experience building relationships with individuals and organizations throughout the Shenandoah […]