Davis among winners of Virginia Grand Basin Clean Water Farm Awards

Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced the 10 winners of the 2025 Virginia Grand Basin Clean Water Farm Awards, honoring agricultural operations across the Commonwealth for outstanding leadership in soil and water conservation. Among this year’s winners is a local Eastern Shore operation — Davis Farms in New Church.

The awards recognize one farm from each of Virginia’s major river basins, highlighting producers who demonstrate that strong environmental stewardship and successful agriculture go hand in hand.

Governor Youngkin praised the recipients, saying Virginia’s farmers are environmental stewards whose innovation and hard work protect both the state’s economy and its natural resources. He said the award winners show how conservation practices can keep Virginia’s land and waterways healthy for generations.

Davis Farms, owned and operated by Tommy Davis, was nominated by the Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District. The farm was recognized for its commitment to practices that protect water quality and improve soil health, setting an example for agriculture on the Eastern Shore.

The Clean Water Farm Awards are administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, working alongside Virginia’s 47 soil and water conservation districts. Winners are selected for using proven best management practices such as no-till farming, cover crops, rotational grazing, and alternative watering systems — all designed to reduce runoff and protect local waterways.

State leaders emphasized that farmers play a critical role in addressing environmental challenges. Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Stefanie Taillon said protecting water quality is one of the most important issues facing Virginia today, and farmers like those at Davis Farms are meeting that challenge head-on.

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr added that conservation and agriculture are deeply connected, noting that protecting soil and water resources is essential to the long-term success of Virginia’s farms.