People of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition
The Virginia Soil Health Coalition is a broad network of diverse partners working to promote soil health across the commonwealth. We invite any organization that support our vision, mission, and common ground principles to share their logo as partners of the Coalition.
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The Coalition is guided by a Steering Committee of soil health leaders across the commonwealth. The Steering Committee helps foster connections throughout the state, provides guidance and direction, and helps move forward strategies of the Coalition.
Our Team
Mary Sketch Bryant, Director​
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​Mary is the Director of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and is based in Salem, Virginia. She has experience working with collaboratives and coalitions across the country at the intersection of economic and environmental wellbeing with a focus on working lands and rural communities. Prior to working with the Virginia Soil Health Coalition, she worked at the Center for Rural Strategies where she helped coordinate the Rural Assembly, a coalition of rural stakeholders across the US. She received her Master’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech and her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Brown University. Through her graduate research she worked directly with agricultural producers and conservation practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of how farmers and ranchers approach conservation and land management decisions.
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Summer Thomas, Education & Outreach Specialist
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​Summer Thomas grew up on her family’s dairy and grain farm in Marydel, Delaware, where she began learning about the importance of soil health. Her passion for agriculture grew as she worked alongside her family on their operation. She continued her agricultural education at the University of Delaware, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources with minors in Agribusiness and Environmental Soil Science. During her studies, Summer gained valuable experiences, including serving as a promotional ambassador for Delaware and Maryland watermelon producers, which helped her discover her love for teaching and extension. She decided to pursue graduate school, where she had the opportunity to work under Dr. Rory Maguire on a rotational bale grazing project. After earning her PhD, Summer joined Dr. John Fike’s team as a program coordinator for two climate-smart agriculture grants. In this role, she worked closely with producers to implement practices that benefit both the environmental and economic aspects of their operations.


Steering Committee
Eric Bendfeldt, Virginia Cooperative Extension
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Lydia Fitzgerald, Virginia Tech/VA NRCS
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Kristen Hughes-Evans, Sustainable Chesapeake
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Mike Kane, Piedmont Environmental Council
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Dr. Rory Maguire, Virginia Tech, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
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James Martin, VA Department of Conservation and Recreation
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Jamie Mierau, American Farmland Trust​
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Dr. Kendall Tyree, VA Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
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Brent Wills, Virginia Association of Biological Farming​
Partners
Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
American Farmland Trust
Appalachian Sustainable Development
Center for Natural Capital
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Colonial Soil & Water Conservation District
Common Grain Alliance
Conservation Innovation Fund
Conservation Management Institute
Conservation Partners
Evergreen Soil and Water Conservation District
Fauquier Education Farm
Foodshed Capital
Ferrum College of Agriculture
Green Fin Amendments
Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District
James River Association
Luck Ecosystems
Maryland and Virginia Milk Producer's Association
Mountains to Bay Grazing Alliance
National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) Soil for Water
Natural pHuel
Old Dominion Land Conservancy
Piedmont Environmental Council
Piedmont Soil & Water Conservation District
Smith Creek Watershed Partnership
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
Soil and Water Conservation Society, Virginia Chapter
Sustainable Chesapeake
Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District
Virginia Agribusiness Council
Virginia Association of Biological Farming
Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia Farm Bureau
Virginia Forage and Grassland Council
Virginia Master Gardeners
Virginia Natural Resources Conservation Service
Virginia State University College of Agriculture
Virginia Tech Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation
Virginia Tech School of Plant & Environmental Sciences
Virginia Turfgrass Council Environmental Institute
Virginia Working Landscapes
Wills Soil & Stream
2020 Farmers Cooperative
