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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.

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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

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© 2024 by The Virginia Soil Health Coalition

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