In October, Education Conservation Specialist, Lowery Becker, nominated Mr. and Mrs. Stilmar of Northumberland County for the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) Participant Award. In 2019, Lowery started working with Ben and Jane Stilmar on their living shoreline project. They installed 150 linear feet of living shoreline at their home on Barnes Creek, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. They went to great lengths to study the tidal ranges, mark unexpected changes and question the makings of a living shoreline. Mr. Stilmar still regularly sends Lowery emails with updates on the living shoreline along with data analysis of how the alterniflora and patens are migrating, their success and how the tides are changing. They have also shared their experience with others. They are always open for a visit and have allowed us to use their shoreline as a training tool for VCAP and SEAS staff. Ben and Jane are welcoming, kind and good stewards of the environment. At the VASWCD annual meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Stilmar were presented with the VCAP Participant Award and their efforts were recognized in front of all 47 Soil & Water Conservation Districts. We couldn’t be more thrilled for the Stilmars in this amazing accomplishment.