Clermont Foundation

TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURE, HISTORY, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS USING THE LANDSCAPE OF THE 18TH CENTURY PLANTATION AT CLERMONT FARM IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VIRGINIA, OWNED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPT. OF HISTORIC RESOURCES.

AGRICULTURE: THE FOUNDATION USES THE 360-ACRE CLERMONT FARM SITE AND OTHER LAND AS A COMMERCIAL BEEF CATTLE AND SHEEP OPERATION, WHICH IS THE BASIS FOR: A) PRESERVING INTACT AND SUSTAINABLY AN HISTORIC AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE, AND B.) PROVIDING AN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGINIA TECH AND ITS MIDDLEBURG AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER. CLERMONT FARM ALSO SERVES AS THE TEACHING FARM FOR THE LOCAL CLARKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, AND SUPPORTS WORKING FARMERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE. IN 2021, AN ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING CONTRACT WAS AWARDED BY THE STATE TO MAIN STREET ARCHITECTURE FOR THE REPLACEMENT BARNS AND PLANNING BEGAN. EIGHT YEARS OF SHARED STAFFING WITH VT CONCLUDED AND FOUNDATION FARM STAFF WERE HIRED. RESEARCH WITH VIRGINIA TECH ON AN AGRIVOLTAIC SOLAR PROJECT (GRAZING UNDER SOLAR) WAS EXPANDED. BEEKEEPER TRAINING AND PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSES RESUMED,AND AMERICAN KESTREL PRESERVATION EXPANDED.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION: THE FOUNDATION DEMONSTRATES BEST HISTORIC PRESERVATION PRACTICES AND CONDUCTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS ABOUT THEM FOR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, USING THE DOZEN HISTORIC BUILDINGS (18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES) ABOVE GROUND AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES BEING PROTECTED UNDERGROUND. REHABILITATION OF AND REPAIRS TO HISTORIC BUILDINGS ARE USED NOT ONLY AS ACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEMONSTRATIONS OF BEST PRACTICES AND APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES, BUT ALSO TO CONDUCT FURTHER RESEARCH ON AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE BUILDINGS. IN 2021, SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAMS WERE EXPANDED, TWO HISTORIC CESS PITS WERE IDENTIFIED AND DOCUMENTED. ON-SITE TOURS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD WORK CONTINUED TO BE SUSPENDED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. INVENTORYING OF ALL ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORTS WAS SYSTEMATIZED. PREPARATION OF RENEWAL OF CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAMS ALONG CREEK AND WETLANDS.

HISTORY: THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF THE FARM, ITS REGIONAL AND ECONOMIC TIES, AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED AND WORKED THERE. THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS ARCHIVES OF FAMILY PAPERS RELATED TO THE FARM AND COLLECTIONS OF HISTORIC FURNISHINGS AND OBJECTS. THE LONG-TERM PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY PROGRAM MENTIONED ABOVE ALSO SUPPORTS THESE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION OBJECTIVES. IN 2021, A VIDEO WAS MADE FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LIEU OF THE ANNUAL VISIT BY ALL COUNTY 4TH GRADERS TO ILLUSTRATE AND PROMOTE DISCUSSION ABOUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ARCHAEOLOGY, AND THE LIFE OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE ON PLANTATIONS. GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH ON OWNERS AND THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES CONTINUED,A BASIS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE ENSLAVED AT CLERMONT AND DEVELOPING NEW MATERIAL FOR WEBSITE.

AGRICULTURE: THE FOUNDATION USES THE 360-ACRE CLERMONT FARM SITE AND OTHER LAND AS A COMMERCIAL BEEF CATTLE AND SHEEP OPERATION, WHICH IS THE BASIS FOR: A) PRESERVING INTACT AND SUSTAINABLY AN HISTORIC AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE, AND B.) PROVIDING AN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGINIA TECH AND ITS MIDDLEBURG AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER. CLERMONT FARM ALSO SERVES AS THE TEACHING FARM FOR THE LOCAL CLARKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, AND SUPPORTS WORKING FARMERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE. IN 2021, AN ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING CONTRACT WAS AWARDED BY THE STATE TO MAIN STREET ARCHITECTURE FOR THE REPLACEMENT BARNS AND PLANNING BEGAN. EIGHT YEARS OF SHARED STAFFING WITH VT CONCLUDED AND FOUNDATION FARM STAFF WERE HIRED. RESEARCH WITH VIRGINIA TECH ON AN AGRIVOLTAIC SOLAR PROJECT (GRAZING UNDER SOLAR) WAS EXPANDED. BEEKEEPER TRAINING AND PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSES RESUMED,AND AMERICAN KESTREL PRESERVATION EXPANDED.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION: THE FOUNDATION DEMONSTRATES BEST HISTORIC PRESERVATION PRACTICES AND CONDUCTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS ABOUT THEM FOR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, USING THE DOZEN HISTORIC BUILDINGS (18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES) ABOVE GROUND AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES BEING PROTECTED UNDERGROUND. REHABILITATION OF AND REPAIRS TO HISTORIC BUILDINGS ARE USED NOT ONLY AS ACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEMONSTRATIONS OF BEST PRACTICES AND APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES, BUT ALSO TO CONDUCT FURTHER RESEARCH ON AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE BUILDINGS. IN 2021, SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAMS WERE EXPANDED, TWO HISTORIC CESS PITS WERE IDENTIFIED AND DOCUMENTED. ON-SITE TOURS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD WORK CONTINUED TO BE SUSPENDED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. INVENTORYING OF ALL ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORTS WAS SYSTEMATIZED. PREPARATION OF RENEWAL OF CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAMS ALONG CREEK AND WETLANDS.

HISTORY: THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF THE FARM, ITS REGIONAL AND ECONOMIC TIES, AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED AND WORKED THERE. THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS ARCHIVES OF FAMILY PAPERS RELATED TO THE FARM AND COLLECTIONS OF HISTORIC FURNISHINGS AND OBJECTS. THE LONG-TERM PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY PROGRAM MENTIONED ABOVE ALSO SUPPORTS THESE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION OBJECTIVES. IN 2021, A VIDEO WAS MADE FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LIEU OF THE ANNUAL VISIT BY ALL COUNTY 4TH GRADERS TO ILLUSTRATE AND PROMOTE DISCUSSION ABOUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ARCHAEOLOGY, AND THE LIFE OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE ON PLANTATIONS. GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH ON OWNERS AND THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES CONTINUED,A BASIS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE ENSLAVED AT CLERMONT AND DEVELOPING NEW MATERIAL FOR WEBSITE.