Mary Louisa Pollard

My brother, Harry, still has our Grandfather's Parker side by side. I cannot remember a time when hunting and fishing weren't part of the activities of our family.

About 50 years ago, our parents purchased a parcel of land that straddles the Virginia/West Virginia border. My brother and I placed a conservation easement on the property and now it is used as an informal hunt club. The hunters take advantage of Muzzleloading season, Bow and Arrow season, all the Deer seasons and Spring Turkey season. Whether it is my Grandson's Brunswick Stew made with his first squirrel (he forgot to parboil the squirrel) or delicious game dinners prepared by experienced chefs, food and fellowship are important ingredients when the hunters gather around the wood cook stove.

Personally, I enjoy the simple pleasures of hiking, fishing and just being in the woods (aside from the delicious meals).

I have spent most of my life in rural Virginia and live on a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. My husband and I are out on the water on a regular basis. I have seen the number of work boats coming in and out of our creek diminish from 10 per day to 1 per day. The water quality of the Chesapeake needs to be improved so the sportsmen as well as commercial fishermen can be assured of a quality catch.

For the last 4 years I have spearheaded an effort to preserve open space in the five county region where I live. Our group has been very successful in helping landowners place conservation easements on their land. This has resulted in easements on over 4,500 acres assuring that the land will provide opportunity for farming, forestry, wildlife habitat, hunting, fishing and improved water quality.

As a grandmother, I am deeply concerned that my generation does its part in providing a place where our children and grandchildren can have the opportunity to hunt, fish and simply enjoy the out of doors.