On June 16, it’s a tuneful ‘View’

Dawn Landes, the singer-songwriter who has recently graced the stage at Wolf Trap and Lincoln Center, is coming to Rappahannock to perform at the Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance’s (RCCA) eighth annual Rappahannock Evening View on Saturday evening, June 16.

Fusing the worlds of country, folk and indie rock, Landes’ strong voice and soothing guitar will add to the fun at this year’s RCCA event, to be held at Long View, the F.T. Valley home of Cheri and Martin Woodard.

“The Evening View is our annual neighbor-to-neighbor event dedicated to raising

money and awareness for farmland preservation,” says RCCA president Jennifer Aldrich. “It is our chance to recognize private donors who keep our farmers farming and our natural vistas unadulterated and it is an informal social gathering for those curious about whys and wherefores of easements to ask their questions of previous donors.”

“Along with great music and conversation, barbeque lovers will be thrilled with the buffet, which features locallysourced slow- cooked meats from Don Weakley at Etlan’s Little Country Store and all the fixins,” says Susanne Louisell, chair of this year’s event. Renowned chef Dayn Smith of Glen Gordon Manor in Huntly will provide the perfect counterpoint with hors d’oeuvres, festive salads and colorful veggies, not to mention some outrageous desserts – and all taking advantage of our local farms’ seasonal produce.

Thanks to many generous sponsorships from the community, RCCA is not holding its traditional live auction but there is still a grand prize raffle of a week’s stay at a beautiful home in the south of France. In addition, there will be four stuffed raffle packages with Father’s Day, Summer Fun, Home and Garden and Arts and Entertainment themes. Thanks to the Inn at Little Washington, RCCA will again offer its raffle for an evening of exquisite dining.

“One of the few things that has not changed about this year’s celebration is the dedication of our fundraising efforts to the Rappahannock County Farmland Preservation Program [ FPP]. Since 2005, when RCCA held its first Evening View, we have donated $120,000 to the FPP, more than any other private donor. Those funds have helped to preserve nearly 700 acres of farmland in Rappahannock, including 236 acres just added last year,” says Aldrich.

Tickets are on sale now for evening and for the raffles at RCCA’s website. “We look forward to an evening of entertainment and fine dining with our conservation community and we hope you will join us in our mission to keep Rappahannock the gem it is for generations to come,” says Louisell.

Tickets and event information can be found online at rccava.org or by calling RCCA’s executive director, Nathan Jenkins, at 540-987-9118.

RCCA is an organization of Rappahannock residents and friends dedicated to preserving the rural and agricultural landscape of the county. RCCA encourages landowners to consider conservation easements as a tool for preserving our farms, our working forests and our views. The group exists to raise money for the purchase of easements on agricultural land and as an information source for anyone considering an easement donation.

Toni Egger is a member of the RCCA board of directors.