News

Middleburg Humane Foundation Names Sally Price as Executive Director

Experienced director of nonprofits takes helm at growing rescue.

MARSHALL, VA, Feb. 13, 2023 — The Middleburg Humane Foundation announced that Sally Brecht Price has been named executive director. MHF, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of abused animals and conquering the cycle of abuse through humane education.

Price has more than 30 years of experience assisting multiple nonprofit organizations as executive director and/or development director. She was director of development and executive director of an animal shelter in Charleston, South Carolina, for two years. While there, she developed relationships with key donors that resulted in major gifts; improved policies and procedures; and established a board committee structure. She was also instrumental in leading the organization through a difficult transition. Most recently, she was executive director of Land Trust of Virginia for six years where she tripled the staff and the amount of funds raised. She also increased the number of conservation easements each year. LTV now holds more easements than any other private land trust in Virginia. While at The Ocean Conservancy, Price was instrumental in bringing in millions of dollars — far exceeding fundraising goals.

Sally Price. Photo courtesy of Vicki Bendure.

“We are very excited to welcome Sally as executive director,” said Josh Muss, chairman of the board of the Middleburg Humane Foundation. “Her experience, accomplishments, and skillset will be a huge asset to our organization.”

Middleburg Humane Foundation has a new state-of-the-art facility in the western part of Marshall that has become a model for other rescues across the U.S. It is one of the region’s largest diverse animal shelters housing cats, dogs, equines, livestock, and small mammals.

The foundation recently implemented a plan of strategic growth in grant-funded programs, development, and outreach. This plan builds on the successes of MHF’s fundraising events expanding in Loudoun, Prince William, and Fauquier counties in addition to the annual gala.

“My career focus has been to help nonprofits to grow and evolve into the best organizations possible,” said Price. “I look forward to working with the Middleburg Humane Foundation team to bring the foundation to the next level, making a positive difference for even more animals and people living in our area.”

Price resides in Linden, Virginia. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from The State College of New Jersey. She has been an animal rescuer her entire life and spends her spare time with family and her myriad of rescued cats and dogs.

Posted on: February 13, 2023

Land Trust of Virginia Announces New Easement

12 Building Lots erased, Scenic Rural Viewshed Preserved

Contact: Sally Price, Executive Director
540-687-8441
[email protected]

MIDDLEBURG, Va., Oct. 10, 2022 – The Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) is pleased to announce a conservation easement on Brian and Kalie Lasley’s property in Rectortown, Fauquier County. This 37.5-acre property ensures the scenic viewshed along Crenshaw Road will remain for future generations.

“I grew up in L.A. so I know what urban sprawl looks like when there is no type of plan in place,” said Kalie. “We’ve watched the development creep out to this area and know that will continue to happen unless something is done. That is part of the reason why we moved to this area, to be a part of a community that is and will remain, rural and so now we have played a part by ensuring that this land will not become a housing development.”

The Lasley’s property includes nearly 1,000 feet of frontage on Crenshaw Road and is located within the Cromwell’s Run Rural Historic District. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia Landmarks Register in 2008, this district comprises of over 14,000 acres of rolling farmland centered along Atoka Road. During the Civil War it saw significant activity due to its close association with Confederate Colonel John S. Mosby and his infamous Rangers. Though beef and dairy cattle are still raised there, horses have become an important basis of the economy, and the predominance of foxhunting within the district since the early 20th century has earned the area its sobriquet as Virginia’s “Hunt Country.”

Additional natural resources now protected include about 27 acres of “Prime Farmland Soils” or “Farmland Soils of Statewide Importance” and nine acres of forest.

“The Lasley’s have been wonderful supporters of LTV for many years and their property is a beautiful piece of rural Fauquier County,” said LTV Executive Director, Sally Price. “We are excited to record an easement with this family that truly understands our work and wants to ensure the future of our open space.”

The Lasley’s easement is the 220^th easement completed by the Land Trust of Virginia. For more information about their work, please visit http://www.landtrustva.org.

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About the Land Trust of Virginia

The Land Trust of Virginia is a nonprofit organization that partners with private landowners who voluntarily protect and preserve properties with significant historic, scenic, or ecological value. LTV has worked with 220 families, conserving a total of 26,145 acres in 24 counties in Virginia. While LTV charges landowners for their services, the fees charged only cover about 28% of LTV’s actual costs so fundraising is essential to our mission.

Wakefield Names Academic Building in Honor of Trustee Emeritus General John Fairfield

Contact: Ms. Tutt Stapp-McKiernan, Communications Associate for Wakefield School
(working from home) 540-987-9061
[email protected]

Wakefield’s Middle and Upper School building now bears the name of one of the school’s most devoted, beloved, and respected community members.

The Plains, VA, September 8, 2022—In an announcement timed to coincide with both the opening of school and the launching of Wakefield School’s year-long celebration of its 50^th anniversary, Head of School Ashley Harper unveiled on the first day of school a portrait of Lieutenant General John Fairfield, USAF Ret., commemorating the naming of the campus’s Middle and Upper School building in his honor.

The announcement came at the new school year’s first All-School Assembly and was part of a festive surprise celebration for the General, who had been invited as the assembly’s keynote speaker but who had no idea he and his wife Donna were also the event’s honorees. The festivities featured the posting of the colors by a JROTC Color Guard commanded by Wakefield senior Kate Laing, remarks from Mrs. Harper and others, and the presence of many invited guests, including alumni, alumni parents, former faculty, and Trustees past and present, there to honor General and Mrs. Fairfield’s 20-plus years of devoted service to Wakefield School.

Left: General and Mrs. John Fairfield during remarks in their honor. Right: From left, General and Mrs. Fairfield, Eileen Quenell, Chair of Wakefield’s Board of Trustees, and Ashley Harper, Head of School, at the unveiling of the General’s portrait that will henceforth hang in The Fairfield Building on Wakefield’s campus.

Among the alumni guests were several in uniform, former students inspired by Fairfield’s example to choose military careers—though he has equally ardent admirers among students, faculty, and alumni who have chosen aviation, engineering, art, biology, theater, photography, or education as their passion. When Mrs. Harper asked for each student, faculty and staff member, and parent who had “had the privilege of being read to, championed, mentored, or encouraged by General or Mrs. Fairfield” to please stand, the entire gymnasium full of people rose to their feet.

Fairfield served a storied 34-year-long career in the US Air Force, during which he logged over 4,000 flight hours and 180 combat missions during the Vietnam War, as well as holding command positions in the Strategic Air Command and at the Pentagon, at times commanding more than 85,000 personnel worldwide.

In addition to his 18 years as a Trustee and Trustee Emeritus of Wakefield’s Board, and his role with Mrs. Fairfield as grandparents of a Wakefield alumna and “lifer,” General Fairfield has, according to Mrs. Harper, “chaperoned over 15 Senior beach weeks, joined countless Senior kayak trips, co-taught Dr. Daryanani’s leadership class, read weekly to the Junior Kindergarten classes, including virtually during the pandemic, and served literally thousands of hours helping on campus…The servant leadership demonstrated by John and Donna Fairfield goes farther than one can begin to describe.”

Dr. Tanya Hyatt Named Assistant Head of School at Foxcroft School

*Dr. Tanya Hyatt, Assistant Head of School for Foxcroft School.* *Photo Courtesy of Foxcroft School.*

MIDDLEBURG, VA — Dr. Tanya Hyatt has been named Assistant Head of School at Foxcroft School, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Hyatt, who has a wealth of boarding school administrative and teaching experience, comes to Foxcroft from Indian Springs School outside of Birmingham, AL, a day and boarding school for grades 8-12, where she was Dean of Faculty.

“I am thrilled to be at Foxcroft,” shared Dr. Hyatt. “As a scientist, I have always worked to increase girls’ engagement in STEM classes and careers and am excited to be at a school committed to empowering young women to reach their full potential and gain confidence in their abilities. The way Foxcroft nurtures every girl to find her passion(s), her voice, and her authentic self are what drew me here, and I look forward to working with each student to find the right learning path for them.”

As Dean of Faculty at Indian Springs, Dr. Hyatt led all aspects of hiring, mentoring new faculty, and planning faculty meetings and professional development, among other responsibilities. Under her leadership, Indian Springs revised the hiring process to work to eliminate bias and increase faculty of color. She also worked to implement a new annual faculty evaluation using Folio Collaborative. Prior to serving as Dean of Faculty, she was the School’s Dean of Academics, working to strengthen course offerings, improve the academic schedule, integrate study skills into the curriculum, and increase classroom technology use. The faculty, administrators, and Board of Trustees at Indian Springs held her in such esteem that she was appointed Acting Head of School for four months in 2019 when the Head left unexpectedly before the end of the academic year.

“While Dr. Hyatt is uniquely qualified for the Assistant Head of School position,” confirmed Foxcroft Head of School Cathy McGehee, “it was her warm spirit, calm presence, listening skills, and philosophy of educating the whole child that stood out during her meetings with our faculty, administrators, parents, and students. She impressed the search committee with her ‘all-in’ commitment to teaching and living at a boarding school.”

Dr. Hyatt earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and a Ph.D. in Nutrition Science from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. She has published research on nutrition, some specifically related to women, and has also earned her paramedic license and national certification. While at Indian Springs, Dr. Hyatt held several positions, including Science Department Chair, Dorm Faculty, Administrator on Duty, and faculty liaison to the judiciary committee of the Student Government. She also taught a range of STEM courses, including AP Biology and AP Environmental Science, molecular genetics, research methods, human anatomy, and nutrition.

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About Foxcroft School

Founded in 1914, Foxcroft School is a college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12 and PG with a mission of helping every girl explore her unique voice and develop the skills, confidence, and courage to share it with the world. Foxcroft offers 72-76 courses, including 16+ AP classes and 5+ post-AP offerings, and a STEM program that inspires girls to pursue studies in fields where women are underrepresented. Foxcroft fields athletic teams in 11 sports and has a nationally known riding program. For more information about the School, please explore our website at www.foxcroft.org or call 540.687.5555.

Unbranded, A Wild Mustang Expedition

SIXTEEN MUSTANGS + FOUR MEN = ONE DREAM

Enjoy a special screening of Unbranded: A Wild Mustang Expedition at the Long Branch Historic House & Farm in Boyce, Virginia from 6-9 p.m. on June 21.

The documentary tracks four fresh-out-of-college buddies as they take on wild mustangs to be their trusted mounts, and set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Sixteen mustangs, four men, one dream: to ride border to border, Mexico to Canada, up the spine of the American West. Their wildness of spirit, in both man and horse, is quickly dwarfed by the wilderness they must navigate: a 3,000-mile gauntlet that is equally indescribable and unforgiving.

A special equineart show and history exhibit accompany the event and a wine reception proceeds the film. Presented in collaboration with Long Branch and sponsored by TDC Investment Advisors. Tickets are $10 in advance / $15 at door. Go to visitlongbranch.org for more information.

NSLM Announces New Executive Director

The National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) in Middleburg has appointed Elizabeth von Hassell as executive director. She will join NSLM this month.

“We are thrilled to welcome Elizabeth as NSLM’s Executive Director,” said Manuel H. Johnson, chairman of the NSLM Board of Directors. “She brings a wide range of experience to our organization. We are excited to begin working with her to grow NSLM.”

The National Sporting Library & Museum is in the heart of beautiful hunt country. Founded in 1954, the renowned research library, and fine art museum highlights the rich heritage and tradition of country pursuits. It offers a wide variety of educational programs, exhibitions, and family activities throughout the year, and is open to researchers and the general public. Visitors can explore many subjects including angling, horsemanship, shooting, steeplechasing, foxhunting, flat racing, polo, coaching, and wildlife in the organization’s general stacks, rare book holdings, archives, and art collection.

Von Hassell previously served as the director of development at James Madison’s Montpelier. In that capacity, she worked closely with Montpelier’s leadership on conservation and preservation projects.

“The Montpelier Foundation, stewards of the home and legacy of James Madison, with great regret announced the departure of Elizabeth von Hassell who has been recruited to take over leadership of the National Sporting Library & Museum,” said Kat Imhoff, president and CEO of James Madison’s Montpelier. “During her tenure, Montpelier has raised over $45 million but as important has seen an increase in membership and engagement due to her drive and dedication. Elizabeth will always be considered a member of the Montpelier family but her energy, enthusiasm and plain out-right fun spirit will be missed on a daily basis by all. We look forward however to partnering with the NSLM to promote conservation and other opportunities to support their and our work in the Piedmont.”

Before joining Montpelier in 2014, von Hassell worked at Shenandoah University and spent 25 years living and working between New York City and Clarke County, Virginia as a vice president of marketing in the pharmaceutical industry. Born in Winchester, Virginia, she is a graduate of Hollins University. An avid outdoor person, she enjoys riding, hiking, canoeing, fishing, shooting, and tennis.

Von Hassell is currently on the board of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and has served on the boards of the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, Millwood Country Club, Long Branch Historic Plantation, Old Chatham Hunt Club, and the Lost Brigade Wounded Warrior Foundation.

This article first appeared in the December 2018 issue of Middleburg Life.