Partner Profile

Alston Horn, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Person standing in grass field with tree tubes behind

Tattered bark of American Sycamore with leaves and sun shining through in background

Favorite riparian plant: Red Osier Dogwood

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How does your work support healthy streamside ecosystems in the James River watershed?

Riparian forested buffers are the last line of defense to protect live water in our community. I love assisting landowners with improving upland practices to make everything a giant sponge to uptake nutrients and absorb more rain to reduce runoff.

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What do you love most about your work?

Working with livestock producers to improve their operation and be more environmentally friendly.

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What was your journey/career path that led you to the work you do now?

I grew up on my family’s beef cattle farm in Mt Solon. I knew a lot of farmers that did a lot of good things for the environment, and I wanted to assist other farmers to do the same thing. After I graduated from Bridgewater College, with a degree in Environmental Science I was fortunate enough to work on multiple farms till I started working with CBF in 2010.

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What do you value most about the Consortium? How has it positively impacted your work?

The Consortium is great for learning from different participants that I wouldn’t normally interact with on a daily basis. It’s never too late to learn something new that could benefit the environment and local landowners.

About Alston Horn

Organization: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Title: Restoration Specialist