Tracy Morris, PRG President

I grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A native of Greene County, I’m the third generation to live on the land my family has loved and cared for so many years. Growing up here as an only child, I spent much of my time rambling in the woods and being an observer of nature. Ever since, I’ve had an appreciation for the many gifts nature provides to our spirit. 

My career of close to 30 years has primarily focused on caring for people as a registered nurse. As much as I care for the patients I have served, I also care deeply about the rural areas of Greene County. Rural areas not only provide a habitat for the special plants and animals that live there, but are essential to our health and well-being too. 

As a graduate of the University of Virginia, receiving bachelorette and master’s degrees from the School of Nursing, I turn to UVA’s wise founder, Thomas Jefferson, to capture the importance of preserving our rural areas: “For if one link in nature’s chain might be lost, another might be lost, until the whole of things will vanish by piecemeal.” 

Greene County, the second smallest county in Virginia, has seen much growth over the last couple of decades. Growth and development are important to vitality. At the same time, preserving our rural areas and natural endowments is critical for sustainability for all. It’s tremendously gratifying to work with a group like Preserve Rural Greene (PRG), to engage in activities to support and advocate for the things that make Greene County so special, so that coming generations will be able to experience them as well. 

Scott McGehee, PRG Chief Executive Officer

My family’s roots in Virginia reach back to 1653 when my ancestor William Mackgaheye left Scotland to begin a new life in York County. Virginia remains the enduring home for many McGehees. For me, after graduating from the University of Virginia and a career working abroad with the U.S. Foreign Service, I came home too. I retired in 2019 and happily settled here in Greene County to begin my own new life.

In Greene I’ve rediscovered what has been lost in so many other places in Virginia – a deep-rooted appreciation and attachment to the land and a rural way of life.  To me this comes not just from living within forests and next to hills, fields, and farms.  It also comes from a shared understanding among those of us living here that our rural peace and tranquility is rare, precious, and fragile.

Today there are many challenges incrementally eroding this rural character.  I joined Preserve Rural Greene because its causes and purposes are important and urgent – to understand, to call attention to, and to take action in the face of such challenges.  As part of PRG I am finding ways to contribute to the growing community awareness of the need to stand together against encroaching degradations that pose threats to our unique, beautiful and precious home.

Chuck Covington, PRG Vice-President

I am a proud U.S. Air Force veteran and a descendant of the Covington family, whose roots in Virginia trace back to the 1600s as farmers in Essex County. As the unofficial Covington family historian, I have long been passionate about uncovering “the old ways”—not just of my ancestors but of Virginia as a whole.

Growing up in Virginia, I came to realize that our history classes often glossed over key events, such as how private lands were taken to form a national park. That realization sparked a curiosity about the untold stories of our region. I have spent countless hours learning from my neighbors, piecing together the rich history of Stanardsville and the greater Greene County area. These conversations remind me that history is not just something we read in books—it’s alive in the stories we share, the land we cherish, and the traditions we uphold.

I believe Preserve Rural Greene plays a vital role in protecting what makes our community special. More than ever, we must work to ensure that Greene’s traditions, rural character, and agricultural heritage are not lost to unchecked development. The more we understand our past, the more we appreciate the values that set us apart from the nation’s ever-expanding suburbs and cities. In recent years, we’ve seen persistent efforts to erode our agricultural- and conservation-zoned lands, one large parcel at a time. Through Preserve Rural Greene, I look forward to working alongside others to safeguard the landscapes that define us—so we don’t, quite literally, give away the farm.

Tina Merrill, PRG Secretary

In May 2025, my family celebrated our 25th anniversary in Greene County!  After years of visiting my parents in the South River Valley, I fell in love with our land. I have long dreamed of making this place my forever home, and finally last year I relocated here full time.

I first became aware of the development pressure in Greene County from my dad. He put our land in conservation easement with Virginia Outdoors Foundation in 2007. He and a group of neighbors then worked together to protect other nearby farms that became vulnerable to development. 

I raised my son in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, which is often cited as a model for economic development.  I witnessed the downside to rapid growth firsthand, and was heartbroken as the beautiful woodlands and wetlands that surrounded us were bulldozed to make way for housing and commercial developments. The threat that Greene County’s precious rural and wild places could also be lost forever is why I joined Preserve Rural Greene.  

Professionally, I serve our county as a hospice nurse. My career prior to nursing was in organizational management. I studied economics, earned an MBA, founded a successful business, and worked in renewable energy, software and non-profit.

When I am not hiking with my dogs, gardening or birdwatching, you can find me in the woods with my loppers, liberating native trees from constricting invasive vines.

Jan Covington, PRG Treasurer

To me, Preserving Rural Greene means protecting the rural character of our community, as well as the beauty of its farms, forests and streams.

I live on Lydia Mountain with my husband Chuck. We’ve experienced life in many places, thanks to the U.S. Air Force. After years moving around the U.S., and overseas, we were finally able to choose a place to settle down and eventually retire. We fell in love with Greene County’s beauty and rural charm, making it our home in 2016. 

Like many others in Greene, we choose to live here not only for the scenic beauty, but also for the quieter, peaceful lifestyle and the sense of rural community.  Here, people genuinely look out for each other and care for their neighbors. We’ve met so many wonderful people here and enjoy coming together in smaller, more personal gatherings. Instead of attending concerts in crowded arenas, we enjoy the simple pleasure of gathering under the stars to listen to local bands. Instead of battling for space in a busy gym, we chop firewood and take peaceful walks in the woods. Instead of waiting for a table at a chain restaurant, we can choose from family-owned businesses that greet us by name. Sometimes, a “night out” simply means enjoying a meal with neighbors at home. These are the kinds of experiences, along with the scenic beauty of rural Greene, I hope our children will be able to enjoy as they start their own families.  

Unfortunately, since we moved to Greene County in 2016, we’ve seen how rapid growth of new construction threatens Greene’s traditional rural character. I hope many others will join with Preserve Rural Greene in promoting more sensible approaches to development, to protect the things that make Greene special. 

Mike Baliko, member of PRG Board of Directors

I grew up near the rolling countryside of Pennsylvania and spent many hours on my uncle’s farm, fishing, shooting, exploring the forest, and learning from his sense of fulfillment and self-sufficiency. Through my later teens and early adulthood, I found myself drawn back to the mountains and their rivers and streams as often as possible. The mountains of the Blue Ridge, the western high deserts and Pacific mountains, Alaska, and the Arctic Circle all felt like they brought me closer to my Creator.  After years of military service took me across the country, out to sea, and back and forth from world conflicts, my wife and I sought a location for peace and renewal to raise our budding family.

Twelve years here in Greene County have passed quickly as our family has grown in parallel with our connection to the natural world. We’ve cherished the opportunity to work hard out in the fresh air, cultivating and harvesting our food. We’ve focused on stewarding native plants and trees on our land with our children and for the generations that follow. Through the years, we’ve been deeply grateful to learn from, and grow stronger with, our neighbors. So many around us have a rich heritage and gladly share their knowledge and resources. We’ve found a community of like-minded people who believe in doing the hard things right, standing up for one another, and preserving our priceless natural world for future generations. I’m excited that Preserve Rural Greene now gives all concerned citizens of Greene County a new opportunity to work together to safeguard what makes our home special. 

Hope Barber, member of PRG Board of Directors

I grew up on a farm in Shenandoah County, Virginia. After graduating from high school, I moved to Northern Virginia, where I met and married my husband, Steve. When our children were little, Steve became involved with a co-ed Explorer Scout troop. I stepped in as the female advisor, joining on many overnight camping, biking and caving trips – some pretty big outdoor learning experiences for us all. After raising our children, I started a home day care which I operated for 28 years. 

After 52 years in Northern Virginia, we sought a change from the fast-paced environment and relocated to Greene County in 2018. As a member of the Hensley family, with ancestors from the nearby Hensley Hollow area, living here in the Blue Ridge Mountains feels like a homecoming. The natural beauty, tranquility, and close-knit community of Greene County resonate deeply with me.

Currently, I’m involved in the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Cadillac Crew. I help with whatever I can, such as cabin maintenance and hosting work crew trips when they are doing trail maintenance in and around Greene County.  I enjoy time outdoors working in our little garden, and in the small greenhouse that gives us fresh greens in winter. 

I’m excited to be a member of Preserve Rural Greene (PRG). My goal is to contribute to PRG so future generations can continue to enjoy this special place. 

Steve Barber, member of PRG Board of Directors

I grew up in Arlington, Virginia, where suburban life never kept me from seeking nature. One of my fondest memories is of a creek behind our house, where my brothers and I spent countless hours exploring and playing. 

Love for, and work in, the outdoors has been a constant thread throughout my life. Early on, I found myself planting trees at a summer camp and working with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) on conservation projects. Later, I took on a Scoutmaster role. It didn’t take long to realize that our monthly campouts weren’t just about fun; they were lessons in responsibility, in appreciating the wild spaces around us, and in preserving them. Our projects to protect local streams also deepened our respect for nature. 

I started my career in land surveying in 1961, becoming a registered land surveyor. 

In 1973, my wife Hope and I became advisors for a co-ed Explorer Post focused on outdoor adventure. We climbed rocks, paddled rivers, biked long trails, and explored caves. These unforgettable experiences taught us how vital it is to protect outdoor spaces. 

In 1995, I joined the PATC as a trail maintainer and a cabin overseer. In repairing trails and building new ones, I saw firsthand the impact of work to preserve the landscape. In 2005, my son Tom and I set up Barber Construction, doing home renovations. It’s my long experience of stewardship, education, and conservation that fuels my passion for the work Preserve Rural Greene is doing today. Our rural spaces are fragile and I’m eager to help safeguard them for future generations. 

Brian Farinholt, member of PRG Board of Directors

I grew up on a farm in nearby Albemarle County. Back then, our place was surrounded by farms and forests. Over the next few decades, the woods and fields I explored when young were transformed into house lots and commercial properties. Today, it’s nearly unrecognizable from the place I once knew.

My mother’s family has been in Greene County for many generations. Throughout my childhood, we attended church in Dyke. Family was the center of our social life. I moved onto my great grandfather’s farm in 2000, after being pushed out of Albemarle. About 10 years ago, I purchased a small farm next to my family’s farm, where I’ve settled with my wife and daughter.  

After graduating from Albemarle HS, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Virginia Tech’s College of Forestry. I then started my career as a forestry consultant, work that took me to 10 states.  I’ve had a variety of jobs over the years since: working for a local nursery, leading a crew installing landscaping, and working seven seasons with the U.S. Forest Service out west.

Eventually, life brought me back to Greene. After my father passed away, I took responsibility of caring for the family farm near Dyke, and also found work with Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality. In 2018, I left that job to focus on farming full-time.

No matter how far I’ve traveled, I’ve come back to Greene County for family, land, and a farming way of life.  But watching the rural landscape of my childhood give way to excessive development has been painful. Now, working with Preserve Rural Greene, I want to help our county avoid going too far in that direction. I also look forward to helping our youth learn about farming and land stewardship.

Scott Mingledorff, member of PRG Board of Directors

I’ve been a Greene County resident since 1973 when I moved to Virginia for a job with the U.S. Army in Charlottesville.  My wife Ann and I built our house on Powell Mountain and are deeply grateful for our good fortune to experience the peacefulness that a connection with nature provides.  We believe so firmly in preserving that experience for others that we have put our land into a permanent conservation easement.  

As important as such individual actions are, I have found that collective action is of far greater importance.  Preserve Rural Greene provides a way for many of us to participate in, and contribute to, the growing community awareness that our rural environment enriches not only the lives of the residents of this County but also those who simply pass through and appreciate its beauty.  We have been given a gift worth protecting for future generations.