Each year, Southside Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) selects producers to represent its watershed for the Clean Water Farm Award. Producers are selected based on their excellence in best management practices and participation with the community. For 2017, Southside SWCD selected Sunnyfield Farm for the Clean Water Farm Award to represent the Chowan Basin.

Sunnyfield Farm is owned and operated by Tom and Jo Mariannino of Lunenburg County. The Marianninos have been farming since 1965, but have been located in Lunenburg since 2007. Their herd is mostly Black Angus, but they have the only herd of Miniature Zebu and Randall Line-back cattle in the state. The Marianninos practice pasture rotation, feeding rotation and management, and reseeding pastures with a notill drill. Their unique diversity of cattle brings global interest and visitors to the farm. Southside SWCD applauds their farm diversity and is proud to nominate Sunnyfield Farm for the 2017 Clean Water Farm Award.