Faces of the Campaign:
The People Behind Our Water, Our Land

Laura and Drayton Virkler

As the parents of three active young children, Laura and Drayton Virkler understand the importance of time spent outdoors. That is why they choose to support TLC and the Our Water, Our Land campaign.

“Children have a lot of energy, and they need time outside to release that energy and learn about nature,” says Laura. “By donating to TLC, we are able to protect open space for our children and future generations to enjoy. And because TLC is a local land trust, we are able to visit and enjoy the places we’ve helped protect.”

Other Faces of the Campaign

Celeste Burns and Alex Johnson

Janice and John McAdams

Patricia and Stanley Stutts

Ayden and Betty Lee

John Bratton

Peg Parker

Jennifer Maher

Rodney Gaddy

In addition to enjoying land protected by TLC, the Virklers have their own piece of North Carolina heaven as their backyard. Several years ago, Laura’s parents wanted to downsize and sell their farm, but they didn’t want the land broken up. Instead, they wished to provide a place for other families to grow up the way theirs had – enjoying the land and nature.

The Virklers purchased Laura’s childhood home and part of her parents’ 500-acre farm in Orange County. The rest of the farm is divided into large tracts available for purchase. The development, Pleasant Green Farms, was planned with environmental conservation in mind and includes a 61-acre common area and hiking and equestrian trails. Laura serves as the broker for the development, in addition to running a boarding stable and raising beef cattle and chickens.

Laura’s family has a history of supporting TLC. Her parents are longtime members George and Alice Horton. Alice serves as an advisor to the Our Water, Our Land campaign. Laura’s grandfather, F.M. Kirby, donated a conservation easement on property that will become Northeast Regional Park in Orange County. The F.M. Kirby Foundation is also a generous donor to TLC.

“TLC is a great match for us,” says Laura. “We enjoy being outdoors and appreciate what’s around us in nature.”

“I also like the public-private partnership TLC brings to the table,” adds Drayton. “TLC has support from both public companies and private individuals. And by working with developers rather than against them, TLC is able to make sure they are mindful of river basins and important features to preserve.”

“And now the Our Water, Our Land campaign is taking TLC’s work to the next level,” says Laura. “When people want to sell their land, they want to do it now and not wait for grants to fund the purchase. With the Land Opportunity Fund, TLC can move quickly to protect land and replenish the fund when grants are available. And the Stewardship Fund is essential so TLC is able to maintain its properties so they don’t fall into disrepair.”

In addition to serving on TLC’s Board of Directors, Laura, a graduate of Wake Forest University, serves on the Durham Academy Alumni Council and the boards of the NC Zoological Society and Wake Forest University.

Drayton, a graduate of Washington and Lee University and Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, is the director of investor relations for Talecris Biotherapuetics in Research Triangle Park. He also volunteers at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Durham.

Drayton and Laura, along with their children Ella (7), Sumner (5) and Henry (2), spend their free time hiking along the river, playing in the woods, and riding ponies, in addition to working together to keep the boarding stable in tip top shape.