TAKE ACTION

PROPERTY AFFECTED BY THE VALLEY NORTH PROJECT?  If you are an impacted landowner, please consider connecting with our sister entity, Unlink Clarke.  Click Here to Connect

Preserving Clarke County’s Land, Legacy & Future

We bring neighbors, landowners, and advocates together to protect the landscapes, natural resources, and rural heritage that make Clarke County home.

HOW TO HELP

EVERYONE CAN HELP

Stay Informed & Get Involved

Meet CCPS volunteers at upcoming community events. Get information about Valley Link North, ask questions, and get help completing your Comment Card or opposition letter before the August 14 deadline.

Meet us In Person

Tractor Rally
October 12, 2026 - 7:00 AM
Ashburn , VA – Details to Follow

If you have questions or would like to register to join – call/text Laura at 240.506.6191 or email saynotovalleylink@yahoo.com

Want to Know More?

Project News & Updates

Updated 09/14/2026

Follow important developments, public notices, and community updates.

Read Updates

In The News

News From WJLA

A proposed high-voltage transmission line stretching more than 250 miles is putting some Virginia homeowners in the crosshairs. Click below to watch the story on WJLA, Channel 7.

View Story

Updates

Latest News from CCPS

CURRENT PRIORITY

Understanding the Valley Link North Proposal

View the project

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Stay Involved. Help Protect Clarke County’s Future

Sign up for project updates, meeting notices, volunteer opportunities, and ways to participate in CCPS initiatives.

Stay Connected

How to Submit Your Entry

Before You Enter

Please review the following contest rules before submitting your entry. These requirements apply to all contest participants unless otherwise noted.

Eligibility

  • The contest is open to eligible Clarke County residents.
  • Minors with one parent who is a Clarke County resident are eligible to participate.
  • Please select the correct age or school division when submitting your entry.

Submission Rules

  • Entries must be submitted by August 13, 2026.
  • Submit your entry using the official online Contest Entry Form.
  • Follow the requirements listed for your selected category.
  • Keep a copy of your submission for your records.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

AI is NOT permitted for:

  • Essays
  • Short Stories
  • Beauty of Clarke County Photography

AI IS permitted for:

  • Potential Desecration of Clarke County Photography
  • Documentaries

Photography Requirements

Beauty of Clarke County
  • Cropping is permitted.
  • AI and photo manipulation are not permitted.
  • A raw image must be uploaded for verification.
Potential Desecration of Clarke County
  • AI is permitted.
  • Photoshop and other digital editing are permitted.

Additional Requirements

  • One essay submission per person.
  • Art and Photography entries must follow the official Clarke County Fair requirements.
  • Entries that do not follow the published requirements may be disqualified.

Questions?

If you have questions about eligibility, submission requirements, or contest categories, please contact the Clarke County Preservation Society before submitting your entry.

🟨 Contact CCPS

Continue to Entry form

VIDEOS & DOCUMENTARIES

A quick guide for video & documentary submissions.

1. What you’ll Create

Create a video or documentary showing what Clarke County could potentially lose if the Valley Link North transmission line crosses the county.

2. Who May Enter

Divisions include:

  • Adults (18+)
  • Minors (<18)

3. Entry Requirements

  • Length:
    • 1–3 minutes
    • 3–5 minutes
  • AI is permitted.

4. How To Submit

  1. Upload your documentary to Google Drive, Dropbox, Vimeo, or YouTube.
  2. Copy the shareable link.
  3. Complete the Contest Entry Form.
  4. Paste the link into the Documentary Link field.
  5. Submit before August 13, 2026.

5. Before you Submit

✔ Verify your link works.

✔ Ensure anyone reviewing can access the video.

✔ Keep a copy of your project.

Continue to Entry form

PHOTOGRAPHY

A quick guide for photography submissions.

1. What you’ll Create

Submit photographs that highlight either:

  • The Beauty of Clarke County
  • The Potential Desecration of Clarke County

2. Who May Enter

Divisions include:

  • Adults (18+)
  • High School
  • Middle School

3. Entry Requirements

Beauty of Clarke County
  • No AI.
  • No photo manipulation.
  • Cropping only.
  • Raw image upload required.
Potential Desecration of Clarke County
  • AI permitted.
  • Photoshop permitted.

4. How To Submit

  1. Select your best photograph.
  2. Complete the Contest Entry Form.
  3. Upload your photograph using the Art or Photography Upload field.
  4. If entering the Beauty of Clarke County category, upload the required raw image for verification.
  5. Submit your entry before August 13, 2026.
  6.  

Physical photography: Additional delivery and pickup instructions will be provided after your entry is submitted, if applicable.

5. Before you Submit

✔ Confirm your image is original.

✔ Review the correct category before submitting.

Continue to Entry form

ART

A quick guide for art submissions

1. What you’ll Create

Create an original piece of artwork inspired by either:

  • The Beauty of Clarke County
  • The Potential Desecration of Clarke County

2. Who May Enter

Divisions include:

  • Adults (18+)
  • High School
  • Middle School
  • Elementary School

3. Entry Requirements

  • Original artwork only.
  • Art & Photography requirements follow the official Clarke County Fair guidelines.
  • AI is not permitted for the Beauty of Clarke County category.
  • AI is permitted for the Potential Desecration of Clarke County category.

4. How To Submit

  1. Complete your original artwork.
  2. Complete the online Contest Entry Form.
  3. Select Art as your entry category.
  4. Upload any required images of your artwork using the Art or Photography Upload field.
  5. Follow any additional delivery instructions provided by the Clarke County Preservation Society.
  6. Submit your entry before August 13, 2026.

 

Physical artwork: Additional delivery and pickup instructions will be provided after your entry is submitted, if applicable.

5. Before you Submit

✔ Confirm your artwork is original.

✔ Review the correct category before submitting.

Continue to Entry form

Short Stories

A quick guide for short story submissions

1. What you’ll Create

Write an original fictional short story imagining the impact of the proposed Valley Link North 765-kV transmission line on Clarke County.

2. Who May Enter

Open to eligible Clarke County residents. Minors with one parent who is a Clarke County resident are eligible.

Divisions include:

  • Adults (18+)
  • Minors (<18) 

3. Entry Requirements

  • Maximum 5,000 words.
  • One short story submission per person.
  • The story must be original.
  • AI-generated or AI-assisted writing is not permitted.

4. How To Submit

  1. Complete your short story.
  2. Save it as a document file.
  3. Complete the Contest Entry Form.
  4. Select Short Stories as your category.
  5. Upload your file using the Written Entry Upload field.
  6. Submit your entry before August 13, 2026.

5. Before you Submit

✔ Review your short story one final time.

✔ Confirm your word count.

✔ Confirm your entry is original.

✔ Keep a copy of your submission.

Continue to Entry form

Essays

A quick guide for essay submissions

1. What you’ll Create

Write one original essay exploring the potential impact of the proposed Valley Link North 765-kV transmission line on Clarke County.

Choose one of the following topics:

  • Personal
  • Environmental
  • Historical
  • Political & Economic
  • Agricultural
 

2. Who May Enter

Open to eligible Clarke County residents.

Divisions include:

  • Adults (18+)
  • High School
  • Middle School
  • Minors (<18)

Minors with one parent who is a Clarke County resident are eligible.

3. Entry Requirements

  • One essay submission per person.
  • Adults: 1,500-word maximum.
  • High School: 1,500-word maximum.
  • Minors (<18): 1,000-word maximum.
  • Middle School: 750-word maximum.
  • Essays must be original.
  • AI-generated or AI-assisted writing is not permitted.

 

4. How To Submit

  1. Complete your essay.
  2. Save it as a document file.
  3. Complete the Contest Entry Form.
  4. Select Essay as your category.
  5. Upload your essay using the Written Entry Upload field.
  6. Submit your entry before August 13, 2026.
 

5. Before you Submit

✔ Review your essay one final time.

✔ Confirm your word count.

✔ Confirm your entry is original.

✔ Keep a copy of your submission.

Continue to Entry form