Seedling oysters from an aquaculture setting, seen at Rappahannock Oyster Co. Before I started my current position, and really until this seminar, I was unfamiliar with the Northern Neck. Its name described a vague area and geographical outline, and I was unaware of the qualities that deemed it the Northern Neck region. On this seminar,… Continue reading Spat on a Shell and Life on the Bay
On September 26th, 2024, VALOR Class VII kicked off our orientation in Blacksburg. At the same time, Southwest Virginia would experience the wrath and aftermath of Hurricane Helene. A place you would not imagine being touched by a hurricane was upended from flooding, resulting in loss of life and property and a long- but resilient-… Continue reading Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone: Southwest Virginia and Its Steadiness in a Changing World
A colleague of mine, a dairy farmer who can talk animal health, equipment uptime, and enterprise risk all in the same sentence, was recently invited to a high level executive engagement. The room was stacked with senior leaders from state and federal government, alongside representatives from the Agriculture industry. During the pre-event coordination, the organizer… Continue reading Professionalism and Agriculture
The Oxford Dictionary defines transformation as “a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.” During our recent visit to Southside Virginia, transformation—and transformative mindsets—were the underlying themes at every stop. The ability to recognize a changing industrial landscape and adjust the direction or thought process of a facility to maximize outcomes is an extraordinary… Continue reading Transformation
To prepare for our fourth seminar (time flies when you’re having fun!) we were asked to watch Simon Sinek’s TED Talk, “Start with Why”. He described how successful businesses, leaders, social movements, etc., more so focus on the “why” or purpose when communicating their products, organizations, events. “Why” is central, whereas “how” and “what” are… Continue reading What, How and Why: Where do you start to make the most impact?
Country is countrywide in Canada too. From the apple orchards of northern Virginia to the vineyards of New York state and upward into Ontario’s fruit basket, farm traditions persist in proximity to urban centers throughout North America. VALOR Class VII followed northbound byways to the apple orchards and wine grape vineyards of Winchester and… Continue reading North by Northeast
The Oxford Dictionary defines sustainability in two ways: the ability to continue over time, and the ability to cause little or no environmental damage—thus enabling long-term continuation. Class VII's regional US trip was a resounding example of these two definitions. After spending six days on the road—starting in Winchester, traveling through the Finger Lakes Region… Continue reading Sustainability
During a recent state-level engagement we hosted in Suffolk with Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, the event began with a few remarks from Mayor Mike Duman. Standing before a room of farmers, policymakers, and community leaders, he said, It’s a true pleasure to welcome you all here today in the heart of Suffolk, where… Continue reading What Suffolk’s Fields Are Teaching Me About Leadership, Policy, and Stewardship
Our sixth VALOR seminar brought us out to Virginia’s Northern Neck where we got to take a firsthand look at oyster farming. I expected a change of scenery—but I didn’t expect it to shift the way I think about agriculture. One of our stops was Kellum Seafood, a family-run business that’s been part of the… Continue reading Finding Common Ground in Oyster Farming
Agriculture and food go hand in hand (DUH) so obviously I was looking forward to tasting the seafood of the Northern Neck. In true VALOR fashion I learned the NN was SO much more than food. Number one take away (that people in my personal life asked)- You can eat oysters year round and don't… Continue reading Eat oysters whenever you want…
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