My name is CJ Isbell, and I live in Rockville, Va located in western Hanover County. My family’s has a long history in agriculture; from by great-grandfather working for Virginia Dairy, my grandfather’s commercial farming operation, to the direct marketing farming operation I co-own today.
My grandfather started our farm in 1951, starting with over 5000 laying hens and an egg distribution route in Richmond, expanding into a commercial beef, hog, and grain operation. While my father stopped farming full-time during the farm crisis of the 80’s, and the inability to of our family farm to fully support 2 families. My grandfather semi-retired from farming in 1998, keeping a small hay operation and leasing out most of the land to a neighboring farmer. Six years ago I started the process of transitioning the farm. After seeing the experiences of my family with commodity farming I felt the need to produce in a different direction. I along with my father, wife and kids produce quality grass-fed beef, pastured pork, free-range chicken, eggs, and cash grains. All of our products are marketed directly to the consumer via on farm store, farmers markets, and online co-ops. With 500 family’s as customers it keeps us busy. Check out our website, and like us on facebook
In addition to managing the farm, I work as a fireman with the Washington DC Fire Department, and as the Farm Mentor Coordinator with the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition housed at Virginia Tech. Above all I am a family man, thanks to my wife Jessica, and my kids Faith, Landon. Without their support all achievements are meaningless.
Why VALOR – It seems as though agriculture is an increasingly divided industry, at times pitting farmer against farmer based on type/area of production. I have seen this first hand as the change in generation on our farm and transitioning from commercial production to more organic production the differences in opinions can be quite stark. I feel that there is enough room at the table for all type/area of production for those willing to step up and work together to support and promote agriculture as a whole. The issues of today effect all farmers small to large and for us to work together in imperative, as there is strength in numbers.
I hope to further the development of the professional skill needed to better communicate, advocate, and represent on behalf of agriculture. I look forward to this journey over the next 2 years.
An Investment in Knowledge Pays the Best Interest – Benjamin Franklin
valeadersor.com 
I’m a beginning grass farmer near blacksburg, and it was great to stumble upon your blog!