The Shenandoah Valley is one of Virginia’s top agricultural areas in Virginia. According to the 2017 U.S. Department of Agriculture Census, Rockingham, Augusta, Page and Shenandoah counties rank 1, 2, 4 and 5 respectively as the largest agriculture localities in Virginia. The report further indicates that Rockingham County is the state’s powerhouse for agribusiness, impacting over 13,000 jobs in the area related to the agriculture industry. VALOR class VI had the opportunity to explore this area during our February seminar.
Houff Corporation, started when they saw an opportunity to service local farms with liquid fertilizer applications. The company has expanded since then, but their roots in agriculture run deep. We were privilege to tour and learn more about this company, and were provided an opportunity to meet local representatives and businesses to discuss local issues. Urbanization and solar are just a few challenges the Shenandoah Valley are maneuvering while staying focused on agriculture and all it supports. Our conversation about Ag in the Shenandoah Valley continued later that day with VA Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Matt Lohr. I am always amazed at how impactful Ag is on local, regional and state levels. I encourage all of us to advocate for agriculture.
We also visited Soli Organic and the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative. During both visits I witnessed how hard work, innovation, and thinking outside the box can equal something very good. Soli demonstrated how the Controlled Environment Agriculture space helps in the production of plants. The Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative provided us insight of forming, building and expanding a thriving turkey poultry production facility from what could have been the end for many in the Shenandoah Valley when another processor decided to close that line of their business. Most people in Ag understand that there will be good and bad. But, both of these businesses showcased how hard work and perseverance can payoff.
During this seminar we also got to see technology in Agriculture. WestRock showed us how lumber goes from the lumber yard to almost any type of packaging you can think of! And, Ingleside Dairy provided us an overview of how a robotic dairy works. You would be impressed to see some of the technologies used in these businesses and how they relate back to Agriculture.
Several times during this seminar I found myself thinking there is probably no other industry that has the impact on every single person that agriculture does. And, this industry offers more job possibilities than most people ever think about. There really is something for everyone!
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