Our Valor class has a unique way of meeting during significant weather events. True to form, we met for our third seminar after a snowstorm had shut down the capital. The general assembly, which was to begin the day we arrived, had recessed and wouldn’t reconvene until the following Monday. But our fearless leader, Megan, wasted no time. She jumped into action, reorganizing our schedule to ensure we still had a memorable and educational seminar.
During our third VALOR seminar in Richmond, we dug into legislative advocacy and policy development. We kicked off the day with interesting talks from the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of VDACS, as well as Delegate Orrock and Senator French. We also had a highly informative session on Roberts’ Rules of Order. Our day concluded with a tour of Reservoir Distillery, followed by discussions with both the distillery and Belmont Butchery.
On the following day, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Matt Lohr, hosted our group as we heard from various leaders, including the Secretary of Labor, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, Deputy Secretary of Education, and the Chief Deputy Director of Conservation and Recreation. It was a great opportunity to learn about the different departments within our state government and gain a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities. However, what I found most impactful was hearing their perspectives on leadership. The leadership philosophy shared by the honorable Kelly Gee particularly resonated with me. She emphasized two key principles: 1. Don’t be afraid to include people at the table who are smarter than you, and 2. A leader should never ask others to do something they wouldn’t do themselves.
Next, we visited Greenswell Growers, a large indoor growing facility in Goochland County. They grow four varieties of lettuce in their 80,000 square-foot facility year-round. That evening, we were scheduled to attend the Virginia Agribusiness Council Banquet, but unfortunately, it was canceled due to ongoing water issues. However, we still had the opportunity to enjoy dinner and engage in conversation with the Virginia Agribusiness Council Executive Director, and VALOR alumnus, Cliff Williamson. Cliff highlighted the importance of networking as a vital leadership skill.
Our final day took us to the Virginia Farm Bureau office for some media training. Being placed behind a microphone really pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it turned out to be a valuable learning experience—one that I truly benefited from. I learned the importance of being prepared, clear, and concise, but perhaps most importantly, giving yourself grace. Dana Fisher then delivered a fantastic presentation on developing our strengths and managing our weaknesses, which is such a crucial aspect of growing as a leader.
Throughout this seminar, I gained valuable insights into leadership from the incredible people we had the chance to meet. A few key themes really stood out to me: first, the importance of getting involved. We are all in this together and need to present a united front in advocating for agriculture. Additionally, we can’t do it alone—one of the most crucial aspects is the relationships we build along the way.
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