It truly has been and will continue to be a wonderful experience with a group of such fine people. I fall short of the proper word but I think "rewarding" best suits for the moment. Traveling across the Commonwealth, to Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan; and most recently our adventure in Argentina; we have not only… Continue reading VALOR: What a great journey!
"I've Got a Crush on You", "You've got to kiss a few frogs to find a Prince", "I'm nuts over you", and "Virginia's for Lovers". No, this blog isn't about finding love, but it is about a group of people that love agriculture and their tour of operations in Argentina. So here is it Day… Continue reading Day 4: VALOR International
A trip to Southwest Virginia would have been lacking for VALOR fellows had we not learned about the coal industry in Virginia; and we did just that in Seminar III. VALOR is considered “a premier leadership program for adults in agriculture,” and it’s important to remember when developing well-informed leaders they must gain an appreciation… Continue reading Coal Country
Our time on the road during our U.S. agriculture trip was a great time learning about more diverse areas of our industry. I am always excited to meet and learn more from agriculturalists everywhere. It was during this time that it occurred to me a common thread that runs through each and every person we… Continue reading A twinkle in their eye
The VALOR fellows took it on the road for Seminar Seven traveling to Indiana, Illinois and Michigan for an exciting trip of new experiences. One of the best parts of VALOR is touring new types of agricultural operations. Some may be similar to what we see in our home area, but most are very different… Continue reading Dietrich Orchards – a family tradition
VALOR Fellows had a complete experience during Seminar VI: Bay/Northern Neck - Agriculture, Technology and the Environment. It was an exciting time bringing together firsthand the components of one of the most talked-about efforts in decades, allowing a vibrant agricultural industry and work in partnership to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay… Continue reading A little technical assistance please …
Most evenings in my college days several fraternity brothers would gather in my room for an evening cocktail to unwind while watching The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson - yes I have dated myself. It was an enjoyable ritual - one that was relaxing where we would share a laugh or gripe about the day we… Continue reading Can we talk?
Recently I had a meeting with a fellow lobbyist and a question came up that I hear a lot these days. “How’s VALOR going?” I lost track how many times I have been asked that since we started the program last September. Don’t get me wrong, I welcome the question, it’s an easy one. The… Continue reading “How’s VALOR going?”
At the most recent VALOR seminar, the fellows’ met many interesting people in Virginia’s government, including those representing two of the three branches of our state government, the Executive and the Legislative Branches. We were most fortunate to meet not just a friend of agriculture in the legislature, but a true leader in our industry,… Continue reading The Gentleman from Caroline
How many times have you heard someone called an enigma, or a real piece of work? Most often these references are made in jest, but there is always a bit of truth to why those words are conjured up to describe someone. We all are a bit of a puzzle. We never fully know how… Continue reading Putting the pieces together
