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… Continue reading There Is Something for Everyone
It’s hard to believe that VALOR’s international seminar to Kenya has come and gone. I remember switching gears mentally the day after Christmas preparing myself for what I thought would be a life changing experience. Now I’m in my third week of being back home, back to work and settling back into my routine. However,… Continue reading Reflecting on my time in Kenya
During our most recent seminar to Southside Virginia three themes seemed to resonate with me. Those were revitalization, faith, and passion. Revitalization was evident from the moment we checked into The Bee Hotel in Danville. This boutique hotel was once the home of the Danville Register & Bee newspaper and has been amazingly restored. I look… Continue reading Revitalization, Faith and Passion
VALOR class VI started year two visiting the Northern Neck of Virginia. I don’t know what it is, but there is something that always calls me to the water. It seems like the water calms my soul and I often find myself reflecting on where I have been and where I want to go. We… Continue reading Reflections along the Waters of the Northern Neck
Our latest VALOR seminar took us to Southwest Virginia. We covered a lot of ground during this visit. (I think I heard someone in the group mention we put close to 1,000 miles on the van!) This is an amazing part of the state and I saw and learned more than I expected. As I… Continue reading More Than I Expected
Horses, Bourbon, Urban Sprawl and Community VALOR traveled domestically in May to learn more about agriculture in Kentucky. It turned out to be an amazing trip and I found myself learning something new at each stop. I never realized the diversity of agriculture in Kentucky, even though I once lived there. Our time in Lexington… Continue reading
VALOR Class VI spent some time in March in our nation’s capital learning more about urban agriculture and national policy. During our time at the US Army for Civil Works I heard the phrase “New, Weird and Different” from Jamie Pinkham and knew instantly this would become the title and framework for this blog. (I went to post this blog… Continue reading New, Weird and Different
Throughout my life I travelled thru Richmond. But, I never really had the privilege of seeing Virginia politics at work. To say I learned a lot during VALOR’s third seminar in January is an understatement. We started our seminar at the office of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). We were… Continue reading I Learned A Lot During My First Trip To Richmond
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