A colleague of mine, a dairy farmer who can talk animal health, equipment uptime, and enterprise risk all in the same sentence, was recently invited to a high level executive engagement. The room was stacked with senior leaders from state and federal government, alongside representatives from the Agriculture industry. During the pre-event coordination, the organizer… Continue reading Professionalism and Agriculture
During a recent state-level engagement we hosted in Suffolk with Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, the event began with a few remarks from Mayor Mike Duman. Standing before a room of farmers, policymakers, and community leaders, he said, It’s a true pleasure to welcome you all here today in the heart of Suffolk, where… Continue reading What Suffolk’s Fields Are Teaching Me About Leadership, Policy, and Stewardship
How the time flies. We are officially half-way through Cohort VII. With each seminar, we take part in an invitation to grow, to stretch our understanding of agriculture, leadership, and community. But our recent trip to Virginia’s Northern Neck reminded me of something even more personal, it reminded me to stay coachable. To keep that… Continue reading Northern Neck: Reflections on the Haynie Family
There’s something about agriculture that forces you to be adaptable. Weather, markets, legislation — it’s a field (pun intended) where change is the only constant. So, it felt appropriate that our third VALOR VII seminar in Richmond began with yet another set of curveballs: a snowstorm, a power outage, and a city-wide boil water advisory. … Continue reading Boiling Water and Bourbon: A VALOR Seminar in Richmond
Our most recent VALOR seminar brought us to the Tidewater region and Eastern Shore of Virginia, a corner of the state that, while geographically close to home for me in Suffolk, holds a rich agricultural heritage with far-reaching global significance. Over three days, we explored the industries that thrive in this region — peanuts, pork,… Continue reading Close to Home: Reflections on Tidewater’s Agricultural Impact
Hello, I’m Bryan Harris, and I’m excited to embark on this incredible journey as part of the VALOR Class VII program. I currently live in Suffolk, Virginia, where I own Liberty Lane Farm, a horse boarding facility. My wife, daughter, and I call this farm home, and every day, I’m reminded of the importance of… Continue reading Growing Roots in Leadership and Agriculture
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