It is hard to believe we have already crossed the halfway point of VALOR. The past two trips have taken us from reclaimed coal mines in southwest Virginia to the crab shanties on Tangier Island. Virginia truly is a unique state to have such vastly different terrains and agriculture industries. Being able to visit and… Continue reading From Southwest VA to the Chesapeake Bay.
Here’s the kicker…it does. Georgia might be known as the peach state (and they have a lot of them), but when it comes to production, Titan Farms in Ridge Spring, SC sets the pace. With over 6,200 acres of peach trees in the ground, Titan Farms is the largest peach producer on the East Coast… Continue reading What if I told you that one South Carolina family farm produces more peaches than the entire state of Georgia?
Last month our VALOR group explored agriculture in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. It was an educational and eye-opening seminar covering many businesses and policy issues I did not know much about. Our meetings and discussions re-emphasized how important it is for us to tell our stories and be relatable. Although I am technically considered… Continue reading VALOR Blog #4: Washington DC & NoVA
I can’t believe it is already March…it seems like our VALOR seminar in Richmond was just a couple days ago. Richmond was a great experience. It was awesome to be there at the beginning of session and see how things work. Admittedly, I was not well-versed in state lawmaking, so it was a very informative… Continue reading VALOR Seminar- Richmond
Our January seminar in Richmond featured numerous highlights. Meeting Virginia’s Ag Secretary Bettina Ring and her staff ranked at the very top. Our meeting with Secretary Ring was the first we had with a government official. Virginia agriculture is in great hands with her experience, leadership and team. Secretary Ring graduated from Virginia Tech with… Continue reading Meeting with VA Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring
Back in November our VALOR group had our first “boots on the ground” seminar in Virginia’s Eastern Shore region. It did not disappoint. From peanuts to cotton and pork processing to organic sweet potatoes, we covered a lot of ground. As a Valley guy, I had a lot to learn and soaked in as much… Continue reading Agriculture: A Noble Pursuit (VALOR Blog #2)
When you think about Virginia agriculture, it is hard to find a more successful story than Smithfield Foods. They graciously opened their doors to our VALOR group earlier this month to show us the ins and outs of their operation. Brief Overview Smithfield Foods started in 1936 as Smithfield Packing Company in Smithfield, VA. Since… Continue reading Smithfield Foods- The World’s Largest Pork Processor
Hello everyone! My name is Brandon Reeves and I am honored to be a member of the VALOR class this go-round. At the outset, I’d like to thank all the supporters of VALOR and the folks that make it happen. We had an awesome first session and I look forward to spending the next two… Continue reading “All you have to do is be smarter than the cow.”
valeadersor.com 