Matt Hickey

Day 3 in Argentina

March 11, 2014 Matt Hickey

Day 3 in Argentina started out with our departure from the Melincue Casino and Resort in the Santa Fe providence heading toward the providence of Cordoba. Today we had scheduled two stops, one being a dairy and the other as purebred sheep operation. However, as we have traveled in Argentina we have learned that they have received above average rain fall for this season. In the month of February alone they have received 700+ millimeters which converts to 30+ inches of rain in one month.

As a result many of the roads leading to the farms are dirt and not handling this amount of rain fall very well. This morning’s visit to the dairy had to be cancelled because they fear that our bus would damage the road and not allow the milk tanker to reach the farm.

This allowed us an opportunity to meet this morning as a group…

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Seminars, Uncategorized

Horsein Around

July 18, 2013July 18, 2013 Matt Hickey

According to the Virginia Horse Industry Board the horse industry has a $1.2 Billion impact on the Virginia economy and generates 16,000 jobs. The horse industry is the 9th largest agricultural commodity in Virginia and ranks 12th in the nation for the number of horses. The part of the Commonwealth that has the largest impact… Continue reading Horsein Around

Uncategorized

Agriculture’s Known Importance

May 9, 2013 Matt Hickey

The members of the VALOR fellowship already know and understand the importance agriculture plays in the Virginia economy. However, as we sat around the table with Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell, his Chief of Staff Martin Kent, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore and Deputy Secretary Travis Hill, it was refreshing to hear that they… Continue reading Agriculture’s Known Importance

Uncategorized

Every Morning

May 9, 2013 Matt Hickey

Every morning I wake up, prepare my coffee, and grab a bottle international French vanilla creamer to add to it. Little did I know that there is a strong chance that that creamer was probably made just minutes up the road in Mt. Crawford Virginia at WhiteWave Foods. As we toured their facility I told… Continue reading Every Morning

Uncategorized

A New Kind of Food Company

May 8, 2013 Matt Hickey

I would like to thank Christopher Tate and the staff of WhiteWave Foods in Mt. Crawford VA for a behind the scenes tour of their facility. What makes WhiteWave so successful is their continual commitment to their consumers through a verity of practices. One of such practice that helps them with consumer popularity is that… Continue reading A New Kind of Food Company

Knowledge of a Changing Industry

The size and scale will blow your mind

May 8, 2013May 8, 2013 Matt Hickey

Growing up in the western part of Virginia all you really see is beef cattle, poultry, some fruits and vegetables, and dairies with enough crop ground to support that dairy. I had always known that east of the Blue Ridge Mountains there were large amounts of row crops like corn, cotton, peanuts, and soy beans… Continue reading The size and scale will blow your mind

Global Agriculture

Shipping Done Right

May 8, 2013May 8, 2013 Matt Hickey

In 1952 the Commonwealth of Virginia created the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) for the main purpose of increasing commerce to the ports of Virginia. The Commonwealth realized that without improved promotion of shipped goods, improved navigable tidal waters, and sustainable relationships with established business; Virginia would fall behind in international trade. These supply chains play… Continue reading Shipping Done Right

Inaugural

The Real Horse Power

December 7, 2012December 7, 2012 Matt Hickey

“Chip and Mike… come Gee, or come Haw, or WOOOOW” Now five years ago, if you would have said that Matt Hickey would be saying those words to a team of horses WHILE DRIVING THEM. I would have laughed my head off! I mean really, I am allergic to horses. I have always had some… Continue reading The Real Horse Power