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.
The Northern Neck of Virginia is a peninsula with the Potomac River to the North, the Rappahanock River to the South, and the Chesapeake Bay to the East. It is also a very remarkable place. During VALOR's latest trip there, I became fascinated with this area of Virginia. Before this seminar, I had not visited… Continue reading The Northern Neck
Is hemp the new tobacco? Listening to William Fannon talks about tobacco cultivation in southwest Virginia is a harsh reminder that nothing lasts forever. His daughter Amy and fellow VALOR IV cohort reminisce that Tobacco used to bring in extra money at Christmas time but for many tobacco growers in southwest Virginia, those days are… Continue reading VALOR Seminar VI – Southwest, Virginia
A long time ago, I was told that any story has three (3) sides: the two opposing sides and the truth. The truth usually falls somewhere in between! Seminar VII to the Northern Neck and Tangier Island shed light on the longstanding debate between environmental protection and economic growth. Our first stop at the Omega… Continue reading Menhaden, Blue Back Crabs, and the Environment
Chesapeake Bay that is! Class IV's trip to the Northern Neck and Tangier Island was definitely one for the books. From oysters to eels, from corn to pumpkins, the region showcased some of Virginia agriculture's finest. In addition to the fun that was had on the trip, we encountered some pretty serious topics, such as… Continue reading Sittin on the Dock of the Bay
What an amazing experience in the Northern Neck & Tangier Island! This was my first time to Tangier and I found the unique culture and way of life to be a breath of fresh air. As always we visited numerous locations and I had an opportunity to learn so much about aquaculture. Our first stop… Continue reading The Northern Neck & Tangier
It's hard to believe that we have just completed the first year of the VALOR program. Wow, what an experience! And, the latest seminar in Southwest Virginia was one of the most memorable seminars so far! Southwest Virginia has such a distinct culture, and this cultural uniqueness was evident throughout the trip. It was one… Continue reading Southwest Virginia: Culture and Agriculture
While enjoying a delicious supper at Mountain Rose Vineyards, we were joined by Rachel Helton, Director of Development for the Health Wagon. Rachel gave us a very informative and impactful presentation on the work this nonprofit organization does. Our mission is to provide compassionate, quality medical care to the medically under-served in the mountains of… Continue reading The Health Wagon
Southwest Virginia is home to beautiful landscapes and friendly, welcoming people. I admire the sense of community shown in many of our visits. People are proud of their culture and traditions. Tyler Hughes, a musician and local elected official, was an example of a young person passionate about helping his community. The coal museum and… Continue reading A Sense of Community
At the H.W. Meador Coal Museum in Big Stone Gap, we were treated to the music of Tyler Hughes. The title of this blog post refers to a song he performed about the life of coal workers. Determined. Proud. Innovative. Resilient. These are just a few words that come to mind when reflecting over our… Continue reading Buddy Won’t You Roll Down The Line
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