Have you ever wondered how Virginia’s agriculture and forestry products make it around the world? How about how Virginia’s imports make it into the state. My wife just answered NO! But I am going to tell you anyway. The Port of Virginia plays a pivotal role in moving our agriculture and forestry products to far-flung… Continue reading Perdue Agribusiness Deepwater Port
Growing up, I always heard that tractors are very easy to drive. Needless to say, I can’t recall ever sitting in the driver’s seat, much less drive a tractor. On a cold wet evening at the Rogers farm that was about to change or, so I thought. Mr. Rogers was gracious enough to introduce us… Continue reading There are tractors and then there are TRACTORS! This is a story about the latter!
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
Ronald Daughtrey, agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor at Lakeland High School, hosted VALOR Class IV fellows on Thursday evening of our second seminar. While holding up a Snickers bar, Mr. Daughtrey asked the group what the most expensive input is for it- peanuts, chocolate, etc. What's your guess? See below for the answer. He challenged… Continue reading Dinner at Lakeland High School
Last week our cohort class IV of the VALOR program made our first traveling trip to the tidewater and eastern shore region. I had never been to that part of the state prior to last week and I can’t wait to return. We were met with open arms from all our host and it was… Continue reading Uncommon Kindness is a Common Virtue
--How About Right Here-- So here I am, sitting in my office, up against a deadline, contemplating how to begin telling a story that I have lived, but never really sought to explain. The story itself is quite simple, really. If I had to describe the summation of my life, in one phrase, I would… Continue reading Where To Begin?!
One of the first memories I have is on the farm on which my family lived until I was five years old, on the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio. We had a small sheep herd on approximately 20 acres. One day when I was around four years old I was outside playing and I remember my… Continue reading Growing up… Down on the Farm
My name is Dave Winston. I grew up on a 100-cow grade Holstein dairy farm in Campbell County, Virginia, that was operated my grandfather, father, and uncle. When I was 5 years old, my grandfather invited me to help him feed baby calves and I have been involved in the dairy industry in one way… Continue reading Dairy Dave Begins a New Adventure
A big HOKIE, HOKIE, HOKIE HI from Wahoo country. My name is Kim Love. I am the branch manager for the Charlottesville office of Farm Credit of the Virginias. My way back story doesn’t include adventures in farming or agriculture. I grew up in Worcester County, Maryland. At that time, Runaway Bride had not put Berlin… Continue reading Pursuit To Happiness
I am incredibly honored to be a fellow in Class IV of VALOR. I am grateful for this opportunity to grow professionally and have a deeper understanding of the industry. Having met my VALOR peers at the first seminar I am incredibly impressed with their diverse backgrounds and I am excited to develop new relationships… Continue reading Life is Calling….
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