Our last seminar in the Northern Neck area of Virginia marked the start of our second year in VALOR. We had the pleasure of spending time on a few impressive crop operations and in the beautiful Chesapeake Bay. When you reach the half way point there is a sense of relief. You know what to… Continue reading Half Way There
Our most recent VALOR excursion landed us in the Northern Neck region of Virginia. The Northern Neck is an area full of history, fertile soils, and plenty of water. The roads are lined with historic markers, the homeplaces or many of the founding fathers of the United States, and historic homes of yesterday. It is… Continue reading Leadership, A Committment Beyond What Most Can See
We had the pleasure of visiting Omega Proteins in the Northern Neck. The intricacy of the operation, and the specificity of the machinery was a sight to behold. What was just as important was the impact that one business can have on a community. From pilots, to fishermen and engineer, in one way or another… Continue reading Big Business, Little Fish
Visiting Farms and touring Loudoun and DC seemed a little ironic since I live in Purcellville, work in Leesburg and have the opportunity to go to the City on an afternoon visit. But to take the time to visit local farms, hear from our farmers about the decisions they are making to be successful in… Continue reading Seeing Things Through a Different Lens
One of the exciting things about Virginia Agriculture is the diversity that abounds across the state. Our recent trip to Southeast Virginia and the Eastern Shore was just another testiment to this statement. I hail from from Northern Virginia where we still have some traditional crops of corn, soybeans, wheat and hay; and where our… Continue reading Exploring the Diversity of Virginia Agriculture
As the only aggie in a high school graduating class of 330, urban-edge agriculture resonates very strongly with me. Outside observers may dub it a curious novelty and question your sanity (who would *want* to cultivate crops when there are houses aplenty to grow), but there’s nothing especially peculiar about agriculture on the fringes of… Continue reading Southwest Virginia: An Exercise in Contrasts
When one first hears the word pride, most I feel think of it in terms of the negative connotation. Meaning someone who thinks more highly of themselves than he or she ought. This definition of proud is not an incorrect one, but as the VALOR group toured all over Southwest Virginia, the other definition of pride was… Continue reading Pride & Hospitality
#1: We Want to Grow; Bigger and Better! From Carroll County to Wise County, I heard story after story of success. The VALOR class visited Virginia Produce Company, Vanguard Furniture, and the Worrell family vegetable farm, and several other places in Carroll County. Business is booming! The owners of these businesses could easily sit back… Continue reading 3 Themes of Seminar 6: SWVA
VALOR recently visited the overflowing beauty in the mountainous area of Southwest Virginia, a group of counties long known for their devotion to coal industry, strong culture, and lilting accents. Little towns tucked in among steeply covered tree-filled slopes look calm and complacent from the winding road in - but minutes away on main street, empty storefront… Continue reading The Soul of the Matter
If you follow this blog, you know by now that our VALOR II group is travelling the Commonwealth and beyond, learning about Agriculture, Leadership, and a lot about each other. Our July trip to Southwest Virginia added a whole new level of learning and a whole new level of people obtaining results in their communities. In… Continue reading Obtaining Results
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