The VALOR fellows took it on the road for Seminar Seven traveling to Indiana, Illinois and Michigan for an exciting trip of new experiences. One of the best parts of VALOR is touring new types of agricultural operations. Some may be similar to what we see in our home area, but most are very different… Continue reading Dietrich Orchards – a family tradition
In late September during our National Seminar, Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) was hosted by the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Corn Marketing Council to a dinner at the Glass Barn-- the newest addition to the Indiana State Fairgrounds. This Barn offers a farming experience and educational opportunity to visitors. The glass and timber framed… Continue reading Glass Barn Offers A Clear Image
The DeGrandchamp family has been producing berries near the shores of Lake Michigan since 1955. Mike DeGrandchamp treated the VALOR fellows (and a couple from Texas who happened to stop by the farm at just the right time) to a tour of their operation during our recent trip to Michigan. DeGrandchamp Farms blueberry fields and… Continue reading Berry production on the shores of Lake Michigan
Question: How does a 1st generation farmer expand from 1 greenhouse in 1982, to 20 acres of greenhouses today? Answer: By using innovative and efficient farm practices, effectively managing costs, compromising when needed, fostering a team atmosphere, and above all, maintaining a positive attitude throughout the process. Our path this session was different than our… Continue reading The Power of a Positive Attitude
At VALOR's sixth seminar in July, we had the pleasure of visiting Garner's Produce a Virginia Century Farm near Warsaw, on Virginia's Northern Neck. The produce operation, run by Dana Boyle, her husband Bernard, her father and several seasonal employees provides fresh vegetables for a dozen farmers markets throughout Northern Virginia and the District… Continue reading Producing Produce
Triple Overtime As I begin to write this blog, I reflect back on the Virginia Tech’s Hokies football victory this past weekend and am reminded that Virginia Tech’s Cooperative Extension agents are working in triple overtime. The load and demands placed on them by serving multiple communities has them spread too thin. The Hokies set… Continue reading Triple Overtime
VALOR Fellows had a complete experience during Seminar VI: Bay/Northern Neck - Agriculture, Technology and the Environment. It was an exciting time bringing together firsthand the components of one of the most talked-about efforts in decades, allowing a vibrant agricultural industry and work in partnership to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay… Continue reading A little technical assistance please …
An otherwise inconspicuous grain elevator along Tidewater Trail in Center Cross, Virginia, holds thousands of bushels of soybeans. However, these aren’t just your average beans. The Montague Farms facility contains natto beans grown by farmers in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, and destined for export to Japanese markets. It’s not just the beans that are… Continue reading Not your average beans…
A few years back Guy Clark postulated that there are only two things that money can’t buy, true love and home grown tomatoes. I suppose there is some wisdom in that but the times they are a changin’. I can assure you that all over Virginia, and other places throughout the nation, money CAN buy… Continue reading There’s only two things…
Reblogged: Virginia Oysters See Growth Over Last Decade Earlier this month, Gov. Bob McDonnell toured Kellum Seafood Company's oyster harvesting, shucking and packing facility in Weems, located in the Northern Neck along the Rappahannock River, to witness first-hand the strides made by Virginia’s oyster industry and to celebrate the industry's growth in recent years, highlighted… Continue reading Reblogged: Virginia Oysters See Growth Over Last Decade
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