Peanuts, pork, potatoes and Perdue. Discoveries along the Tidewater’s pork-and-peanut trail and Eastern Shore brought VALOR Class VII to ground-level with those iconic Virginia commodities, while offering a 10,000-foot view of their global impact. At our first stop along Virginia’s Salty Southern Route in November, we learned from industry professionals at the Virginia Peanut Growers… Continue reading Salty Southern Route or bust!
On our recent trip to the Tidewater region of Virginia, we visited the Commonwealth Cotton Gin in Windsor, VA. This is a family-owned business run by brothers Tom and Len Alphin. The gin is rooted in the community and has a rich history in the cotton industry. The Alphins take a fascinating approach to their… Continue reading Commonwealth Cotton Gin
From a young age I have had a passion for both agriculture and business. My curiosity has always been about what makes a business successful and who contributed to make this possible. A well-run business is something truly remarkable that we all benefit from. Agriculture to me, is one of the last industries left with… Continue reading Passion for business and learning what makes leaders great
Seminar II brought our class to the Tidewater region of Virginia. A region that I, a native Texan, had never seen (other than a few touristy jaunts to Virginia Beach). We were immersed in the culture of cotton, peanuts, pork, and potatoes that has abundant historical context to the region. Our stops along the way… Continue reading Will Ferrell Actually Sells Peanuts
Hello! My name is Mackenzie Gunn, and I work as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent in Amelia County. I moved to Virginia in 2022 when I started this role, but grew up in Vermont, and have lived up and down the Eastern U.S. including New Hampshire, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, and short stints… Continue reading The Darth Vader of Agriculture?
Uh-oh. I’ve been mistaken for a leader. I took a worthier candidate’s spot. The VALOR selection committee confused me for someone with real leadership potential. My mind was racing at Class VII’s orientation in Blacksburg in late September, when I realized I’d never truly contemplated the elements of leadership, much less envisioned myself as one.… Continue reading Revelations of a reluctant leader
Hello, I’m Sarah Wilson, a proud Virginia native. While I was born and raised on my family’s beef cattle farm in Lebanon, VA, I now live in Abingdon, VA. Growing up on a farm has shaped my life in ways I never could have imagined. The values and work ethic I learned from this environment… Continue reading Embracing Agriculture
Farm Bureau, MD&VA Milk Producers, VAFB Young Farmers. I've been apart of so many different groups in the past, but VALOR is one with the possibility to connect me deeper to every aspect of Virginia, the United States, and the globe. My name is Thomas French and I’m a 6th generation farmer from Maurertown, Virginia.… Continue reading Family, Fun, and Farming
I stood in Dr. Julia McCann’s office in Litton-Reaves Hall during the fall semester of my sophomore year at Virginia Tech. In order to gain membership to the Block & Bridle (B&B) club, I was required to obtain faculty signatures on the wooden letters that our pledge class carved and decorated. As Dr. McCann signed… Continue reading Introduction: Are You Interested in Ag Communications?
Hello everyone, I am Todd Legge from the metropolis of Middletown, VA, a small one-stoplight town 20 miles south of Winchester. I currently work for Darling Ingredients, Inc., based in Irving, TX, as a Finished Goods Sales Representative covering the eastern US. Darling Ingredients, Inc. is the world’s largest rendering company, with over 260 locations… Continue reading A Journey from Farm to Leadership
valeadersor.com 