Communication is at the heart of everything we do, how we speak to ourselves, how we talk to others, how we get ideas across. The discussions of this seminar had many topics that were all intertwined, and a few phrases stuck out to me. One was "listening to respond vs. listening to understand." Wow. As… Continue reading Critical Communication
"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt I'm a big quote person. I can find a quote that suits everything and every situation (Pinterest has the best graphic art quotes). If I find a quote I like, I will daydream all day about it and think about how it… Continue reading You can quote me on this!
Ag Is Everywhere When you look at VALOR V, we are diverse, and I am always amazed by how our different backgrounds are all part of Agriculture. I have already learned so much from each of your experiences and love our in-depth group conversations. Here are a few highlights from our November 2020 session. Session… Continue reading
VALOR V, COVID 0 Chesapeake Bay-view agriculture was the focus of the first VALOR V field visit. From day 1, the group knew we’d see a different view of agriculture in scope and type. What we didn’t know was how agriculture in the area had responded to meet the challenges presented by COVID. Alabama sings… Continue reading Chesapeake Bay-View Agriculture
The backstory… Raised in Central Illinois, I was surrounded by agriculture. I have very fond memories of trips to my grandparents house to play and help with their pygmy goats. I learned that electric fences hurt. I also enjoyed visiting local fairs to watch my grandpa show, and driving the backroads through miles and miles… Continue reading New Geography, New Challenges, New Markets
As we drove through standing water to reach our first farm visit in Suffolk, the flooded fields and damp strung out cotton seemed to reflect both the grey skies and the year of 2020. The November 9, 2020 National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that approximately 35% of Virginia’s cotton had been harvested to date in… Continue reading Finding the Heart: Tidewater/Eastern Shore
As I traveled to our November session, our first in-person session, I wondered what my fellows would be like and what was in store for us. As the miles went by my mind continued to wonder and I became more and more filled with curious excitement. What I wasn’t prepared for was the question asked… Continue reading What results will you obtain?
Growing up, I really believed my dad hung the moon. He always offers some of the very best advice, whether you ask for it or not. Some of the best nuggets of wisdom he’s shared over the years come from the challenges, troubles, toils and joys of farming and his connectedness to the land. He… Continue reading Farmer Wisdom: Resiliency
I'm tryin' to tell you somethin' 'bout my lifeMaybe give me insight between black and whiteAnd the best thing you've ever done for meIs to help me take my life less seriouslyIt's only life after all, yeah. -Indigo Girls I grew up on our farm but my parents aren’t professional farmers. My dad practiced medicine… Continue reading Closer to Fine
Looking back on the first session of the Class V cohort, you see the promise, you see the hope, you see the passion for agriculture in this new group. The state of agriculture in Virginia is both strong and weak. We have low commodity prices, we have barriers to entry for new farmers, we have… Continue reading New Beginnings
