The third cohort of VALOR fellows were fortunate enough to have our fifth seminar in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. I may be biased, but there is no better place than Virginia’s largest agricultural county (in terms of gross receipts) to learn about agricultural leadership. And when you are in Rockingham County, the unofficial turkey capital,… Continue reading Turkey Day!
This seminar we were able to learn about the Mennonite Culture and how it has shaped and influenced the agriculture in the Shenandoah Valley, specifically, Rockingham County. Having grown up the Valley, I thought I was somewhat versed in the Mennonite ways and lifestyle. I guess that is part of growing up, you realize what… Continue reading The View from the Backside of an Oatsmobile
The Melon Problem (Please, feel free to insert any produce/flower/harvestable commodity of your choice in place of melon throughout this blog. The lesson is the same. I just happen to like melons, and I thought this to be a catchier title than "When your beans are strung.") You planted a lot of melons because, well, people like… Continue reading When Your Melons Are Against the Wall
One answer to this question was provided by Mr. David Hughes, a poultry farmer whose farm demonstrated excellent animal care and overall commitment to trusted poultry practices. We had dinner with him and he shared his story about his wife's passing. Mr. Hughes was asked "how was it best to communicate to him during his… Continue reading How do we effectively communicate to people?
Today's events were quite intriguing. We first visited the Shenandoah Valley Produce Auction managed by Mr. Jeff Heatwole. Mr. Heatwole acknowledged the leadership of Extension Agent Mr. Eric Bendfeldt who was influential in developing the auction so the local farmers could have a place to sell their produce at wholesale prices. We then visited The… Continue reading I Saw People
Yes, "Our" industry (agriculture) does include everyone on the planet because we need food products for nourishment. However, there are people who ensure that the many agriculture systems thrive and meet the demands for food products. This is where a potential learning space exists: 1) Are we "communicating" in the correct grammar and pronunciation sense?… Continue reading Session V: Communicating Our Industry
Agritouirsm - a loaded word and opportunity in Virginia and the country as a whole. Agritourism by definition is an activity(ies) on a farm that the general public is invited to enjoy. It can range from a winery, a pick-your-own operation, to a corn maze, to whatever your imagination can possibly dream up. It is… Continue reading Love Agritourism and All That It Offers
On March 13, 2017, one of the stops on our fourth VALOR Seminar was to a little-known battleground in Arlington, VA. It’s not your traditional battleground though. No commemorative statues. No walking or driving trails. Not even an interpretive sign to be found on the grounds. That’s because this battleground is still active. The battle… Continue reading Reevesland: The Battleground We Didn’t Know We Visited
Our seminar began with tours of agricultural operations in Loudon County, a unique area where agriculture meets urban development. While this convergence can create many challenges for farmers, some have leveraged the opportunity for growth. Mary Ellen Taylor of Endless Summer Harvest has used her proximity to urban development to capture a niche market for… Continue reading A whirlwind tour of Northern VA agriculture and policy…
At our last VALOR seminar in the Northern VA/ Washington D.C. area, we had a great time visiting different farms and agricultural venues in an urban setting. I particularly enjoyed visiting with Mary Ann from Endless Summer Harvest and enjoying fresh salad from their facility. I really enjoyed sharing this visit with my students as… Continue reading Endless Summer Harvest
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