Lol, I never thought I would tap into the horse spirit of Secretariat. VALOR exposed me to this medium as we visited Dr. Bridgett Mcintosh, equine nutrition specialist at Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MARE) in Middleburg, VA. The horse farm is 400 acres of open pasture-paddocks and well-maintained. Several noteworthy things were observed:… Continue reading Secretariat Lives!
VALOR and VADO – What a combo!
As the Agricultural Marketing and Development Director for Halifax County, Virginia, I serve in the VADO group AND I am a member of VALOR - Class III. As a bit of background, the Virginia Agriculture Development Officers (VADO) was created by then Sec. of Agriculture Todd Haymore as a means for VDACS and the local counties / cities… Continue reading VALOR and VADO – What a combo!
Friend or Foe?
I’m guessing that the word lobbyist may have a negative connotation to a lot of people. I can certainly understand how this association evolved over time, but lobbyists do serve a useful purpose in our government. And, for those involved in agriculture, we should be thankful that there are people looking out for our best… Continue reading Friend or Foe?
VALOR and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe
During our visit to Richmond, our VALOR class had the honor and pleasure of meeting with the First Lady of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Dorothy McAuliffe. Of particular interest to the class was the ongoing work Mrs. McAuliffe has tackled in fighting to eliminate childhood hunger in Virginia. Toward this goal, the First Lady has connected… Continue reading VALOR and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe
Interviewing 101–Nailing the Message
I’ve spent my career as a marketing and communications professional, crafting and delivering messages both on paper and in front of the camera. Being interviewed has been part of my job for more than 25 years (don’t do the math please!), but I’ve never been so ill at ease talking into a mike than I… Continue reading Interviewing 101–Nailing the Message
Laughter and Leadership
Last week the VALOR Class III fellows met in Richmond to learn how to grow corn in concrete cracks in sidewalks. It's the new buzz in urban agriculture! (Insert laughter now) The Class III fellows really went to Richmond to witness the behind the scenes and all the moving parts that go into legislation. Our… Continue reading Laughter and Leadership
Virginia Works
Above: VALOR Class III Fellows with the First Lady of Virginia, Mrs. Dorothy McAuliffe; Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Honorable Basil Gooden; and Virginia Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Megan Seibel Dear Virginia, There's a lot of emotion buzzing across the country this week as President Obama turns the reigns over to new… Continue reading Virginia Works
Walk with Purpose.
Wednesday we met with Andrew Smith of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. He is the Senior Assistant Director for VAFB Governmental Relations. VAFB is a grassroots organization. Is essence, Andrew is part of a team that puts into action ideas that VAFB producer members have developed. “Virginia Farm Bureau Federation successfully represents farmers in Richmond and… Continue reading Walk with Purpose.
You Own The Story
I remember my first performance evaluation. Yeah, we always think we are doing fine until someone presents otherwise, lol! In our earlier session with Norm and Sherri during our video interview mock-up, the best evidence was in front of us--ourselves. The feedback they offered was interesting, relevant, and accurate. It made me think of the… Continue reading You Own The Story
How Driving is Like Leadership…
I arrived off-schedule to our third session in Richmond, VA. As I was driving, I recalled a similar experience I had while participating in another leadership program. Here is the story: In the other program, I was lost while driving and looked-up and saw a huge American flag and it was soaring above a post… Continue reading How Driving is Like Leadership…
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