In March, we had the pleasure of touring central Virginia. Before VALOR, I always thought that central Virginia was just metro-Richmond, but I quickly learned that it includes a much larger section of Virginia, including Charlottesville and nearby localities. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, this area has proven to be… Continue reading Agri-Tourism is Thriving in Central Va.
The question was asked at Madison Wood during our last seminar in Central Virginia along the Rt. 29 corridor -- "Who are your major customers?" The answer demonstrated perseverance, common sense, and most of all - a commitment to excellence as they quickly replied "All of our customers are major!" What a reviving answer. Fortunately, this is… Continue reading Commitment to Excellence
The last VALOR trip took us from Culpeper to Charlottesville. We saw everything from vineyards and orchards to beef cattle and lumber. Each operation was uniquely different and had a distinct vision. My favorite part of the seminar, other than the Moo Thru ice cream, was learning about our personal conflict management styles. Before the… Continue reading Conflict Management
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ9jmWLlen0 The preeminent K-Pop series detailing a popular music group's move to the country, this gripping drama highlights a generation's view of the importance of agriculture. It also stole the name from the industry leading ag-news provider, found here. What does agriculture mean to the Virginia Pediment? I find agriculture in this central region of… Continue reading Virginia Piedmont Agriculture, Such Wow
Our most recent VALOR excursion landed us in beautiful central Virginia; here we focused on adding value. We visited numerous operations that were committed to adding VALUE to their products. Going back to my Ag Econ roots at Virginia Tech, it is well documented that most commodity producers keep very little of the full retail… Continue reading Value added
How encouraging to see so many flourishing enterprises in Central Virginia. And how enjoyable to get first hand experiences with some of them during our March VALOR seminar. We visited Madison Wood Preservers, Senterfitt Farms, and Step-at-a-Time Farm, - all thriving local ag-based businesses. And we learned about Crisis Communications from both Corrine Geller,… Continue reading Eat, Drink, and be Married
Upon my return from Vietnam – by all accounts an ascendant “Asian Tiger” economically and culturally – I was asked a number questions, including the following: Were Vestiges of the Communist System Still Evident? This is front and center on most minds. Propaganda was plastered everywhere in the city, emblazoned with Ho Chi Minh -… Continue reading Tales of an Intrepid Journeyman (to Vietnam)
January 12, 2016; or the 11th for America is a day that will live in infamy. Creeping through the Viet Cong hotbed of the Hoi An water coconut mangroves, we were startled by a group of six men rowing basket boats made of weaved bamboo coated in tar and water buffalo dung. As we peered… Continue reading Just a Reminder, We Went to Vietnam
Day 11 of #VALORVietnam is complete. The once well oiled travel machine that is VALOR now more resembles the Vietnamese telecom system - a bundled and tatered mess, lacking in consistent access to much of anything (especially energy). You could say we lost our #SWAG. Any semblance of winter back home is replaced with air… Continue reading Saigon to the Mekong
My brain keeps telling me to post recaps of Vietnam, while simultaneously screaming at me to close my eyes and go to bed. Who knew that jet lag created multiple personalities? Mark that one down on the books. The purpose of our trip to Vietnam was to specifically look at culture, history, and of course… Continue reading If Christmas can have 12 days, so can Vietnam
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