As a collective group, we had over 40 layers of clothes on. I’m pretty sure that my left pinkie toe is still regaining circulation, and it feels quite odd to pull on dress pants without the accompanying fleece layers today for work. Three guesses as to what in the world was going on. (No, it… Continue reading Layers & Leadership
“Embracing the Future of Agriculture”
In November, my VALOR classmates and I had the great experience of exploring agriculture in the Tidewater and Eastern Shore region of Virginia. It was exciting to learn more about this region’s impressive contribution of produce, equipment and leadership to the global agricultural marketplace. In addition to learning about the region, we learned more about… Continue reading “Embracing the Future of Agriculture”
Hot Potato Issue
The sequel classic to Black Belt Jones inspired me while I was reminiscing over November's VALOR tours. If you have not had the pleasure of Jim Kelly's genre busting follow up, please have a quick taste now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rRODUU5BCA In November we visited an equipment manufacturing firm supplying specialty harvesting equipment to the world for large… Continue reading Hot Potato Issue
Tidewater and Eastern Shore: Internationalization Aplenty
Agriculture in the Tidewater/Eastern Shore region holds a special place for me as a Virginia "transplant" - it's very similar to my family's homestead. The terrain is flat - no undulating hills and mountains like those in Franklin County (my adopted home in VA), and less clay (aka “red dirt”). It's this geographical uniqueness that… Continue reading Tidewater and Eastern Shore: Internationalization Aplenty
A Local Response to a Global Market
The 2nd seminar of the VALOR program led us to eastern part of our state. One of the many things that I already love about the VALOR program is that I get to carve out time to travel to different parts of my home state. My work with Milton’s Local takes me to different parts… Continue reading A Local Response to a Global Market
Leadership in the Emotional Realm
One of the many, many benefits of growing as a leader through Virginia’s premier adult leadership agriculture program, VALOR, is the ability to complete and analyze personal assessments such as the Myers-Briggs, and most recently, the EQ-i 2.0. The EQ-i assessment, as defined by MHS Assessments, “measures emotional intelligence (EI)…“a set of emotional and social… Continue reading Leadership in the Emotional Realm
Sea of Opportunity
The second session of VALOR took us to Suffolk, VA, where we had the opportunity to experience and realize the diversity and impact of Virginia agriculture. Our visit focused on all levels of production; from field, to harvest, to processing, to getting it to your front door. We visited Paul Roger’s farm; a conventional farming… Continue reading Sea of Opportunity
Different Town, Same Dilemma
In November, I along with my classmates had the privilege of visiting the Eastern Shore. I was excited to see something different. I’m from the mountains in Fancy Gap, Virginia. The land and temperature variations between home and the Tidewater area were substantial, to be no farther apart then they are. We had many stops… Continue reading Different Town, Same Dilemma
Eastern Shore Agriculture
The VALOR class ended up in Suffolk Va for our second seminar and I have to say I was very impressed with the people we met and the agriculture we got to see on the eastern shore. Being from the Valley on the western side of the state I was excited to learn about the… Continue reading Eastern Shore Agriculture
The Fiber of Our Lives
As I try to catch my breath between the harvest and the holidays, I thought pausing to review the last month might slow me down enough to achieve a couple of deep inhales and exhales. Breath in, breath out.... maybe. Catching a rainy afternoon helps too. About a month ago, in the middle of our… Continue reading The Fiber of Our Lives
