At VALOR's sixth seminar in July, we had the pleasure of visiting Garner's Produce a Virginia Century Farm near Warsaw, on Virginia's Northern Neck. The produce operation, run by Dana Boyle, her husband Bernard, her father and several seasonal employees provides fresh vegetables for a dozen farmers markets throughout Northern Virginia and the District… Continue reading Producing Produce
We're one year into the VALOR experience, and I must say that it has been an extremely rewarding program. Over the last twelve months we've crossed the state at least three times and spent over two dozen nights on the road. We've met leaders in the industries of fabrication and mechanics, exports, pork production, food… Continue reading Why Are We Here?
Tomorrow we leave on our US study trip, which officially means we’re past the halfway point with VALOR. I’ve thought a lot about how fast this program is passing. Seminar VI, like all of the seminars thus far, was fantastic. For me, one of the most meaningful experiences was the weekend on the bay with… Continue reading Investing with a long-term view.
Triple Overtime As I begin to write this blog, I reflect back on the Virginia Tech’s Hokies football victory this past weekend and am reminded that Virginia Tech’s Cooperative Extension agents are working in triple overtime. The load and demands placed on them by serving multiple communities has them spread too thin. The Hokies set… Continue reading Triple Overtime
VALOR Fellows had a complete experience during Seminar VI: Bay/Northern Neck - Agriculture, Technology and the Environment. It was an exciting time bringing together firsthand the components of one of the most talked-about efforts in decades, allowing a vibrant agricultural industry and work in partnership to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay… Continue reading A little technical assistance please …
An otherwise inconspicuous grain elevator along Tidewater Trail in Center Cross, Virginia, holds thousands of bushels of soybeans. However, these aren’t just your average beans. The Montague Farms facility contains natto beans grown by farmers in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, and destined for export to Japanese markets. It’s not just the beans that are… Continue reading Not your average beans…
A few years back Guy Clark postulated that there are only two things that money can’t buy, true love and home grown tomatoes. I suppose there is some wisdom in that but the times they are a changin’. I can assure you that all over Virginia, and other places throughout the nation, money CAN buy… Continue reading There’s only two things…
Reblogged: Virginia Oysters See Growth Over Last Decade Earlier this month, Gov. Bob McDonnell toured Kellum Seafood Company's oyster harvesting, shucking and packing facility in Weems, located in the Northern Neck along the Rappahannock River, to witness first-hand the strides made by Virginia’s oyster industry and to celebrate the industry's growth in recent years, highlighted… Continue reading Reblogged: Virginia Oysters See Growth Over Last Decade
Saturday, May 11, 2013 Virginia Tech MARE Center by Dr. Rebecca Splan & Jake Grove Alson H. Smith, Jr. AREC by Dr. Tony Wolf Endless Summer Harvest by Mary Ellen Taylor, Owner & President Sunday, May 12 , 2013 Training and Development Workshops on Stakeholder Development; Issues Panels Sponsored Tour and Dessert at Loudoun Farm Museum by the Museum Director… Continue reading Flashback to the Washington DC Seminar
As I reflect over the past year in VALOR, I have observed a common thread throughout the agriculture industries, businesses, and people the VALOR class has had the opportunity to observe, interact with, and learn about. The prevailing thread is pride. They are proud of what they are doing and accomplishing. They love their jobs… Continue reading Pride
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