It’s spring in the Shenandoah Valley and farmers are hard at work preparing for their 2026 planting season. There I was sitting at my four-year-old’s first soccer game in rural Mount Jackson, Virginia. I took a deep breath and inhaled the unquestionable smell of poultry litter scattered at nearby farms and was immediately transported to… Continue reading Chicken Litter
Transformative is defined by Merriam-Webster as “causing or able to cause an important and lasting change in someone or something.” In past blog posts, I’ve often captured my travel experiences with a single, descriptive word—one word to summarize a person, a place, or a moment. This time, that single word is the influence on me… Continue reading Transformation
Alongside my VALOR class VII cohort, I enjoyed an enriching and exciting four days in the tidewater region and eastern shore of Virginia in late November. Over the course of the seminar, we visited a variety of farms and agribusinesses, learning the unique challenges, production practices, market conditions and marketing associated with cotton, peanuts, pork… Continue reading Seminar II: Ag Trade & Engaging w/ Others (Tidewater/Eastern Shore)
On our recent trip to the Tidewater region of Virginia, we visited the Commonwealth Cotton Gin in Windsor, VA. This is a family-owned business run by brothers Tom and Len Alphin. The gin is rooted in the community and has a rich history in the cotton industry. The Alphins take a fascinating approach to their… Continue reading Commonwealth Cotton Gin
Seminar II brought our class to the Tidewater region of Virginia. A region that I, a native Texan, had never seen (other than a few touristy jaunts to Virginia Beach). We were immersed in the culture of cotton, peanuts, pork, and potatoes that has abundant historical context to the region. Our stops along the way… Continue reading Will Ferrell Actually Sells Peanuts
It was a bittersweet feeling when our group gathered for the first to last time in Central Virginia in May. We had spent the last 21 months visiting with some of the most outstanding and unique farming operations and support groups, hearing about their philosophies and best practices. Amongst all the variety of visits, tours,… Continue reading Seminar 11 Review
Before my VALOR experience, I had never ventured beyond US soil. The very aspect that draws so many to the program initially made me apprehensive. We're here to grow, right? So, I decided to embrace the opportunity, despite the initial stresses of packing and leaving home and work behind for two weeks. In the end,… Continue reading Just get in the van
For our last seminar of VALOR Cohort VI, we visited Central Virginia with Graves Mountain Lodge as our hub for the trip. I hadn’t visited Graves Mountain Lodge since high school when I participated in the VICE cooperative conference, which they still host each year. It was interesting to think about how things have changed… Continue reading Central Virginia: Leading the Way
It felt like a lifetime since I had seen my fellow classmates since the last VALOR tour in Virginia, wayyy back in November of 2023. I was extremely excited to catch up with our tight-knit group and hear all about their travels across the world to Kenya and back. It was bittersweet not to join… Continue reading Welcome Home!
As our international experience unfolded, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a trip to Kenya. Many of the images I’ve seen of Africa depict the continent as a desolate desert. I was pleasantly surprised as we arrived in Kenya, located near the Equator, and found the climate is perfect for a wide variety of… Continue reading Conservation and Sustainability Working to Preserve Kenya
valeadersor.com 