Newsletter for a Premier Leadership Development Program for Adults ISSUE 2

The application period for participation in VALOR Class II has

closed, and Director Megan Seibel is pleased to report that a

number of high quality applicants have applied for a fellowship.

Class II will begin September 2014 and end July 2016. Fellows

selected for Class II will take part in 12 seminars located in

Virginia, Washington, D.C., a selected U.S. region, and an

international location.

The VALOR program was established in 2012 to “bring

together a range of emerging agricultural leaders from different

sectors and challenge the way they make decisions and address

issues facing our industry,” explained Dr. Megan Seibel.

Participants must be actively involved in the agricultural industry.

Follow these links to learn how the program works, and what

impact VALOR Fellows can have in their communities.

The selection committee for Class II Fellows, which is comprised

of VALOR advisory council members, is currently reviewing

applications and working to schedule interviews with potential

candidates. Applicants will be notified in early May if they are

selected for an interview, and members of VALOR Class II will

be announced August 1. More information about the program is

available at www.valor.alce.vt.edu/

Update on VALOR Class II

facebook.com/AgVALOR

Connect with VALOR

@VAleadersOR

Read our blog at:

www.VALeadersOR.com

Letter from the Director

Update from Advisory Council Chairman

Gary Larrowe,

Advisory Council Chair

“Leadership is providing opportunities to others”

These words were spoken to me many years ago by the then Vice-President of the W.K.

Kellogg Foundation and, based on my experiences, these words remain on target.

Leadership is something that must be shared, and by definition must open doors of thought

and intent that accomplishes common tasks for the betterment of all. The effort of the

VALOR Advisory Council have been to share our collective knowledge with the VALOR

Inaugural Class.

The VALOR Program has excellent human capital in the form of participants, its director,

graduate staff, support from donors, and the advisory council. Under the direction of

Dr. Megan Seibel, the VALOR Fellows have had transformational experiences at the state,

regional, and international levels. The group has coalesced around their common goal of

becoming a voice for agriculture, and, as a result, developed into a very strong core of what

Virginia and agriculture needs for the future. The networking opportunities, along with the

personal development aspects, will allow the fellows to better understand how they can

influence positive change in the agricultural industry and their communities.

From the first meeting of the advisory council, a goal was established to make VALOR the

premier leadership program in Virginia, and, from all indications, the goal will be accom-

plished with the efforts of all. It is with pleasure that I represent the entire VALOR advi-

sory council. I would challenge each of the VALOR Fellows and program to always

continue to explore opportunities to exercise the leadership skills developed from his or her

experience in the program.

It is amazing to think about how much has been covered and accomplished in the

seemingly short time since the inaugural group of fellows first convened as VALOR. It

is particularly exciting to see ideas and inspirations come to life through experiential

session activities. From my perspective, personal growth and learning has been

substantial for everyone.

Early in the first few seminars, a foundation for thinking about a legacy of leadership and

impact was established. In seminars five through nine, we built on interpersonal

development skills through personality assessments, media relations, and issues analysis

by incorporating texts related to Crucial Conversations and Strengths-Based Leadership.

In addition, a reflection on social support systems, the Leadership Challenge workbook, a

conflict style assessment, a problem solving assessment, board dynamics workshop, and

a personal best leadership project proposal were used to help fellows apply knowledge

gained throughout the program.

To say these activities have influenced how the fellows have developed as a group and as

leaders in their companies and communities is an understatement. This professional

development experience consisted of site visits and tours that included conversations

with influential leaders in government, business, education, research, agricultural

practice, and media.

As you read through this report of our activities, I hope you are as inspired reading about

them as we were participating in them. We have done much and learned more. This

group has truly set the benchmark for future classes, and they look forward to guiding

Class II and beyond as alumni leaders.

2

Megan Seibel, Ph.D

VALOR Director

Farm Credit of the Virginias

Establishes VALOR Excellence Fund

The VALOR program celebrated an important milestone on November 14 when

Farm Credit of the Virginias CEO, Dave Lawrence, presented a check for $120,000

to VALOR Director, Megan Seibel, to establish the Farm Credit of the Virginias

VALOR Excellence Fund. The fund is the first endowment created to support the

VALOR program and will provide partial support for the program in

perpetuity. VALOR would like to thank Farm Credit of the Virginias for their

investment in the future of Virginia’s premier leadership development program for

the agriculture industry. To learn how you can invest in the future of VALOR,

please contact Megan Seibel.

"VALOR is preparing future leaders to advocate for

agriculture, how to tell the story and connect with

the consumer who does not always understand the

passion farmers have for producing healthy food.

Farm Credit is excited about being a sponsor of

VALOR because we look at this as an investment in

the future leaders of agriculture. It is a way for

Farm Credit, a farmer owned-cooperative, to

pay it forward."

- Dave Lawrence,

CEO and President

Farm Credit of the Virginias

“The investment of

Farm Credit in VALOR is

meaningful as the program

develops and gains

recognition and has allowed

us to be associated with

well-respected members of

the agricultural industry.”

- Megan Seibel,

VALOR Director

3

VALOR Meets with Federal Decision Makers VALOR in Northern VA and Washington D.C.: A Study of Urban Agriculture and U.S. Ag Policy

Click the picture for a video recap of Seminar V

problem solving and dined at a Crystal City restaurant geared

toward a metropolitan clientele.

Our D.C. experience allowed much dialog and interaction

with influential individuals on a range of topics impacting

agriculture from a national policy level. Visits were had with

many, including: the Executive VP of America’s Promise to

discuss education and workforce preparation issues; the

Director of USDA Faith-Based and Neighborhood

Partnerships; the Director of the Office of Governmental

Affairs of USDA Food Nutrition Service; the Regional

Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conserva-

tion Service; the Director of Rural Development Programs

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Director

of Rural Development Programs for American Farm Bureau

Federation; the VP of Young, Beginning and Small Farmer

programs from the Farm Credit System; the Director of

Government and Non-Profit Relations for National FFA

Organization, the Director of Training and Development for

American Farm Bureau Federation, and the Senior

Agricultural Counselor for the EPA.

Our group was also warmly welcomed at the Farm Credit

Blue Ribbon Tastes reception in the U.S. House Agriculture

Committee room. VALOR Fellows visited with Farm Credit

directors, congressmen, and aides, in addition to Virginia’s

Bob Goodlatte on the eve of the House mark-up of the Farm

Bill. During the same time the Senate was performing their

Farm Bill analysis. Being showcased as a group of

agricultural leaders at a time when society is facing new

challenges and demands on our industry was an experience

not soon to be forgotten.

4

During the past year, the inaugural class of fellows received a

view of Virginia’s farming and food policy from just about

every angle. They visited with tomato farmers on the Eastern

Shore, underwent media training at Virginia TV stations, and

even met Gov. Bob McDonnell. But in May, the VALOR

fellows got a glimpse of agriculture from a new perspective

— the federal government.

During the VALOR seminar in Washington, D.C., May

10-15, fellows explored a range of topics related to urban

agriculture and national agricultural policy. During the

seminar, the Virginia Tech MARE Center and Alson H.

Smith, Jr. Agricultural Research and Education Center were

visited where Drs. Rebecca Splan, TonyWolf, and Jake Grove

shared their time and information

about the impressive research

conducted that is setting Virginia

apart as a leader in several

agriculture related fields.

Mary Ellen Taylor, owner of

Endless Summer Harvest, shared

a love of “new agriculture” with

passionate exuberance at her

hydroponic lettuce facilities, and

we shared a meal of fresh greens

to conclude our first day.

Prior to this seminar, the book

Crucial Conversations was read

in preparation. The skills

addressed in the book were put

into practice as participants were

given mock scenarios and were asked to role play

various stakeholders involved in the issue, which was

developed from a reading of Food Access: Scarcity and

Surplus. Additionally, heritage farming and agricultural

education of the public in suburbia were viewed at the

Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum. We were graciously

received during our tour with a dessert reception featuring

locally made items and a celebration of Mother’s Day with

the women on staff.

Our exploration of local foods, food access, food marketing,

and consumer demand in a foodie society continued Monday

with a discussion and tour of Yankey Farms, a pick-your-own

business in Nokesville, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the

Whole Foods store in Vienna. Our VALOR group was well

received by both staff and customers at Whole Foods, who

openly shared their ideas about food production and

marketing to a demanding customer base.

Continuing our trek into D.C. from Northern Virginia, we

embarked on a city scavenger hunt incorporating team

Meet the VALOR Fellows

Roger Elkins

Jonesville, Virginia

Construction Manager, Virginia

Department of Transportation Being a part of the VALOR program and being

seen as a local leader in agriculture makes an impact on me because it can make an impact on

my community.

CJ Isbell

Rockville, Virginia

Co-owner of Keenbell Farm LLC,

VA Farm Mentor Coordinator, and

Firefighter I hope to provide representation and leadership for the future of agriculture as I develop a well

rounded knowledge of the industry and leader-

ship skills.

Teresa Lindberg

Jarratt, Virginia

Agricultural Education Teacher VALOR will allow me to expand my agriculture

knowledge while developing additional leadership skills, gaining valuable resources, and developing

a network that will enable me to become a

stronger, more effective advocate for the agricul-tural industry.

Hunter Richardson

Shacklefords, Virginia

Scatters Acres Farms Cultivating relationships is a key attribute of the

VALOR team. With time, these established relationships will provide the means for VALOR

to direct change and manager solutions affect-

ing the agriculture industry in the world market. I am thankful to be selected into this elite group.

Ken Ryan

Edinburg, Virginia

Credit Underwriter for MidAtlantic

Farm Credit I’m excited to be a member of the inaugural

VALOR class as this program continues to develop the next generation of Ag leaders.

Andrew Smith

Beaverdam, Virginia

Senior Assistant Director of Govern-

mental Relations with the Virginia

Farm Bureau Federation Being a part of the first VALOR class is a great

honor. I look forward to gaining an even greater

background of the agriculture industry and the

people that make it happen.

Matt Hickey

Staunton, Virginia

Owner of Classic Carriage VALOR offers development and leadership skills

to enable me to help the agricultural community face its ever- changing economic, social and

political issues is a lifetime opportunity!

Ian Heatwole

Weyers Cave, Virginia

Managing partner of Fox Run Farms,

LLC I believe that agricultural advocates and effec-

tive agricultural leaders only become more important as time goes on.

Ben Grove

Blacksburg, Virginia

Associate Director of Development for

College of Agriculture and Life Sci-

ences, Virginia Tech VALOR represents a unique opportunity to blend study of the agricultural industry with the lead-

ership skills and network needed to address

many important issues facing the industry and our society.

Dana Fisher

New Market, Virginia

Agricultural Education Teacher At a time when the majority of our state and

country are far removed from production agri-culture, it is vital that competent agricultural

leaders. VALOR will develop advocates that can

share the success and challenges facing our industry resources.

Ten outstanding individuals with diverse experiences in Agriculture were chosen to receive a fellowship with VALOR.

VALOR Heads to the Northern Neck & The Bay With a focus on agriculture, technology, and the environment, the inaugural class of VALOR participated

in a fast-paced seminar to the Northern Neck and Chesapeake Bay, July 19-24.

During VALOR Seminar VI, innovation in the oyster

industry was on display at Cowart Seafood Corporation

where A.J. Erskine, Aquaculture Manager and Field

Scientist, led the group through the nursery, algae

laboratory, and processing aspects of bringing quality

oysters to market. Consumer demand for high purity

Omega-3 fatty acid products was discussed throughout a

sensory-stimulating tour of Omega Protein, and Menhaden

fishing became a central discussion from the standpoint of

both business and Bay ecosystems. General Assembly

member, Delegate Margaret Ransone, met the group at

Omega to discuss the value of being actively involved in

legislation affecting agriculture throughout Virginia as

members of the commonwealth’s leading industry.

The evening of July 19 concluded at the Northern Neck

Farm Museum, where area representatives prepared dinner,

dined with the class, and shared in dialog and

presentations. U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman joined in

the fellowship of this meal, sponsored by Colonial Farm

Credit and Pioneer Seed. Other guests included farm

museum board members, local government, and Eastern

Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center

superintendent, Bob Pitman.

Bright and early Saturday morning, the group

boarded the Carol Loni II to depart for Port

Isobel off the coast of Tangier Island for a

two-day excursion with Chesapeake Bay

Foundation personnel, policy directors, and

educators.

Candid discussions about farming and the

Bay and ways to proactively collaborate to

protect the interests of both groups

occurred, along with educational activities on

the water. A highlight was an after dinner

conversation with Tangier Island Mayor

“Ooker” Eskridge who shared his love of

being a waterman. An industry generations

old, on an island with a culture all its own, in

so many ways removed from the constraints

of today’s society, and yet in touch with

much as their children head to college on the

mainland.

Upon returning to ground in the Northern Neck, VALOR

Fellows embarked on two days of exploring large scale

production of more traditional agricultural commodities,

such as corn, soybeans, grains, and produce. Montague

Farms showcased precision agriculture at its best on their

operation that produces quality food-grade soybeans for

export to Japan.

The fellows also visited Parker Farms, which produces

much of summer’s fresh produce for retailers. Their sweet

corn was truly divine when eaten alongside the harvesting

crew in the field. Dana Boyle, of Garner’s Produce,

proudly showed the group her produce farm and her family

prepared a meal for the group. Nursery and landscape

wholesale production was explored at Ingleside Plantation.

Lastly, service providers from the local Soil and Water

Conservation District and Virginia Cooperative Extension

shared information about programs for farmers and con-

sumers. Topics ranged from soil education and water con-

servation to small grains research and farm transition is-

sues. Strengths-Based Leadership was the professional

development educational component of the week and was

discussed in a workshop conducted by Dr. Eric Kaufman,

Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural

and Extension Education at Virginia Tech.

VALOR Fellows help pull crab traps from the Chesapeake Bay

6

VALOR Fellows visited Tangier Island in July

The long-anticipated U.S. regional seminar for VALOR

went off without a hitch in late September. The weather

could not have been more perfect, as our warm and sunny

week was sandwiched between two wet and stormy weeks

in the upper Midwest. Fellow adult agricultural leadership

program directors from Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan

helped coordinate tour stops, learning opportunities, meals,

and networking in their states in order to make this seminar

valuable to our VALOR inaugural class.

The first destination was the Indiana State Fairgrounds

located in Indianapolis, for a tour of the Glass Barn — an

educational facility that had just opened to the public in

August. Sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance,

Indiana Corn Marketing Council, and the Indiana Corn

Growers Association, this fantastic hands-on facility offers a

look at production agriculture in Indiana through the eyes of

three farm families and the companies they support. The

Glass Barn represents both the need and desire for

agriculture to be “transparent” in its dealings with the

consumer and this venue is a sure step in that direction.

Early the next morning, we met at the headquarters of the

National FFA Organization and engaged in discussion with

their educational coordinators, strategic communications

director, and foundation director to explore the value of

agricultural education curriculum that fully integrates

learning experiences and career development opportunities

as part of student learning. Partnerships that are being forged

with employers seeking to find dynamic and talented young

people for more than 300 agriculture-related careers are

impressive, as is the growth of this organization.

VALOR fellows then engaged with Product Manager Tim

Keller at Dow AgroSciences for an in-depth facility tour and

discussion about modern trends in production chemical that

meet consumer demand for performance and environmental

sustainability. The afternoon included tours of the Western

Indiana Sustainable Energy Resource facility and wind farm,

and BioTown Ag to look at closed-loop sustainable farming

models that digest all waste and generate energy and natural

fertilizers.

From Indianapolis, the group headed to the Windy City to

visit the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, a

most impressive four-year college preparatory program

where students select a career pathway in horticulture,

agricultural education, animal science, agricultural

mechanics, agricultural finance, or food science. All

courses across the school integrate hands-on learning to

supplement lecture, and concepts from traditional

academic courses are integrated into the career pathways.

In the heart of downtown, we visited the Chicago

Mercantile Exchange to view the agriculture commodity

trading floor.

Our next stop was western Michigan, which allowed an

opportunity to see diversified agriculture in a region not

visited by our group before. DeGrandchamp Farms

provided an opportunity to see cranberry and blueberry

production first hand and learn about differences in

harvest practices related to whether the berries are

destined for fresh or processed markets. Dietrich Farms

offered a chance to see apple packing lines in full swing,

as this family-owned operation sorts and packs over 1

million bushels of apples annually, equating to 20% of

Michigan’s annual production. At Countryside

Greenhouse, a stimulating conversation about family

business, risk taking, the impact of business policy and

legislation at the local level, and thinking innovatively

about agribusiness was had with the owner Dale Buist.

Since the VALOR program began, participants and staff

have been asked about opportunities that result from

participation, as well as the types of people that go

through these adult agricultural leadership programs

around the world. We met several current or graduated

fellows of the state programs we visited who shared with

our fellows anecdotal evidence that their involvement in

small and large business, local and state government,

corporate and private enterprise, was enhanced and even

perpetuated because of their involvement with state lead-

ership programs and the connections and opportunities

afforded them as participants and graduates.

U.S. Production & Practice:

A Comparison of Approaches

Countryside Greenhouse is a retail nursery

located in Allendale, Michigan

VALOR Fellows at the National FFA Center

in Indianapolis, Indiana

7

From Coalfields to Christmas Trees VALOR explores the great Southwest for Seminar VIII.

During our November seminar, Virginia Tech

faculty members Alex White and Richard

Crowder joined the group. As the former chief

negotiator for U.S. agricultural trade,

Dr. Crowder shared that the globalization of

agriculture will bring about unprecedented

change in the industry, and as a result,

“agriculture will change more in the next 25

years then it did in the previous 50 years.”

Dr. White spoke about contemporary and

complicating issues facing agribusiness.

The highlight of day one was a reception

hosted by Farm Credit of the Virginias’ Board

of Directors to commemorate a donation of

$120,000 to establish the Farm Credit of the

Virginias VALOR Excellence Fund. The

second day began with a tour of Burke’s

Garden, which is Virginia's largest Rural

Historic District located in Tazewell County. This

agriculture-based community is home to Lost World Ranch

and the largest herd of Bactrian Camels in North America.

The day came to end in the coalfields of Wise County. John

Belcher, Director of the Virginia Mining Association,

discussed issues facing the Virginia coal industry, which

produces more than 20 million tons of coal from 242 sites

and employs over 20,000 people in Southwest Virginia.

While in coal country, fellows met with Virginia

Cooperative Extension Agent Phil Meeks to learn more

about the public-private partnership between Virginia Tech

and the coal industry. This research and education

partnership, otherwise known as the Powell River Project

(PRP) is located on 1,100 acres at the headwaters of the

Powell River.

Next, the fellows visited Cavin Farms in Lee County. The

Cavin family shared the importance of educating the

non-farm population about the significance of production

agriculture. The fellows were asked to be a voice for

agriculture in Virginia. As early adopters of social media,

the Cavins emphasized the importance of being connected to

consumers through Facebook and Twitter, which provides

farmers a chance to tell their stories, and also serves as a

direct marketing channel.

A visit to Appalachian Harvest in Duffield allowed General

Manager Robin Robbins to share information about the

operation, which was established to help local farmers who

were looking for ways to continue farming after transition-

ing out of tobacco production. The fellows were able to see

how the community and current farmers collaborated to

develop markets and new opportunities for prospective

farmers.

Robin’s passion for the agricultural industry was inspiring

as she described how they meet supermarket demand for

large quantities of produce.

The day ended at the Southwest Virginia AREC where

the group was hosted by Superintendent Lee Wright. Mr.

Wright shared how the center and industry collaborate to

develop new markets and support farmers in Southwest

Virginia.

The last day of the seminar included a visit to Bottomley

Evergreens, one of the largest Christmas tree producers in

Virginia. Processing more than 600,000 trees annually is

no small feat, and Matthew Phipps shared the process

from field to shipping with the VALOR group.

The last stop of the seminar was Richdale Farm located in

Wythe County. Owned and operated by three generations

of the Crowgey family, theses farmers stressed the

importance of farm diversification and a willingness to

change. This grass-based operation shared a success story

for others to emulate as they returned to the dairy business

after a four year hiatus. Taking a new approach with a

forage based system has helped this operation thrive.

This seminar provided fellows with an opportunity to

better understand issues facing agriculture from multiple

perspectives. Whether within the context of labor, farm

succession, change management, or communication, the

overarching themes were about embracing change and the

importance of bringing people together to collaborate and

solve the collective problems facing our vast agricultural

industry.

Fellows Visit Bottomley Evergreens in Grayson County

8

Team Building and Collaboration in Southside VALOR explores the Southside for Seminar IX.

Professional development and personal growth were the

focus of VALOR Seminar IX, held in Gretna and Chatham,

Virginia. Day one was led by Dr. Jill Casten, Director of

Training and Development for American Farm Bureau.

Using the Thomas-Killmann Conflict Mode Instrument, Dr.

Casten helped VALOR Fellows understand their preferred

modes of conflict resolution and provided opportunities for

the application of these modes using real-life scenarios.

On day two, VALOR Fellows were hosted by Fred Wydner,

Pittsylvania County Agriculture Commissioner, and Robert

Mills, farmer and Virginia

Farm Bureau Board member,

at the Olde Dominion Agri-

cultural Complex (ODAC).

Beginning with an innovative

group of agricultural

visionaries in the region,

ODAC now exists because of

regional collaboration that

includes partners from

government, industry, and

non-profit sectors. The

collaborative project has

served as an economic

development tool and has

elevated the profile of

agricultural industry in the

region.

The VALOR Fellows also

heard about the Rural

Horseshoe Initiative, an effort

to reframe workforce development in the commonwealth

through a network of 14 community colleges in Virginia’s

rural crescent. Chancellor of the Virginia Community

College System, Dr. Glenn DuBois, and Curry Roberts of

HF Consulting candidly discussed the role of post-secondary

education and skill-based certification in securing our future.

The goal of this public-private partnership is to ensure a

college graduate in every Virginia home by 2025 because, as

the Chancellor explained, “two out of every three jobs in

Virginia will require more than a high school degree by the

year 2020.”

Our last presentation at ODAC was from Corrine Geller,

public relations manager for the Virginia State Police, who

spoke about crisis communication and media relations. The

fellows were given opportunities to apply their new

knowledge of crisis communication using agricultural case

studies developed by Mrs. Geller in anticipation of being

media contacts as agricultural leaders in their respective

communities.

Fellows were prompted to develop a media strategy for

each case study and received feedback from this seasoned

public relations professional. Ms. Geller also spent time

discussing the role of crisis management related to the VT

tragedy of 2007, which resonated profoundly and person-

ally with the group.

The last day of the seminar addressed individual problem

solving styles, working with governing boards, and the

dynamics of board governance. Director Megan Seibel

spoke about problem solving style and group dynamics.

By knowing individual

preferences for problem

solving, fellows will be

better able to organize

teams with the

cognitive diversity

needed to solve

problems and effect

positive change in their

communities.

Sarah Hanks, a

graduate student for the

Residential Leadership

Community at Virginia

Tech, discussed board

dynamics with an

emphasis on board

governance and

development. She

brought her

professional expertise

and insight with non-profit boards to share with the group.

As leaders in the industry, many VALOR Fellows serve

in a board capacity and this session helped them

understand what it takes to lead a board and develop its

members in order to be successful.

In addition to the professional development activities,

fellows developed personal best leadership projects based

on The Leadership Challenge book that was introduced at

a previous seminar. These projects challenged the fellow

and those identified as team members and stakeholders to

employ the five practices of exemplary leadership while

reaching intended outcomes. Reports on progress will be

shared during the final session of this inaugural class prior

to graduation.

Dr. Glenn DuBois speaks to VALOR Fellows about the Rural

Horseshoe Initiative, which is composed of 14 Community

Colleges in Virginia’s rural crescent.

9

Thank you Donors and Supporters* Faye Andrashko

Beth Archer

Keith Balderson

Ginny Barnes

Brian Barnes

John Belcher

Sarah Bittleman

John Blankenship

Bette Brand

Hanna Brescher

Dale Buist

Pete Butz

Lynn Campbell

Scott Carter

Jill Casten, PhD

Dale Cavin

John Cavin

Gary & Betty Chapman

Captain Charles

Brittany Clay

Richard Crowder

Aaron & Rachel Crowgey

Jane Crowther

Kendell Culp

Mike DeGrandchamp

Mike Dietrich

Adam Dietrich

Brandon Dillistin

Glenn DuBois

Jimmy Durham

Arden Eadie

A J Erskine

"Ooker" Eskridge

Max Finberg

Sheila Fowler

Jack Frye

Brian Furrer

Lilliana Garcia

In addition to sponsors of VALOR Fellows, these individuals have graciously

given their time, resources, and expertise to make the program a success.

We thank CG Thornhill, David Hughes, and Farm Credit of the Virginias for flagship support.

Corinne Geller

Ronnie Gill

Don Gill

Bob Goodlatte

Todd Greenwood

Ben & Lindsay Grove

Andy Hall

Sarah Hanks

Todd Haymore

Travis Hill

Melinda Hudson

John Jenkins

Ann Jennings

Sam Johnson

Chip Jones

Leonard Jordan

William Jurgelski

Adam Kantrovich

Eric Kaufman

Tim Keller

Martin Kent

Thomas Komir

Mike Kovacic

Don & Jodi Lamb

Lester Langeland

Yahaira Lopez

Mike Manning

Sabrina Matteson

Gary Matteson

Bob McDonnell

Phil Meeks

Luke Meerman

Robert Mills

Chris Moore

Bob Moss

Don Norton

Marty Park

Rod Parker

Matthew Phipps

Bob Pitman

Marty Potts

Bill Purcell

Margaret Ransone

Matt & Melissa Rekeweg

Robin Robbins

Curry Roberts

Kent Schescke

Lucille Shaw

Rebecca Splan

Bill Stagg

Jane Ade Stevens

Richard Stuart

Brenda Sutherland

Bryan Taliaferro

Jay Taliaferro

Andy Tauer

Mary Ellen Taylor

Travis Taylor

Emily Terzis

Kendall Tyree

Roger Victory

Keli Whitaker

Christine White

Alex White

Robert Wittman

Tony Wolf

Lee Wright

Fred Wydner

Jay Yankey

Tracy Zambito

Alex White

Robert Wittman

Tony Wolf

Lee Wright

Fred Wydner

Jay Yankey

Tracy Zambito

Classic Carriage, LLC

Colonial Farm Credit

FRF Cross Keys, LLC

Garner's Produce

Ingleside Nursery & Winery

Loudoun Farm Museum

MidAltantic Farm Credit

Northern Neck Fruit

Growers Association

Oak Gone Farm, LLC

Slabuagh Farms

Virginia Association of Soil

and Water Conservation

Districts

Virginia Corn Board

Virginia Peanut Growers

Association

Virginia Tech College of

Agriculture and Life

Sciences

County Farm Bureaus (FB)

Bland County FB

Chesapeake County FB

Chesterfield County FB

Hanover County FB

Lee County FB

Prince William County FB

Russell County FB

Scott County FB

Shenandoah County FB

Southampton County FB

Tazewell County FB

Washington County FB

Wise-Dickenson County FB

* This list includes individuals and organizations that contributed to VALOR seminars 5 through 9. For a complete list of program donors and supporters visit our website.

10

Date Location

September 5-7, 2014 Blacksburg

November 13-16, 2014 Eastern Shore

January 9-12, 2014 Shenandoah Valley

February 12-15, 2015 Richmond

May 8-12, 2015 Washington, D.C.

July 17-21, 2015 Northern Neck

September 16-21, 2015 U.S. National (TBD)

November 12-15, 2015 Southwest VA

January 8-10, 2016 Southside VA

March 4-17, 2016 International (TBD)

May 19-22, 2016 Central VA

July 15-17, 2016 Roanoke

Looking Ahead The inaugural class of VALOR Fellows will participate in the

last seminar of the program May 15-18 in central Virginia. This

seminar will focus on agricultural vitality, including value-

added production and processing.

In July, the VALOR Fellows will graduate from the program!

Graduation will include the families of each fellow and VALOR

Advisory Council members.

Find Us

Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results

VALOR 264 Litton Reaves (0343)

Blacksburg, VA 24061

valor@vt.edu

(540) 231-2375

www.valor.alce.vt.edu

Seminar Calendar for VALOR Class II