Business

A unique blend aims to ‘uncork the cure’

By Anita L. Sherman Community Editor

Robert Frost’s “A Road Not Taken” comes to mind as you drive north in Fauquier County. Hume Road, for example, winds its way through the lush rural countryside. You can drive for miles and not encounter another car depending on the hour and day of the week.

Bob Claymier’s unique white blend “Uncork the Cure” honors their daughter Kim.

It was Hume Road that lured Bob Claymier, who grew up on a cattle ranch in the high desert country of Eastern Oregon, to explore that scenic road more than 20 years ago. Retired from the federal government, Bob was looking for a place to raise horses and honor his Oregon roots. He and his wife, Linda, first spotted their current location at 13726 Hume Road in the early ’90s but it would be some two years later, with the property still on the market, that they would be able to call it home.

A lifetime of work had them living in desert countries like Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt as well as many other overseas assignments. Deserts have always had a draw for them, that and their memories of Oregon’s desert country, so it was a natural fit to name it Desert Rose Ranch Arabians.

“Opening a winery was not in the game plan,” laughs Linda Claymier, who is sitting comfortably in a large open room bedecked with western memorabilia and wine bottles.

Linda Claymier

Western décor like this ornate saddle offer patrons a hint into the Claymiers’ wine odyssey.

In addition to Bob’s upbringing on a ranch was his love of grapes and winemaking. Breeding, boarding and training horses turned out to be a successful operation but harvesting grapes was always in the back of Bob’s mind. A small plot for growing and making wine for the family quickly morphed from hobby to household word as, over the years, the ranch part has waned. Desert Rose Ranch and Winery is now best known for its wines… partnered with a western flair.

A warm welcome

Their decision to embark on a wine adventure was enthusiastically supported by fellow winemakers in the Piedmont area like John Delmar at Rappahannock Cellars, which is located very nearby. The Claymiers had been selling some of their grapes to Rappahannock Cellars.

Linda recalls John telling them that with the closure of Oasis Winery some years ago, the area was ripe for another vineyard.

Now, you can choose from a Covert Cab or Fiery Run Cab Franc, if you prefer reds, to Hitch Hollow Chardonnay or Ole Moo Moo, for white wine aficionados, to a Sparky Rose.

Amble on up to their horseshoe shaped bar for a wine tasting and history lesson. You can opt to join “The Posse,” which entitles you to

discounts. Membership requires the purchase of two bottles a quarter. While sipping you can peruse the foreign currency under the glass from coins to paper. You’ll also find more pinned to a worldwide map detailing the countries the Claymiers have visited and/or worked or lived in.

“Now, people bring in their own collections of foreign monies to add to ours,” smiles Linda. “It’s a great conversation starter and fun for the customers.”

Linda’s effervescent personality is contagious. She emanates a positive and happy outlook on life and, while not expecting to run a winery in their “retirement,” she and Bob are loving it.

A life-changing event

But life threw them a curve ball in 2015 when on Good Friday of that year their daughter Kim was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. She was in surgery all day that Easter with the cancer spreading into her lungs and reproductive organs.

“She’s the best fighter,” said Linda of her daughter, who is well known in Culpeper working as the librarian at Culpeper County High School. Kim Mitchell has been a speaker at the Pamper Me Pink programs and is a good friend of Sharon Clark, owner of Pepperberries, who, for years, helped orchestrate that event.

Cancer-free but continuing on a chemo regimen, Kim, now 50, gladly shares the challenges and emotional roller coaster that life with cancer presents.

But Dad had a Christmas gift in 2016 that brought inspiration and good taste.

“None of us knew he was doing this,” said Linda, “it was a complete surprise.”

As the family gathered on that Christmas morning, Bob’s gift to Kim was unwrapped.

At first her reaction was, “Why would you give me a bottle of wine… you own a winery?”

Then she looked at the label. Bob had created a unique white blend of wine all for her. The label reads “Uncork the Cure.” Kim was very touched.

Linda laughs as she looks to the bottle with an illustration of a corkscrew under the name. Basically, it’s Bob’s way saying, “screw cancer.”

Since then, the Claymiers donate a portion of all the sales of “Uncork the Cure” to cancer research or a specific cancer-related event or project.

On Sunday, June 3, to commemorate National Cancer Survivors Day, Desert Rose Ranch and Winery will have a special fundraising event

from noon-6 p.m.

With their two daughters and grandchildren all in this area, it is doubtful the Claymiers will return to live in Oregon but that’s all right with them.

“We’ve found a home here…you never know what life is going to throw at you,” smiles Linda. “We love where we are.”

The desert rose plant is native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, haunts of their previous homes. It thrives in well-drained soil as do the grapes at Desert Rose Ranch and Winery. With hints of faraway lands, strong legs and an aroma of Western ambiance and compassion, the Claymiers wines will linger on your palette and call for a return.

Liv Heggoy leads LFCC’s fundraising efforts

By Amanda Heincer Times Staff Writer

When it comes to the business side of things, people sometimes have the wrong idea about nonprofits, said Liv Heggoy, Lord Fairfax Community College’s associate vice president for institutional advancement and the executive director of the LFCC Educational Foundation.

COURTESY PHOTO

“I think the term ‘nonprofit’ is kind of misleading because we want to be profitable,” Heggoy said. “We want to be as profitable as possible and use that profit to support our mission.”

The LFCC Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that supports the community college through fundraising efforts that aim “to help the college fulfill its mission to provide accessible, quality academic and workforce training opportunities to all students, regardless of financial need,” according to the foundation’s website.

Each year, the foundation raises funds to award scholarships and support other college projects, including the construction of the new Hazel Hall at LFCC’s Warrenton campus.

“The more profitable we are, the more good we can do,” Heggoy said.

And the more the foundation does, the more it can support the mission of the community college, she said.

“The mission of Lord Fairfax Community College is

student success,” Heggoy said. “And the college is so important to Fauquier County.”

About half of the county’s high school graduates go on to community college, Heggoy said, “And most of them go here.”

“It’s a great thing for Fauquier County to have a community

college here,” she said.

The community college also plays an important role in providing job opportunities in Fauquier County and in preparing more people to enter the workforce, she said.

“In terms of economic impact, we are one of the top

employers,” Heggoy said. “And they say the measure of a community is its access to education and good health care. So we play an important role in providing that education piece.”

Heggoy came to Lord Fairfax Community College in 2010, serving as the college’s assistant director of development before becoming executive director of the LFCC Foundation. Before coming to LFCC, Heggoy was vice president of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia. She moved to LFCC after getting married and moving to the area, she said.

“I was fortunate to find this position that was a good fit,” she said.

And, Heggoy said, she is happy to be working at LFCC at an exciting time, as the college continues to expand and grow.

LFCC will celebrate its 30th year this year, she said.

“We’ve grown so much and continue to expand our programs,” she said. “We’re excited to be the number-one choice for students Fauquier.”

Reach Amanda Heincer at aheincer@fauquier.com

Report: Virginia Cooperative Extension gets results

The Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and Virginia Cooperative Extension have far-reaching impacts across the state, according to a report recently released by the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development.

Eleven Agricultural Research and Extension Centers around the state provide research and outreach to propel local and state economies. VCE has 107 offices across the state that provides research-based information to farmers and the public. This includes the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension center.

“In addition to the numbers and analysis presented, citizens provided concrete examples detailing how their lives and communities wouldn’t be the same without the outreach and research,” noted John Provo, director of the VT Office of Economic Development.

The report quotes one farmer with $170 million in annual agricultural exports who, when asked about cooperative extension’s impact, said, “I don’t know if agriculture would exist in the county without Extension. It certainly wouldn’t thrive.” Additional impacts on Virginia agriculture and forestry

Saving hundreds of millions of dollars for the poultry industry through creation of disease-prevention and risk-management protocols;

Delivering row crop research that provides producers with an extra $10 million annually and has led to largescale yield increases; and

Assisting landowners in receiving up to twice the return on investment for their forestland through sustainable management and protection from invasive species and low-bid buyers.

Winter wheat production expected increase 23 percent

Virginia farmers expect to harvest 11.7 million bushels of winter wheat during 2018. The expected crop for is 23 percent larger than the previous year.

That’s according to a new report of stats and details on Virginia’s winter wheat forecast and on-farm hay stocks, the first indication of crop acreages for the 2018 growing season. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently shared the results of the Agricultural Yield Survey, which was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Farmers seeded 230,000 acres last fall with 175,000 acres to be harvested for grain. Based on crop conditions as of May 1, and assuming a normal growing season, farmers expect a yield of 67 bushels per acre, up one bushel from 2017. Acres for other uses totaled 55,000 acres and will be used as cover crop or cut as silage or hay.

State statistician Herman Ellison said, “The Virginia winter wheat crop experienced below normal temperatures and varied precipitation in April. At the end of April, 29 percent of the crop had headed and was mostly rated in good condition.”

As of May 1, Virginia on-farm hay stocks totaled 250,000 tons, down 290,000 tons from May 1, 2017, stocks. Farmers have used 77 percent of their hay stocks since Dec. 1, 2017. Because it was a dry fall and the late spring slowed grass growth, farmers had to start feeding hay early.

“I’d like to thank all the farmers for taking time out of your busy schedules to respond the Agricultural Yield Survey,” Ellison added. “The more farmers who respond to our surveys, the more accurate data we can provide for the agricultural industry. I wish them a very prosperous and healthy year.”

BUSINESS EVENTS

Wednesday, May 23

Prince William Chamber of Commerce Women’s Leadership Lunch, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Attaining the Unattainable - From Determined Mom to PR Powerhouse. Guest Speaker: Megan O’Shea Megale, president and managing director, Megale Public Relations. Tickets: Member: $50, Non-Member: $60. Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10900 University Boulevard, Manassas. To register: http://pwchamber.org/events/calendar

An Effective Capability Summary: A Must for Every Business: 8-10 a.m.: Panelists: Shay Rangel, OMNI Global Strategies, Robyn Snyder, Lockheed Martin and Austin Johnson, Marine Corps SysCom. Are you leaving money $$$ on

the table? The government buys everything so learn how to sell your products and services at the GovCon breakfast. More Info: Suzanne Lewis / 571-765-7753

Thursday, May 24

Fauquier Chamber of Commerce Legislative Wrap-Up: Hear from members of Fauquier County’s state delegation about the action in Richmond this year. 8-10 .m., Airlie Conference Center, main house, Jefferson Room. $15. To register: FauquierChamber.org/events.

Fauquier Chamber of Commerce Business Connection Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Front Porch Market & Grill. To register: FauquierChamber.org/events

Friday, May 25

Worksite Wellness: A Population Health Perspective, 12 noon – 1 p.m. Speaker:

Tammy Rowland, Prince William Health District, Virginia Department of Health. Attend this meeting of the Health & Wellness Council. Chamber headquarters. More Info: Suzanne Lewis / 571-765-7753.

Friday, June 1

Prince William Chamber of Commerce: Chairman’s Having a Ball – Annual Dinner Dance, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club. Tickets: $95. To register: http://pwchamber.org/events/calendar/

Thursday, June 7

Prince William Chamber of Commerce Lunch with Governor Ralph Northam, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10900 University Boulevard, Manassas. Governor Ralph Northam will deliver a “State of the Commonwealth” address to members over lunch, focusing on issues related to the economy and business climate. To register, go to PWChamber.org, or call 703.368.6600.

Friday, June 8

Fauquier Chamber of Commerce Networking at Noon, 12-1 p.m. Grioli’s Italian Bistro. To register: FauquierChamber.org/events

Thursday, June 12

PATH Resource Center: Difficult Conversations in the Workplace, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn strategies and techniques about preparing for and conducting a meeting that can be potentially uncomfortable for the employee and the employer and how to avoid potential legal pitfalls. The program is tailored for business owners, human resources professionals, and supervisors who manage employees. To register: http:// www.pathforyou.org/resource-center/