Mark your calendars for The Ashland Strawberry Faire

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The 41st Ashland Strawberry Faire is Saturday, June 3, on the beautiful campus of Randolph-Macon College.

Since 1982, folks of all ages have come to play, enjoy strawberries, visit friends, listen to music, pet animals and shop for unique items and special treats. Best of all, the Faire is free! More than 300 vendors will be available on Henry Street, Patrick Street and Caroline Street. There will be arts and crafts vendors, Hanover County businesses, nonprofit groups, and government services folks available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Beyond diversifying their farm operation, a creamery is an investment in the family’s future. “Upcoming generations are probably less interested in running a traditional dairy farm but may be more interested in the creamery side of the business.”

This foresight comes from years of economic hardship for family dairy farms. There were around 650 Grade A dairy farms in Virginia in 2017. Now 475 remain after many years of depressed prices forced closures.

The U.S. has lost more than half of its licensed dairy operations since 2003, down to 32,000 dairy operations, according to a 2020 U.S. Department of Agriculture report.

The Stanleys’ value-added venture, called Farmview Creamery, will start with purchased ice cream mix but eventually will transition to on-site milk production.

They were awarded a Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative grant to fund a feasibility study, with application assistance from the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability.

“VA FAIRS helped me with the application,” Stanley said. “I didn’t even know where to get a feasibility study on a dairy, but they did, which has been so helpful.”

Whitney Perkins, VA FAIRS assistant director, acknowledged it can be overwhelming to know where to begin when planning to diversify.

“But that’s why VA FAIRS is here to help farmers start and expand into value-added, high-value agriculture enterprises—where they are in the driver’s seat,” she said. “There are abundant opportunities, but that often comes with a lot of overwhelming information. I see our role as helping to navigate this unfamiliar world and helping families breathe new life into their businesses.”

Visit vafairs.com to learn more.

The Faire is accepting applications for vendor spaces. Don’t delay! Early bird pricing ends on April 15. After April 15, booth fees go up $25 per 10x10 space. There are lots of sponsorship opportunities available. Visit www.AshlandStrawberryFaire.com for more information.

The Faire committee is grateful for the continued backing of its hometown sponsors, Randolph-Macon College, the Mechanicsville-Ashland Local and the Town of Ashland.

The Ashland Strawberry Faire has been partnering with the Ashland Kiwanis Club for several years now. The Ashland Kiwanis Club is one of the oldest Kiwanis Clubs in Virginia, and the only Kiwanis Club in Hanover County. The Ashland Kiwanis’ service projects have been geared to the community – Ashland as well as the balance of the county. Organizers hope to celebrate the Kiwanis’ 100th anniversary at the Faire in a big way this year!

The Faire is a nonprofit organization. Proceeds from the Faire go back to the community in the form of nonprofit support and scholarships for Hanover County public schools, the Hanover Center for Trades and Technology and Randolph-Macon College. Submitted by Ashland Strawberry Faire Inc.

Upcoming Programs At Hanover Libraries

RICHARD S. GILLIS,

ASHLAND BRANCH LIBRARY searching Family Histories at the ashland branch Library, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1 — 2 p.m. ages 18 and up. Interested in engaging in genealogy research but don’t know where to begin? Familysearch.org is the world’s largest collector and disseminator of genealogical records. Jody raab, Familysearch volunteer, will offer a hands-on experience on Family search.org. We will learn how to build a tree and search records available on this database. In preparation, please create a free account and bring your user name and password with you to the program. Laptop computers will be provided for use during the workshop, or feel free to bring your own. reading Olympics Game Play at the a shland b ranch Library, Thursday, Feb. 16, 3:30 — 4:30 p.m. Grades 4-5. For participants in Hanover County schools reading Olympics. Practice your knowledge of When Life Gives you O.J. with a challenging game. Come alone or bring your team. among us Game night at the ashland branch Library, Thursday, Feb. 16, 6:30 — 8 p.m. ages 12-18. Quit acting sus and come join us for a few rounds of among us. bring your smartphone, tablet or laptop and be ready to play. We recommend pre-installing the app before the event. beginning Chair yoga at the ashland branch Library, Thursdays, Feb. 16 and 23, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Call 804-798-4072 or visit the library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. for more information.

Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga which is done with the assistance of a chair for those with physical

Please see LIBRARIES, Page 16

Learning Never Tasted So Good

Pole Green Elementary Pta Hosts Paint Night

The Pole Green Elementary School PTA recently hosted its first paint night, bringing students and families together for a fun night of painting! Looks like a great time!

Calendar

From 4 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Pamunkey regional Jail at 7240 Courtland Farm rd. in Hanover. Contact John shinholser, Mcshin president, at 804-249-1845. The website is http://www.mcshin.org.

TUESDAYS

The Hanover Concert band rehearses

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Tuesday, mid-January through mid-december, at the Hanover arts and activities Center at 500 s. railroad ave. in ashland, just south of u s. 54. Membership is open to anyone who can read music and play a non-string instrument. High school students are welcome with parents’ permission. Visit www.hanoverconcertband.org or call 804-789-0536.

First graders at Elmont Elementary School recently finished up their matter unit by exploring solids, liquids and gases with root beer floats! Yummy!

The american Legion Post 175, located at 8700 bell Creek road in Mechanicsville, holds a “Meet and Greet, Coffee and donut” event from 9-11 a.m. every Tuesday for the community and perspective members to meet members and learn about what they do for the community. Visit http:// www.post175.org/.

Wednesdays

Hanover rotar y meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at roma’s restaurant at 7240 bell Creek rd. in Mechanicsville. due to the pandemic, contact President Penny at pennyguiles43@gmail.com for current meeting at roma’s or Zoom connection information.

Thursdays

The ashland rotary Club meets weekly at noon at the Iron Horse restaurant at 100 s. railroad ave. in ashland. For more information, contact steve dunham at 804496-6093 or sandrdunham@yahoo.com.

Overcomers Outreach & Women’s Codependency is a Christ-centered anonymous support program offering hope and healing for recovering alcoholics, addicts and their families. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. at shalom baptist Church at 8116 Walnut Grove road Mechanicsville. For more information, call 804-366-6524 or email mjfaith1@gmail.com. new Highland baptist Church hosts open basketball gym time for adults in the Christian Life Center (CLC) starting at 7:30 PM.

Please see CALENDAR, Page 19