Middleburg Life | May 2021 by Middleburg Life

Volume 38 Issue 5 | May 2021 | middleburglife.com

MIDDLEBURG

LI F E BEHIND THE ART “Foxes on the Fence”

CERTIFIED REGENERATIVE FARMING

Our Most-Loved Events Are Back In-Person

UPPERVILLE

COLT & HORSE SHOW

RETURNS

Your Summer Reading List of Local Authors

POSTAL CUSTOMER PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE ECRWSS PAID FREDERICKSBURG, VA PERMIT NO. 75 EDOM

MIDDLEBURG REAL ESTATE

ATOKA

PROPERTIES

S I M P LY B E T T E R .

1702 WINCHESTER RD | DELAPLANE

35487 SNAKE HILL RD | MIDDLEBURG

$10,700,000 | Fleetwood Farm - West showcases the rolling hills & majestic mountain views that Virginia's Hunt Country is known for. 17 parcels totaling 1326+/- acres of mature farmland, this massive plot sits just 60 miles W of Washington DC. On the property are 4 rental homes and a historic stone mill, c. 1820, Crooked Run, and pond.

$5,500,000 | Mortgage Hall is situated in the heart of hunt country minutes from historic Middleburg. The 121-acre estate boasts a Georgian Mansion, built 1850, that currently operates as a destination event venue and horse farm. With scenic views of the countryside & Bull Run Mountains the “manor house” is the perfect venue or family home.

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

21167 TRAPPE RD | UPPERVILLE

20022 TRAPPE RD | BLUEMONT

$3,950,000 | Stunning manor home with 4 BD, 3 bathrooms, & 3 half bathrooms w/ a beautiful lake view on 166 lush acres. This light-ﬁlled home features exposed beams, exquisite HW ﬂoors, updated bathrooms, custom cabinetry, & countertops. Large kitchen island, numerous living spaces, & back porch make this home an entertainer's delight.

$2,799,000 | Fantastic horse property located between Upperville & Middleburg. 94 Acres. Ample 4 BD/4.5 BA main house, pool, guest house. 8 stall main barn, 2 BD log cabin & 4 stall barn. Piedmont Hunt Territory. Upperville Show grounds 5 mins. Mountain Views, privacy, space. Property in conservationeasement. Many uses: horse business, family compound, and great work from home space. Excellent internet! Call for an appointment!

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Mary Owen Chatﬁeld-Taylor 540.454.6500

NEW PRICE

3194 LOST CORNER RD | DELAPLANE

LEEDS MANOR RD | DELAPLANE

$2,600,000 | Feel a world away in this luxurious stucco retreat just 20 min from historic Middleburg. This 6 BD, 4.5 BA, 5,200+ SQFT home was built in 2018 by AAA contractor Gretchen Yahn with the highest quality materials. Enjoy meaningful moments and ﬁreside chats with your friends and family in the large, open kitchen and living room.

$1,385,000 | This property is an outstanding building lot for your Virginia countryside oasis! Mostly open parcel totaling apprx. 147 acres features fabulous valley views & Crooked Run. Partially fenced. Located N of Leeds Manor Rd & only a stone’s throw from multiple country towns, there are ample trails and local activities to enjoy.

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1399

S I M P LY B E T T E R . | M I D D L E B U R G R E A L E S TAT E . C O M OFFICE LOCATIONS IN MIDDLEBURG, MARSHALL, PURCELLVILLE, LEESBURG, ASHBURN, AND CHARLES TOWN CORPORATE: 10 E WASHINGTON ST, MIDDELBURG, VA 20117 | 540.687.6321 | LICENSED IN VA + WV (WV BROKER JOSH BEALL)

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CUSTOM HOMES HOME RESTORATION CUSTOM BARNS ESTATE PLANNING RIDING & POLO ARENAS

At Aisling, we specialize in custom home and barn construction, remodeling, and restoration in the Fairfax, Middleburg, Aldie, Atoka, Loudoun, Bull Run, Upperville, Dulles, and Vienna areas.

aislingbuilding.com | 36582 Leith Lane, Middleburg, VA 20117 justin@aislingbuilding.com | 703.389.3144 M AY 2 0 2 1

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MIDDLEBURG

LI F E MAY 2021 middleburglife.com

PUBLISHER: Greenhill Media LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jennifer Gray | editor@middleburglife.com COPY EDITOR: Chelsea Rose Moore ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Christian Bentley | christian@middleburglife.com ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Rebekah Greenhill | info@middleburglife.com Vicky Mashaw | vmashaw@middleburglife.com Jennifer Richards | jennifer@middleburglife.com Andrea Ryder | andrea@middleburglife.com

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ACCOUNTS ADMINISTRATOR: Joanne Maisano DIGITAL SALES & MARKETING SPECIALIST: Laura Luck DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR: Laticia Headings DESIGNER: Elisa Hernandez PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Nicky Marshok ON THE COVER Led by their dads, these adorable local lead liner girls show us their style in preparation for the upcoming Upperville Colt & Horse Show. Pictured on the left is Gavin Moylan and daughters Evelyn and Sybil, alongside Tyler Beale with daughter London. Photographed by Shawna Simmons, SAS Equine Photography. Read more about this year’s Upperville Colt & Horse Show on page 12. ON THIS PAGE Taken at Sylvanside Farm, this image of Zoey rolling in the fresh spring grass captures the mood in Virginia’s Piedmont perfectly. In the background, there are weeping cherry trees in front of a hand-built stone barn. Photo by Genevieve Leiper Photography. CONTRIBUTORS Heidi Baumstark, Victoria Peace,

www.middleburglife.com |

Kaitlin Hill, Chelsea Moore, Sarah Hickner, and Shayda Windle WHAT TO WATCH “The Middleburg Life” is now on middleburglife.com, featuring teen show jumper and polo player reaching for the stars. ADVERTISE IN MIDDLEBURG LIFE Greenhill Media, LLC P.O. Box 328 | Middleburg VA 20118-0328 540.687.5950 | info@middleburglife.com All editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All unsolicited manuscripts and photos must be accompanied by return postage; the publisher assumes no responsibility. Middleburg Life reserves the right to reject any advertising. Distributed in Aldie, Alexandria, Ashburn, Boyce, Delaplane, Dulles, Front Royal, Gainesville, Haymarket, Leesburg, Manassas, Marshall, Middleburg, Millwood, Paris, Purcellville, The Plains, Rectortown, Reston, Tysons, Upperville, Warrenton, Washington, D.C., and Winchester. FIND US ON: Instagram @middleburglife Twitter @middleburglife Facebook.com/middleburglife

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR:

INSIDE THE MIND OF HUBERT PHIPPS Story and photos by Kaitlin Hill | Art images courtesy of Hubert Phipps

ubert Phipps is difficult to define. A champion race car driver, seasoned pilot, and widely exhibited artist, this Hunt Country native has successfully expressed himself across a variety of mediums. His studio, just minutes from Middleburg’s main street, is a maze of newly started, semi-finished, and completed masterpieces that could broadly be designated as abstract art. But Phipps and his musing in metal, clay, pigment, and even soot, are perhaps more accurately described as transcendent, futuristic, even alien, yet still unmistakably human. “From a very early age, I loved to draw, like so many kids,” Hubert Phipps says from the sun-soaked heart of his expansive studio.

“My father was in the publishing business and he had these compendiums of political cartoons … I could transcribe drawings from. Back in the 20th century, they were very detailed, of course distorted, but I really enjoyed that. I was what one would call an illustrator.” Though his interest and formal education in art came early, as a member of New York’s Art Students League in 1974 at age 17 and student at the San Francisco Art Institute at 21, he didn’t focus on his craft solely until later in adulthood. “It’s not a path I dedicated myself to fully in my younger years,” he says. “I got involved in many other endeavors in life. I am a lifelong aviator. I got my student pilot’s license

Left: Hubert Phipps, photographed by Kaitlin Hill. Right: Dream Wall Colored.

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when I was 16. Plus, I had a career as a professional racecar driver back in the 1980s.” Phipps raced from 1980 to 1985, winning the S.C.C.A Formula Atlantic National Champion title in 1981. In spite of his success, Phipps didn’t feel focused. “I got to a point in my life where I didn’t feel like I had a sense of direction, and I was a little scattered in terms of my level of interest or the number of interests I had in my life,” he says. “I was not very focused on one thing.” In the early 2000s, Phipps reconnected with his adolescent interest in art. “I had never stopped doing art,” he says. “It was just Neighbor | Page 5

Neighbor | From page 4 always in the background or not the most important thing. Around 2002 or 2003, I decided that I was going to make a commitment to my artwork. I made the decision that this is maybe not a lifelong sentence. I’ll give it a shot and see what happens in six months, a year.” Phipps admits that his determined rededication didn’t come without doubts. “One of the things I really struggle with is my lack of confidence in the work that I do,” he says. “It’s a lot of self-imposed beliefs. You know, ‘You can’t really make it as an artist, your work is not good enough.’ And the competition is insane. There are so many good artists out there. I was committing myself to this, in an earnest way, rather in midlife and I thought people aren’t going to take it seriously, but that was really missing the point. For somebody to excel at whatever they do, at least my experience is, is to not be preoccupied with the results. And if it’s something you enjoy doing, do it for the enjoyment of doing it. This has been an absolute key idea that did resonate with me.” Phipps moved back to Middleburg fulltime in 2004 and converted what was once his helicopter hanger into an artist’s space that is part-studio, part-exhibit, part-office with roughly a room semi-dedicated to each medium he works in, with some creative overlap. His palatial stone studio with floorto-ceiling windows is set on a sprawling lawn and surrounded by towering trees. The space and the setting speak to Phipps’ source of inspiration for the larger-thanlife pieces he creates inside. What influences his work? “The easy answer is … nature and the world of forms that we live in, man-made forms,” he says. “But it’s my interpretation and how that interpretation evolves is really interesting and is how a lot of my work is done.” For Phipps, both his two-dimensional and three-dimensional concepts start in a sketchbook, often with something as simple as a line. “I start doing some very basic lines just to get something on the paper that just comes out of nowhere,” he says. “I get some lines down and I start fleshing out some forms. The process after that is hard to explain. In some ways, it’s blind. Then I start exploring different mediums.”

“I make an effort to take out the whole conscious. I am trying to eliminate the thinking mind from the process. When I turn on the light and see what I’ve got, I finish these [works] out consciously, manipulating the pigment.” — Phipps For his pure paint pigment pieces, Phipps goes in actually blind, covering his eyes and eliminating sources of light. “I’m working on a scale of 8 x 4 feet, and I cover the whole paper with this deep nano black type of a powder,” he says. “Then I start at night. I turn out the lights and if I am still getting some visual lights, I even put a blindfold on. I get down onto this paper, on my hands and knees on the floor, and I start drawing lines with an eraser.” More than removing pigment from paper, Phipps says, “I make an effort to take out the whole conscious. I am trying to eliminate the thinking mind from the process. When I turn on the light and see what I’ve got, I finish these [works] out consciously, manipulating the pigment.” The result? Dramatic black canvases with ghostly wisps of white that are as beautiful as they are mysterious. Their names add to their allure, with fitting titles from a 2018 installment like “Mystique,” “Crucible,” and “Momentum.” He works in oil paint, ink, charcoal, and soot too, creating visuals that range from bold splashes of color, geometric puzzles, a quizzical self portrait (2009), and the billowing nature of smoke captured on paper, all with the shared quality of jumping off the page. For Phipps, many of his two-dimensional renderings quite literally jump off the page, transforming into tabletop or tower-

ing sculptures. “Once I get into projects, there are some things that are created in a two-dimensional world that I can, in my mind, imagine as 3D,” he says. “But there can be impossibilities, physical limitations to achieving what I have in my mind. And sometimes, the physical realities of making something will not achieve the aesthetic goal I have. One of the challenges is to overcome the mind’s thought of ‘this is not going to work,’ and rather, take on ‘this is not working, but if this door closes, another door opens.’” Phipps’ ability to push through helps him produce 3D structures that are truly otherworldly and exceptionally lifelike. “Sky Temple,” a 2018 piece made from cast stainless steel, comes in at 26 x 90 x 11 inches, and looks utterly out of this world. It’s a collection of negative spaces, razor sharp edges, and purposeful points that appear poised to go intergalactic at any minute. In contrast, a white “Corian Serpent” (2018) may have just slithered in from Phipps’ backyard, characterized by its smooth skin, undulating body, and alert tail end. A recent sculpture, “Dream Wall” (2019), transcends “the realm of physical objects.” The nine-foot-tall and 25-footlong project is a collaboration of three artists, (Jeff Grantz, Jason Crigler, and Samo Okerstrom-Lang) three mediums (structure, light, and sound), and is the result of years of work. The piece sits outside his Middleburg studio in a pool of water, begging to be explored. Phipps landed his first exhibit in 2016. Five years later, he has solo exhibits, group exhibits, and permanent collections in Florida, New York, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Massachusetts, and is planning a project, one of many, that will address the social turmoil in the country. He was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Va., and is working to reimagine Richmond’s Monument Avenue. While Phipps is certainly not slowing down, he is reflecting on the past as he looks to the future. “It’s really interesting how the passage of time helps reframe my experience and give me perspective,” he says. “I am revisiting and getting a new appreciation of how, with some adjustments or using a different track, that opens up a lot of doors and really enables a project to come alive in a different way.” ML

Serpent.

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Country Living Never Looked So Inviting

12138 Harpers Ferry Rd, Purcellville - 215 acre award winning Loudoun County winery estate $4,999,000 Mark Malick (540) 270-3399

18688 Riverlook Ct, Lansdowne - Ravishing architecture, resortlike living in an exclusive enclave within the Lansdowne on the Potomac community! - $3,800,000 Lisa Thompson (571) 207-6580

James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg - Rare opportunity to acquire 371 acre just minutes from Leesburg $3,500,000 Janeen Marconi (703) 401-6465

PENDING

4101 Mountain Rd, Haymarket - Distinguished all brick/stone farm estate w/stone barn, 4000 sq ft office building plus Fios $1,925,000 - Windy Harris (703) 554-3815

“Windy Ridge”, Leesburg - Luxurious home on 19 acres w/guest cottage - $1,700,000 Colleen Gustavson & Eryn Appell (703) 296-2347

59 Riley Hollow Rd, Huntly - Tranquility and peace surround this 25 acre retreat with a geothermal system and three barns. - $1,649,000 Susan Hensley (703) 732-5867

19970 St Louis Rd, Purcellville - Custom modern farmhouse on 10 acres with pool and pond - $1,300,000 Colleen Gustavson & Eryn Appell (703) 296-2347

898 Fodderstack Rd, Flint Hill - Historic beauty captures the imagination at this wine and hunt country retreat $1,249,999 - Lisa Thompson (571) 207-6580

664 Zachary Taylor Hwy., Flint Hill - Investment opportunity of commercial space with US Post Office and five apartments. - $995,000 - Susan Hensley (703) 732-5867

140 W. Shirley Ln, Warrenton - Two homes for the price of one in charming Warrenton $599,000 - Windy Harris (703) 554-3815

38490 Charles Town Pike, Waterford Nice open buildable lot with well $350,000 - Peter Leonard-Morgan (443) 254-5530

19350 Magnolia Grove Sq, #407, Lansdowne - Newly painted and carpeted condo in Lansdowne Woods $319,000 - Peter Leonard-Morgan (443) 254-5530

SOLD

Hunt Country Sotheby’s International Realty 22 W. Market St Leesburg, VA 20176 (703) 443-1757 | office@hcsir.com

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View our listings via QR code Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated.

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Hunt Country Sotheby’s International Realty 2 W. Washington St, PO Box 1033 Middleburg, VA 20118 (540) 687-8500 | office@hcsir.com

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A VIRGINIA FARM LEADS THE WAY IN CERTIFIED REGENERATIVE PRACTICES Written by Heidi Baumstark | Photos by Joanne Maisano

ealthy input equals healthy output. That’s definitely true for livestock farms following practices that maintain robust ecosystems interacting in balance with each other. The result? Nutritious feed for animals culminating in prime meat cuts for people. Over Jordan Farm in Flint Hill, Va. is home to Bean Hollow Grassfed, a 200-acre grazing livestock operation in rural Rappahannock County that raises sheep, cattle, and pigs. At Bean Hollow, they believe the intensive management of pasture-raised, grassfed livestock improves soil health producing nutritious, chemical-free grass for animals that yield the highest quality lamb, beef, pork — plus popular bratwursts made from each of the three meats. The current property owner, Betsy Dietel, says the land was originally purchased in 1980 by her parents, Bill and Linda Dietel, who raised Polypay sheep, running a successful meat and wool operation for over 20 years. Then in 2000, the fields were leased to a neighboring farmer.

Dietel wanted to be closer to her parents, so she and her husband, Mike Sands, moved to the family farm in 2012. Soon, Sands started up the farm again. It made sense since he spent his entire career in agriculture, mostly focusing on organic and community-supported agriculture in the U.S. and overseas. With a Ph.D. from Cornell University in animal science and international agriculture, he led research and has been a trusted consultant on a variety of projects, but had never run his own commercial operation. Combining decades of knowledge with the opportunity to run the family farm, Bean Hollow was born out of his desire to put into practice a lifetime of experience. “It’s like background-met-opportunity,” Sands says. And his sustainable farming practices are getting deserved recognition. A Greener World (AGW) Certifications Recognition comes in the form of certifications from A Greener World (AGW), a global organization established in 2014, which offers guidance to farmers and ranchers promoting practical models for truly

Left: Mike Sands at Over Jordan Farm, Bean Hollow Grassfed.

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sustainable livestock farming systems. AGW certifies the sheep at Bean Hollow in their certified animal welfare approved by AGW and certified grassfed by AGW programs. Part of AGW’s promotion comes in the form of providing farmers full-service certification with marketing, labeling, and technical support. “Producers raising certified animals in these programs are industry leaders in animal welfare, outdoor access, and sustainability,” Callie Casteel, AGW’s Farmer and Market Outreach Coordinator, says. Sands says he got his two AGW certifications in 2017. His lamb is certified, since to be certified animal welfare approved by AGW, the product must be from birth-to-slaughter on the same farm. His beef and pork are not, simply because Sands buys young animals and then raises them on his farm. “Cattle and lamb are 100 percent grass fed and are in one big herd, which we call a ‘flherd’ since they get treated as one unit for the most part,” he says. “Some are pulled out in Farm | Page 9

Farm | From page 8 separate field rotations. Pigs are in a different system in their own location, and they get extra feed because their stomachs are different, and they can’t live on just grass.” Pigs are rotated in a couple of wooded areas, but with enough light streaming through so grass can grow for feed; there is also access to a small pasture. Fertilizer? No need for it since the animals’ own manure naturally fertilizes the soil. And in the winter, Sands buys hay and unrolls it in the fields. The hay that has not been eaten by the animals rots down becoming fertilizer, eliminating the need for chemicals. Once a year, AGW comes out to perform the equivalent of an audit. “They go through my books, all the paperwork, they look at the animals,” Sands says. “It’s one of the few programs that include actual visits to the farms — that’s what sets them apart. And they offer the widest spread of certifications.” Recently, AGW added another certification with a new pilot program: certified regenerative by AGW, which AGW defines as “a set of planned agricultural practices that ensure the holding is not depleted by agricultural practices, and over time, the soil, water, air, and biodiversity are improved or maintained to the greatest extent possible.” Regenerative farming means that all parts of the farming system are improved or maintained at the optimum level. Fifty farms across four continents will be selected for this inaugural pilot with certification expected in 2021. “When we opened the application period, we experienced a flood of interest from farms around the globe,” Casteel says. Sands says that AGW called and invited him to apply for this new certification. Casteel says certified regeneration by AGW “incorporates the high welfare, environmentally-sustainable practices our farms like Bean Hollow Grassfed are known for —

practices that are a key part of regenerative farming.” Bottom-line consumers are seeing the benefits of credible certification programs and the importance of their independent assessments. Feeling Hungry? Visit Bean Hollow’s Farm Store, an historic log cabin near the farm’s entrance, open daily from dawn to dusk. Pick up packaged meats and sausages, each in its own freezer, categorized by meat type. There are even printed recipes for guests to take home. Whole broiler chickens will be available starting mid-May; and on occasion, fresh farm eggs are sold. Adding to its value, the property, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, is forever protected by a conservation easement through the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. And happy customers are talking. “We loved visiting and seeing all your animals,” Sam Hopps of Washington, D.C. says. “Thanks for taking the time to ‘walk and talk.’ Understanding the care you take with your animals and land makes the meat that much better.” “Your lamb is perfect,” Sylvia Rowand of Washington, Va. says. “Beautiful, subtle flavor, and tender as butter! We’ll be back by this weekend.” Can’t make it to the farm? No problem. They sell at Rappahannock’s Farmers Market in Sperryville on Saturdays, 10 a.m. – noon, at Pen Druid Brewing located at 3863 Sperryville Pike (U.S. Rt. 522). Amanda Frye works with Sands selling their meats at the market. “She’s grown from hired hand to apprentice to acting farm manager,” he says. For the last 15 to 20 years there has been a

steady interest in local foods, but with COVID in 2020, it exploded, Sands says. The amount of home cooking has dramatically increased business, and he also works with chefs who order his meats. “Demand was higher than expected. Much, much higher,” he says. “We literally had empty freezers, we were selling so fast. Eight-to-nine hundred pounds of beef would be gone in a few days. Bones, soup bones, liver, heart — everything.” High-quality meat is a major part of every diet (except for vegan and vegetarian) and is gluten free. “I’ve worked in agriculture all my life,” Sands says. “I’ve been a consultant, have developed national projects, and worked overseas putting together research programs. I was managing director for an organic research institute and have talked to thousands of farmers over the years. When I retired from my last job, I thought, ‘Mike, you’ve been telling people all your life what to do — now prove it to yourself.’” Sands calls his fate on the farm a combination of background merging with opportunity. “I believed this property was something that could be rehabilitated, so I thought, ‘OK, let’s do it.’” ML Visit Bean Hollow’s Farm Store at 15 Over Jordan Farm Lane in Flint Hill. More information can be found at beanhollowgrassfed. com. For questions about product availability, call 540-675-1025 or email info@ beanhollowgrassfed.com. More about Rappahannock Farmers Market can be found at rappfarmersmarket.com.

Left: Bean Hollow Grassfed’s Farm Store log cabin. Right: Mike Sands caring for the sheep at Over Jordan Farm.

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A Spring Sanctuary for the Soul “We Specialize in Standing Seam Metal”

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540-687-6747 www.virginiaproroofing.com

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6 beds

6 baths 3 half bath

815 Blackshill Road, Great Falls

9685 sqft $4,500,000

At the end of a country lane, perfectly sited on 5.4 bucolic acres. This property has ownership rights to connect with the adjacent state-maintained road for additional access and or subdivision. The large stone home has been thoughtfully designed inside and out, starting with its deep covered porch, a beautiful tonguein-groove ceiling, that wraps around the entire home, with every main level room having direct access! The massive barn structure houses horses below as well as spectacular living quarters above. This upper-level pavilion offers an expansive great room with walls of windows, cathedral ceilings with exposed beams, kitchen with massive island, 2 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, bunk room in the loft, and a wrap- around deck with scenic views from every vantage point. Numerous horses in total can be stabled at this special-permitted working barn ~4 stalls in the barn, 3 stalls in the run-in, and 2 stalls in the tack room building along with 5 run-in sheds that are fitted to be used for additional horses. 2 riding rings and 1 pasture and 6 paddocks complete this turnkey equestrian property.

703-757-3222 sales@GreatFallsGreatHomes.com 9841 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066 703-759-9190 • GreatFallsGreatHomes.com

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THE UPPERVILLE COLT & HORSE SHOW RETURNS: Upperville’s New Executive Director, Operations Manager, President, and Competitors Share What’s Coming for 2021 Written by Victoria Peace

or many, the arrival of June in Middleburg means long summer rides through rolling green pastures, tailgating at twilight polo, and weekends spent visiting with friends at local wineries. However, it also marks the return of one of the area’s most time-honored and cherished events: The Upperville Colt and Horse Show. Founded in 1853 by Colonel Richard Henry Dulany, the Upperville Horse Show is the oldest horse show in the country. For more than 160 years, top-ranked equestrians and local competitors have competed side by side “under the oaks.” Cancelled due to COVID-19 last year, this year’s show holds a special significance. “Just having the show this year is a cause for celebration,” Executive Director Emily Day said.

People are anxiously awaiting the return of the excitement, camaraderie, sense of community, and appreciation of the Virginia countryside that attendees have enjoyed at Upperville for over a century and a half. For newly appointed Executive Director Emily Day, this will be her first experience at Upperville on the “official” side of the desk. In the past, she has always participated as a competitor. Coming from an extremely horse-oriented family, Day started riding when she was quite young. Her father was an equine veterinarian and her grandfather was Alexander Mackay-Smith, one of the founders of the National Sporting Library and Museum. Growing up, she would ride her pony unchaperoned around the countryside of her

childhood home in Unionville, Pennsylvania before and after school. “It was a freedom that not many people get to experience at that age,” she said. She has always shown her horses in the jumper ring, and a photograph of her riding at Upperville in 2000 hangs in her office. Nowadays, one of her greatest passions is retraining retired Thoroughbred racehorses to show and foxhunt. “It’s been fun to follow the Retired Racehorse Project and watch something I’ve been doing most of my adult life get so popular with a new generation,” she said. This year, she is extremely excited that Upperville will be offering a new Thorough-

Left: Jumping at Upperville Colt & Horse Show. Photo by Joanne Maisano. Right: Evelyn, Sybil, and London. Photo by SAS Equine Photography.

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Upperville | Page 13

Upperville | From page 12 bred Incentive High Point Awards Program. As part of the program, the top three registered Thoroughbreds in four open divisions will receive prize money. “The idea is to give Thoroughbred owners an incentive to go on and show their talented horses in open divisions once they are ready to graduate from the breed-restricted classes,” Day said. As a former breeder and trainer of racehorses herself, Day hopes this will encourage more Thoroughbred riders to give the bigger, rated classes a try. There’s no doubt in her mind that as more members of the breed compete, more will return to the upper levels of big shows, emphasizing that “it would be great to see some more talented Thoroughbreds continue up the ranks” at Upperville. Other new offerings include the addition of another FEI Power and Speed Stakes class. Boasting $37,000 in prize money, the Power and Speed Stakes will kick off the other three FEI stakes classes offered at Upperville on Thursday, June 10 at 1 p.m. And, that’s not all that competitors and spectators have to look forward to this year. There have been several upgrades to the show’s facilities, including a new lunging pad on the Grafton side of the show, modernized electric and water systems throughout the showgrounds, and updated NAARS footing in the Hunter 1 warm-up ring. But, perhaps the most exciting of all, is that many new trees and seedlings have been planted in and around the hunter rings, along the creek, and along the north edge of the property line. This effort ensures that future generations will be able to have the same amazing experience “under the oaks” that those who came before them did. “Our grandchildren will thank us!” Day said. Operations and Grounds Manager Tommy Lee Jones is responsible for implementing and overseeing many of these changes. Since 1982, Jones has tackled issues ranging from improving the drainage in the show rings to helping with the scheduling to ensure that the show runs smoothly. He emphasized that while making improvements to the showground, he is always mindful of protecting the special historic character that makes Upperville unique and “less commercial” than other shows. He loves the fact that “when you look across the road from the jumper side to

“We could not think of a more special place to begin one’s showing career than under the oaks at Upperville.” — Moylan

the hunter side, it looks pretty much like it did many years ago.” Upperville President Joe Fargis is also particularly proud of the recent work that has been done at the show to improve conditions for horses and competitors. Fargis is an Upperville veteran and has experienced almost all aspects of the show as a former competitor, judge, trainer, board member, and current president. He constantly reiterates that Upperville is a team effort and could not happen without “a dedicated group of people coming together for a common cause — a much-loved horse show.” When asked about his most memorable experience at Upperville, Fargis recalled a year when there was so much rain the week of the show that the mud was up to their knees. He remembered that “it was the muddiest horse show I’ve ever been to in my life, and yet the competitors still enjoyed it in spite of cars being stuck and horses covered in mud.” Something about the tough conditions instilled a sense of camaraderie in everyone at the showgrounds. When asked about her favorite Upperville memories, acclaimed local rider and trainer Sloane Coles talked about winning the family class, taking home ribbons in the local pony classes, and jumping her first Grand Prix at the show. She said that it felt like the whole crowd was behind her, cheering her on to jump a clear round. This was especially meaningful since Upperville is her “home-

town” show. She grew up in The Plains and first competed in the show in the leadline division when she was around three years old. Since those days, Coles has continued to build a successful career as both a competitor and trainer, and has taken home prestigious titles at horse shows across the country. This year, she has clients in most of the Upperville | Page 14

Gavin Moylan and daughters Evelyn and Sybil, alongside Tyler Beale with daughter London. Photographed by Shawna Simmons, SAS Equine Photography.

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Upperville | From page 13 classes at Upperville and will be showing some of her up-and-coming horses up to 1.40 meters. Unfortunately, her current Grand Prix horse is injured, but she hasn’t ruled out entering yet — she is currently looking for another horse to compete on. One of her favorite things about Upperville is that it is able to seamlessly integrate its rich and historic past with modern facilities and the highest levels of competition, making it one of the best horse shows in the country. After having to miss it last year, she’s “looking forward to having it back.” Local trainer Denice DeRisio Perry is also excited about the Upperville’s return this year because “the quality of the competition is of the highest standard.” The owner of Skyland Farm, a multi-faceted hunter-jumper show stable in Middleburg, Perry will have horses and riders competing in a variety of classes across both the hunter and jumper rings. She credits Joe Fargis, past presidents, and the Upperville board for going above and beyond to keep a locally run show up to a world-class level. This year, she hopes that the show is “blessed with good weather because there is not a more aesthetically pleasing showground in the country.” Charlie McCann has been the Ringmaster of the hunter ring at Upperville for the past

five years. He said one of his favorite parts of the job is getting to watch the top riders and horses come together from all over the country to compete in such a unique setting. It can be a hectic job, and on some days, it’s not uncommon to be working from eight in the morning until eight at night. But, he is quick to emphasize how much he enjoys the work. McCann hopes to encourage first-time spectators to observe the hunter classes. Fans that are new to the sport often bypass the hunter rings because of the idea that all of the trips look more or less the same. However, McCann pointed out how gratifying and exciting it can be to learn to look deeper and really understand what the judges are searching for in terms of presentation, flow, and timing. He hopes that people will be encouraged to stop by and learn more about the hunters this year, adding that “it’s a lot of fun to watch.” Last but not least, it would be remiss not to highlight some of Upperville’s smallest (and cutest) competitors. Featured on the cover, London Beale, Evelyn Moylan, and Sybil Moylan will all be showing in Upperville’s leadline division this year. London Beale will be turning three the week before Upperville. According to her father Tyler, while she doesn’t have an extensive riding resume yet, she did spend her winter in Wellington cantering poles aboard her mother’s

Under the oaks at Upperville Colt & Horse Show. Photo by Joanne Maisano.

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top mount, Don Loma, to get ready for the leadline class. Tyler has “zero doubts she’s heading in her mother’s footsteps to be in the Grand Prix ring in no time with her early love of horses shining through strong.” Tyler and her mother Lindsay are “so excited to cheer on London this year in the best leadline class in the country.” Evelyn and Sybil Moylan have been travelling to horse shows since birth — for their family, horses are both a passion and a livelihood. Their father, Gavin, explained that during visits to the barn, both girls like to walk down the aisle feeding carrots and talking to the horses. They know all of the horses’ names, which stall they go in, who rides them, and they even help perform night check sometimes. For Evelyn and Sybil, one of their favorite parts of competing at Upperville is seeing their friends and family at the show. “Evelyn almost always has a loving cheering section when she goes in the ring, and she always asks who will be watching her compete, as it gives her confidence and makes it fun,” Gavin said. Alden Moylan, Sybil and Evelyn’s mother, emphasized that “we could not think of a more special place to begin one’s showing career than under the oaks at Upperville. Few shows are left in the U.S. that give you the butterflies as you ride across the gorgeous, historic grounds.” Tyler and Alden both hope that as their girls grow older, they will find it just as special as they do. This year, the show will be held from June 7 to June 13. Due to COVID-19, the show is operating based on CDC, USEF, and the Commonwealth of Virginia Health Department, and it is still uncertain whether spectators will be allowed to attend. The most upto-date information on the situation can be found on the Upperville website. If spectators are allowed at the show, General Admission parking will be free. Day hopes this will encourage people to stop in and visit the show, enjoy the competition, and shop with Upperville’s vendors. “If those who are new to the community, or have given the show a miss in the past can use this opportunity to come see what the show is all about, we have no doubt new fans will emerge,” she said. ML Follow the latest updates at upperville.com.

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How The “Garden Kitchen” Is Taking Root in Middleburg Written by Chelsea Rose Moore | Photos by Jodi & Kurt Photography

“Middleburg has been our ideal location to have some kind of restaurant or café.” —Ben Dore

usband and wife Kurt and Jodi Baier never planned on cooking for a living. If anything, food found them. Their background as high-end wedding photographers, serving couples in the Greater Washington, D.C., area for 12 years, couldn’t have been further from a career as restaurant owners. But Kurt felt pulled towards the restaurant industry, a field he had worked in during high school and college. He started working part-time in restaurants, where he met Ben Dore, and the two hit it off immediately, sharing similar food philosophies. Together, Jodi, Kurt and Dore began dreaming about opening a restaurant named Provender. They planned a large garden and

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bought seeds, but then COVID happened, so they offered the vegetables they grew as part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share, arranging a pickup at Nature Composed in Middleburg. Jodi also made granola and sourdough, offering a sourdough subscription. The group hosted private garden dinners featuring vegetables grown in their garden. “You can taste the difference,” Dore said. “Compared to something you might get at the grocery store — even something labeled organic — you don’t know how long it’s been since that plant was picked. When we were doing garden dinners, we were picking the very same day we were serving food. People

at our dinners said, ‘This is the best carrot I’ve ever had.’ It’s not like we’re doing anything magical to the carrot; it’s just the quality of the food. It gives people a different relationship with the food.” The name “Provender” is designed to encapsulate food provided or foraged from the land. In the book “The Wind in the Willows,” the characters open their garden basket and have their provender or provision, Kurt said. They hope the name speaks to their mission to cook seasonally, or perhaps more accurately, cook according to what is growing in their garden. Kitchen | Page 19

Kitchen | From page 18 “It’s become very trendy for restaurants to say ‘we are sourcing locally,’” Dore said, pointing out that it’s become a marketing term. “But when you work behind the scenes, you realize that maybe one ingredient is sourced locally, and everything else is from a normal supplier. [Restaurants] have to say that on the menu or they’re not part of the zeitgeist. In our case, when you’re growing the ingredients, this is what we have. We are letting the garden drive what we are serving and having it truly be a garden-to-table experience.” For Kurt, the chef of Provender, having a garden-to-table restaurant gives the food more value. He can watch the vegetables grow in his backyard in Boyce, care for them, and harvest them alongside Jodi. “When you put in the hard work to grow something, you value it more,” he said. “You don’t want to say, ‘We didn’t get around to eating this, so I’m going to throw it out.’ You value it more.” During last year’s CSA, they were struck by the idea of renovating the garden space behind Nature Composed and turning the shed into a compact kitchen to offer meals to-go with seating available in the garden. “Middleburg has been our ideal location to have some kind of restaurant or cafe,” Dore said. “We didn’t have a firm concept of what it might look like; we always thought we would tailor it to the space.” Middleburg encompasses everything they align themselves with as a group and as a restaurant. “In Middleburg, people care about the land being preserved,” Kurt said. With the goal of opening in early summer, they are currently walking through the permit process to open Provender behind Nature Composed. They are planning to offer

lunch service from Thursday to Sunday, and every Wednesday they will feature fresh baked sourdough, vegetables from the garden, and other homemade products to go. While the menu will be their take on laid-back cafe food, they will feature spreads to share with hummus and cheese, salads, smoothies, and other garden-based options. Their private garden dinners will return. “We are calling ourselves the garden kitchen, which is kind of the roots of Provender,” Jodi said. “I’ve been very involved in working with the land, understanding how everything works together, and marrying that with Kurt’s pursuit of food. We wanted to be able to work with the food we would grow and understand where food came from.” Jenn Pineau of Nature Composed will be offering gardening classes and seminars, and is working with Jodi to design the space. “We are trying to create a little community hub of activity,” Dore said. At present, they are no longer offering a CSA, sourdough subscription, or garden dinners as they work to get Provender’s doors open this summer and give Middleburg residents fresh, healthy, and organic food options. “The pandemic showed a lot of problems with our infrastructure and how food gets from Point A to Point B,” Kurt said. “We are passionate about where our food comes from and how it grows. Most people don’t have the time to go to each local farm and pick up each ingredient. We grow up with the mindset that you get food from a grocery store. We are providing another option for people.” ML To stay up to date with Provender’s progress, visit provendergardenkitchen.com and sign up for email updates or follow them on Instagram @provendergardenkitchen.

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A NEW MOTHER’S JOURNEY TO GETTING BACK IN THE SADDLE Written by Sarah Hickner

“My heart longed for that moment. If I could get around a course of jumps at a show, I was sure I would regain the part of me that seemed stripped away.”

ometimes motherhood is hard, and then sometimes there are magical moments where your horse meets your baby for the first time. Silas poked his head into the baby carrier to sniff his new tiny brother. My husband lunged forward to protect the baby, and I held him back. JJ squirmed, raised his little stubby infant fingers up towards Silas, and Silas whooshed air across JJ’s chubby flushed cheeks. Then there are the hard moments when your baby cries a lot, and you feel guilty asking for help because sometimes you don’t even want to be around your own baby. As a new mom, I carried around a lot of emotional garbage. In hindsight it seems so simple — take that garbage to the dump and leave it. But as a new mom, I didn’t know it was garbage. I just knew it was how I felt. My family was a thousand miles away, my husband was at work, my body felt ruined, all

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my goals in life seemed impossible, and little JJ just kept crying. Every high decibel release from his lungs felt like a reminder that I wasn’t enough. Sometimes I just wanted to sit and cry and maybe give up. But that’s not really an option as a mom, which is good and bad. It makes us feel a little extra trapped, but it helps us get to the part where we see the sun again, realizing we can drop the baggage at the dump, and smile at the world, our family, and our new life. In my first lesson after having a baby, my friend Caitlin and I trailered to our trainer’s barn, with babies, horses, and a couple of helpers in tow. We unloaded our alreadytacked-up horses, and put on bridles as Silas swung his head from one side to the other, ears forward, and adventure ready. Once on, I jammed my heels down to secure my seat on this very alert and forward version of my

horse. Before we were even done warming up, my trainer unleashed her frustration with my lack of fitness. My pulse pounded in my ears as she pointed out that one of her other clients had twins and was back riding just fine. I heard the implication clearly: You’ve had plenty of time to get fit since the baby, and you’ve obviously been lazy! But she didn’t know my body didn’t heal properly, and it took six months to get back in the saddle, and it felt too personal to share at the time. So instead, silent tears streamed down my face when her back was turned, as I tried to be the rider I was before and consistently came up short. My friend Caitlin was making life with horses and babies work. Her parents lived on the property and mine lived one thousand miles away, but she was determined that Journey | Page 23

Journey | From page 22 I could be a mom and a horsewoman. So I parked my baby in a pack and play in the middle of the arena and rode circles around him while he cried. Or if he fell asleep in the car on the way to the barn, I’d tack up in record speed, park the car by the arena with the windows cracked, and try to ride before JJ woke, each turn craning my neck to get a peek into the truck and make sure he was still sleeping. We kept a baby carrier in the tack room, and Caitlin wore him while she cleaned stalls if it coincided with my riding. Eventually, I found a homeschooling mother of two girls who met me at the barn so they could babysit in exchange for ride time. I will be forever grateful for that little family. I was slowly finding myself again, and was itching to get back to showing. I love competing. My horse became a different animal away from home, and I never knew what to expect when we marched into the arena. Would he be spooky and require a ton of leg? Would he gallivant around bravely at 100 mph and need to be checked? Would he throw a buck or refuse a jump? In that moment, when I didn’t know what to expect from my horse, and ribbons, prize money, and pride were on the line, I often rode my best. There’s no time to second guess, no trainer in my ear — it’s just me and the horse. My heart longed for that moment. If I could get around a course of jumps at a show, I was sure I would regain the part of me that seemed stripped away. When a Thoroughbred show in Lexington, Va. was coming up, I put it on the calendar. As it grew closer, we realized Caitlin wouldn’t be able to make it. I decided to go anyway, found some roommates on Facebook for the weekend, and lined up baby help for the time my husband needed to be at work. The week of the show was like packing for a family vacation with formal riding attire and half the barn. Plus my horse still needed to be schooled, business still needed to be run, and the baby still needed to be kept alive. When Thursday came, I was leaving for Lexington the next day and there were still things to do and I simply couldn’t make it out to the barn. As I put on my makeup and high heels for a work event, Caitlin casually told me over the phone not to worry about it. On Friday morning, I delivered JJ to a

friend who would keep him until my husband was home from work. I thought of how much he would cry and the rough day I assumed she was in for, and the guilt ate my insides. I took a deep breath and continued on. Caitlin met me at the barn. As we packed the final feed buckets in the trailer, she told me a friend had come out and pulled Silas’s mane, and another friend had ridden him for me the previous evening. As a person who struggled to ask for help, I couldn’t believe the number of people who were giving their time to help Silas and me get to a show. For nearly three blessed hours, I listened to the radio and had time to myself. I checked the side mirror every few seconds to glimpse the horse trailer safely behind the truck, and sucked in deep, fulfilling breaths. Silas and I were on the road together. At the showgrounds, people smiled and chatted. It was what I loved most about the Thoroughbred shows. We all are comrades in our love for giving these magnificent horses second careers. I ducked into the dressing room of my trailer to get all my show attire on. It was strange to prepare without the chatter of friends around. We would be competing in 2’6” hunters for our first class. I chose my grey coat because the navy one was a bit too snug, and grabbed a rag for my tall boots, praying I could get them off without help. As I warmed up Silas and gave the ingate person my number to get a spot in line, JJ was never far from my thoughts. Eventually, finally, it was our turn. We walked into the large arena at the Virginia Horse Center to start our canter circle. Silas’s head lifted and his eyes bulged as he took in the mountain of multicolored seats surrounding us. The grandeur of the building and bright colored seats stole his attention from the approaching jumps. We were lined up perfectly, five strides out, three strides, one stride, and then he realized there was a jump, and we awkwardly lurched over it. The sloping turns and long straightaways gave him lots of time to worry about the upcoming jump and change his mind a few times on approach, each time met with a squeeze of my leg and a cluck. We made it through both 2’6” hunter courses, the second better than the first, but neither magnificent. The class was huge, and I don’t think we pinned. After a dinner break where I awkwardly chatted with a couple people while eating

pizza, I ducked back to Silas’s stall to prepare for our final class of the day, my favorite, the handy hunter. I studied our course and committed every nuance to memory, and made a plan. Once we had warmed up, I stood by the in-gate and visualized our course — what it would feel like, where I would need to sit up extra tall or use more leg, and this time when they called our number, I was prepared. We set off at a confident trot and floated into the arena to pick up a canter. Again, I could feel his attention shift to the large grandstands, and I applied my inside leg, demanding his focus. We approached our first jump with a forward pace, jumped the first jump with six ground eating strides to the next jump. We landed that one and made a large sloping turn to the next jump. At this one, we jumped into a line but as we landed I sat up tall, half halted and did a rhythmic and steady left roll back to the next jump. A few more jumps and another rollback later, we trotted at x, did our trot jump, stopped and with the lightest, nearly invisible, pressure on the reins, backed up five steps. I reached forward and patted him as he proudly rounded his neck and then stretched his nose down, and we exited the arena at an energized walk to light applause. We were both proud and exhausted. There was no one waiting to pat us on the back or help pull off tack and cool down my horse while I changed boots. Instead, as Silas and I walked back to his stall, I opened my phone and dialed Caitlin. Then I called my husband, and then with tears of gratefulness threatening to spill, I texted the rest of my friends who had helped us get there. I felt a little bit like an Olympian. Not because I’m some amazing rider, but because the top riders always say they wouldn’t be there without their team. Neither would I. I remember winning some ribbons that weekend. I don’t recall the colors, the numbers, if we pulled a rail or placed in a division. I do remember that for the first time since becoming a mom, just me and Silas together at the showgrounds, I didn’t feel alone. I had a team of friends and family who loved and supported me, and I couldn’t have made it there without them. I didn’t leave the show grounds the person I thought I would — the girl I was before kids. I left a new empowered woman: a mom who could still compete on her horse with a foundation of friends who held me up. ML

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middleburglife.com

100 acres $8,495,000 Middleburg – 22 elegant rooms and 9 fireplaces, all superbly detailed and beautifully appointed.. Brilliant gardens surround the heated pool. Fabulous 11 stall stone stable with 2 staff apartments. Riding ring and green house.

Bolinvar

450 acres $5,400,000 Stretching from 5 Points Rd in the Plains, to Rectortown and Frogtown Roads in Marshall. Protected by an Easement with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. Located in Prime Orange County Hunt Territory, a most prestigious location.

Legacy Farm

Hunt Country Estate v 104 acres $4,900,000 Bluemont – Estate includes lush pastures with spectacular mountain views. Features 9000 sq ft of elegant living space, a pond, pool & spa, guest house, an apartment over the 4 bay garage, 6 stall stable & paddocks, all in an idyllic setting!

181 acres $4,500,000 Upperville – Impeccably restored brick manor house, ca. 1844. Perennial gardens and orchard, guest house with theatre, guest/pool house, pool, 2 tenant houses, 5 bay garage, workshop, 2 ponds, fenced fields and paddocks.

Deerfield Farm

Mary Ann McGowan | 540-270-1124

John Coles | 540-270-0094

Mary Ann McGowan | 540-270-1124

John Coles | 540-270-0094

Maidstone

Oatlands

Fort Valley Rd

Arborvitae

44 acres $3,650,000 Rectortown – Turn-key estate protected by conservation easement, which allows for development of equestrian facilities. Views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a 7-acre fenced vineyard with vistas of rolling hills, woods and pastures all around.

62.4 acres $3,000,000 Aldie – South-facing, gently undulating topography – suited for use as a vineyard, with views of the mountains. Half open pasture and half wooded, includes a 1.25 acre spring-fed pond and 2 streams. 9 stall center aisle stable with a large apt. above.

148+ acres $2,964,000 Two lots of land for sale in the heart of Rappahannock county. The smaller parcel is 49.6 acres and the larger parcel is 98.6 acres. The land offers privacy, some of the best views and a large stream minutes from Sperryville.

111 acres $2,380,000 Warrenton – This fine English Country home was designed by W.H. Irwin Fleming in 1938 with grand rooms and tremendous gardens. Not currently in conservancy. Open fields, a small stream and woodland. 3 rentals provide an income of $3,000/mo

John Coles | 540-270-0094

Cary Embury | 540-533-0106

John Coles | 540-270-0094

Rebecca Poston | 540-771-7520

MAY 2021

Stone Haven

Thumb Run Farm

Rectortown Rd.

CI ER

LAND – Boyce

158 acres $1,695,000 Woodville – Historic Stone residence, c.1791 with additional stone cottage for guests. Beyond the home, is a charming restored 2 BR log cabin. Gardens, lawn, barns, paddocks and tremendous ride out potential provide an outdoor haven.

35 acres $1,500,000 Marshall – Thumb Run Farm is an idyllic country home with tremendous privacy and views of the Shenandoah National Park. In a highly sought after location, this property, as well as most of the surrounding land, are protected by easements.

5 acres $975,000 Marshall – Charming family home is surrounded by estates providing privacy and protection. 5 BRs / 3.5 BA, completely finished and move-in ready, with hardwood floors throughout. High Mountain Farm Broadband wifi. Well maintained gardens.

7 acres $765,000 Boyce – Great investment opportunity. This commercial lot on the crossroad of two highways is certain to increase in value. Endless commercial uses allowed. Super find in protected Clarke County. Priced at current appraisal value.

John Coles | 540-270-0094

Rebecca Poston | 540-771-7520

Will Driskill | 540-454-7522

Rein duPont | 540-454-3355

Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so w

m i d d l eAllbPages u r g l i f e . c o m • M AY 2 0 2 1 24ML_DoubleTruck.indd

WHERE YOU CAN HEAR YOURSELF THINK Carrington Land

White Oak FArm

410+ acres $4,310,000 This spectacular 410 acres of land consist of rolling fields, lush woodlands, streams, a small pond, and mountain land. The 6 tax parcels which comprise the 410 acres are protected under a conservation easement which allows for a maximum of 4 divisions.

93+ acres $3,800,000 Middleburg – 1st time offering of this wonderful ‘Hanback built’ home with spectacular Blue Ridge Mtn views. 5 BR / 5.5 BAs. 4 fireplaces, hardwood floors & mature landscaping. 2 BR / 1 BA tenant house, 6 stall barn w/paddocks. 2 ponds.

Will Driskill | 540-454-7522

Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

R CT DE RA N U NT CO

Photo Credit: Gomer Pyles

Westbrook

The Orchard

10.06 acres $1,995,000 Middleburg – Turnkey, Colonial minutes to town. Sited to enjoy Blue Ridge Mtn views, meticulously maintained 5 BRs / 5 BAs. Extensive landscaping & mature trees. 4-stall barn w/tack room, wash stall & 3 fenced paddocks.

4.82 acres $1,850,000 Middleburg – Largest residential parcel “in town!” Built by late master builder WJ Hanback. 3/4 BRs, 3 full BAs. Includes spiral staircase, built-ins, hardwood floors and fireplaces. Fenced garden, extensive landscaping, pond and mature trees.

Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

Bull Run Mtn

CI ER

way of life. If you’re interested in seeing one of our properties, contact Thomas & Talbot today. We’re here to show you the Hunt Country way of life with social distancing in mind.

107C Federal Court

20+ acres $550,000 Travel a tranquil country road to arrive at this wooded parcel tucked into the Bull Run Mountains. A massive rock ledge at the top overlooks a cleared building site surrounded by mature trees. Minutes to the town of The Plains or Middleburg.

Approx 1350 sq. ft. $405,000.00 Middleburg – Internet Available: Comcast with speeds up to 1000Mbps. Currently divided into 4 offices, reception room, storage, kitchenette and ½ bath. Three Assigned parking spaces. Zoning C-3, Town of Middleburg.

Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

Rebecca Poston | 540-771-7520

warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.

Step outside and take a deep breath. Give thanks for the fresh air, the vast skies and the gorgeous landscapes. In Hunt Country, we are grateful for the open spaces and majestic landscapes that surround us. We are constantly reminded how lucky we are to live this healthy and peaceful

2 South Madison Street | PO Box 500 | Middleburg, VA 20118 Office: 540-687-6500 | thomasandtalbot.com

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11:38 AM

How Flowers Gave This Mama The Chance To Be Home Written by Chelsea Rose Moore

t began with hand-picked bouquets, childhood innocence, and a little girl delivering flowers to her neighbors. The girl, Kaitlin Armijo, is grown up now, but still loves everything about flowers: growing them, arranging them, and most importantly, she loves sharing them. Often, our childhoods reveal our deepest longings and desires. Although Armijo loved flowers, she never thought she would become a flower farmer; she just always wanted to be a mother. When she gave birth to her daughter in 2016, she was working as a hospital coordinator at Leesburg’s Veterinary Surgical Centers. But she knew she couldn’t go back to work. “I couldn’t wrap my mind around leaving her and going back to work,” she said. So, she started her company Wild for Wildflowers, a boutique flower farm, on the three acres of land she and her husband had purchased in Leesburg. “I’ve always had a green thumb, and I started growing flowers,” she said. “The thirst for them was beyond something I ever imagined.” Wh i l e m any people love fresh

flowers on their table, the truth about conventional bouquets is often kept hidden. “As many as 111 toxic chemicals were found on the hands of florists working with traditional blooms at the end of just one day, many of which are considered toxic and carcinogenic by the scientific community,” Armijo said, referencing a 2017 PubMed study. “The levels of pesticides found on imported flowers are 1,000 times higher than what can safely be used on food. They must be cleared by customs as having no foreign pests to come into the U.S., so international growers dump a toxic mix of pesticides on them and fumigate them before shipping. This is in addition to the high amount of fungicide and pesticide applied heavily during growing. All of these travel then to your dining table or onto the hands of those who touch the flowers.” As a result of handling these flowers all day, many florists deal with dermatitis or struggle with skin peeling off their hands. Armijo is determined to do things differently. Her priority is quality in every bloom. She maintains a plastic-free and chemical-free business, and utilizes transparent and sustainable farming methods. Her organic flowers are sold within 24 to 48 hours of being cut, Wildflowers | Page 27 On this page: Forest Heart Photo

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Wildflowers | From page 26 which means they stay fresh for one to two weeks or sometimes even longer. “People feel safe having our flowers on their table and letting their kids play with them,” she said. “The slow food movement really took off in the last couple years. The slow flower movement is right behind it.” She starts all her flowers by seed, planting 10,000 new seeds every four to six weeks in her laundry room, which functions as her makeshift greenhouse. In the early days of her business, she sold flowers outside wineries and at the One Loudoun Farmers Market. The market allowed her to connect with the community, establish relationships, and build a following. During the 2020 season, she stopped doing the market and began doing porch deliveries instead. “Because people weren’t able to visit each other, flowers were an extension of love and joy,” she said. “We had almost 80 subscribers. It’s crazy for a little one-person farm. It was 10 hours of delivery.” This year, she’s shifted again, offering seasonal flower subscriptions. Her summer flower CSA will start the week of July 12 and run through the week of August 16. Summer flowers will include cosmos, zinnias, asters, sunflowers and more. There are up to 150 available slots, but her CSAs sell out at light-

ning speed. (The spring 2021 subscription sold out last fall.) If you miss the summer subscription, she plans to offer a fall dahlia subscription in September. Customers pick up flowers directly from her farm or from various locations throughout Northern Virginia. Pick-up points include Greenheart Juice Shop in Leesburg, Vienna and Aldie; More Better Restaurant and Beer Hall in Round Hill; The Blikken Hut in Lovettsville; Weathervane Coffee in Ashburn; Ridgetop Coffee and Tea in Sterling, and various other locations around Leesburg. In spring 2021, she began operating “Poppy,” Loudoun’s first and only flower truck, known as the “bloom bar.” She sells pre-arranged bouquets, as well as flowers by the stem, so people can make their own arrangements. On weekends, find the truck at SideBar, Goose Cup, Wheatland Spring Farm and Brewery, and Loudoun Brewing Company in Leesburg. She and her husband Justin built a farm stand on their property to sell her bouquets every weekend. They invited other vendors to attend and now operate a mini-market, where customers can purchase handmade cards, farm fresh eggs, vegetables and coffee. She also offers wholesale and special occasion flowers, available for online order. “I call myself an intentional mother and an accidental business owner,” she said. “Now that my two worlds have collided, it’s amaz-

ing. I don’t take a day for granted. [My kids] are the heart behind this business.” Her daughter Paisley turns 5 in June, her son Nolan is 3, and her third baby is on the way, due to arrive in November. Justin, her husband, was her high school sweetheart, and works as a full-time firefighter. On his days off, he is the equipment manager at Wild for Wildflowers. In spite of all her success, the involvement of her kids remains the most important part of her business. “I can be there for them and be involved in their imaginative games, but be harvesting thousands of flowers a day,” she said. “It’s kind of a niche career, where I can run it with my kids. I wanted to do something where they could be there from start to finish. They are little farm workers. My daughter helps me plant seeds, and they weed. It’s really special to go out there and work towards a common goal as a family. A lot of times they are building forts out of flower crates or covering each other in mud.” At the heart of Wild for Wildflowers is still that same girl hand-picking bouquets, treasuring the innocence in her own children, and delivering flowers to her community. ML Order flowers and learn more about Wild for Wildflowers by visiting wildforwildflowers. com or following on Instagram @wildforwildflowers.

Photos by Virginia Dare Dress Co.

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Photo by Kenneth Garrett

Adults $25 | Students $15 | Under 18 free FOR TICKET AVAILABILITY Online: gracetheplains.org Facebook:/gracechurchconcertseries Email:concertseries@gracetheplains.org Phone:540-253-5177 ext.107

06 | 05 | 2021 Quintango 5:00 pm

07 | 03 | 2021

Commonwealth Brass Quintet

A Tango and Jazz Ensemble

5:00 pm

On the Parish Green 6507 Main Street | The Plains, Virginia

This performance is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Patriotic Music Celebrating Independence Day

Due to social distancing, space is limited. Masks and social distancing are required.

Rain Date: Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 5:00 PM

Rain Date: Monday, July 5, 2021 at 5:00 PM

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Exceptional properties need a REALTOR® that knows how to make connections. It takes more than just listing a property to get it sold. That is why it is important to make sure you hire the right people who know how to effectively market your property and not only make connections, but diligently follow through to deliver results. The recent sale of Fleetwood Farm - East, a very unique and special property, is a perfect example of this. Peter Pejacsevich - one of the many incredible agents at Middleburg Real Estate | Atoka Properties - was the mastermind behind this sale. Drawing on an extensive knowledge of Virginia Hunt Country and an exhaustive list of professional and personal networking contacts, Peter was able to connect the next steward of this exceptional property with his seller client, broker a deal between them, and get everyone involved excited about the future of this stunning heritage property. Working in concert with Peter’s networking efforts, the Marketing Team at MRE | AP created an intriguing digital landing website to increase interest in the property. Crisp landscape photography, a video that captures the breathtaking beauty of the land and surrounding area, and an interactive plat map proved to be captivating marketing assets. Traffic to the site was driven by targeted social media and email campaigns, online features on land specific online marketplaces, blog posts, and print advertising.

Are you looking to invest? Check out the stunning Fleetwood Farm - West, also listed by MRE | AP. Visit tourﬂeetwood.com for more information.

Peter Pejacsevich

Scott Buzzelli

PRINCIPAL BROKER + MANAGING PARTNER

PARTNER + REALTOR®

Licensed in Virginia M 540.270.3835 | O 540.687.6321 x 104

Licensed in Virginia M 540.454.1399 | O 540.687.6321 x 101

peter@atokaproperties.com

scott@atokaproperties.com

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middleburglife.com

YOUR SUMMER READING LIST FEATURING VIRGINIA AUTHORS Written by Shayda Windle

ne of Hunt Country’s most unique aspects is its people, who live behind the closed doors of quaint farmhouses. From CIA operatives to Olympic equestrian riders, Fortune 500 heirs, and congressional leaders, many of them reside here, all with numerous stories to tell. It’s here, outside the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge mountains, where creativity is born and fascinating stories from all over the world come alive. We thought there was no better time to spotlight a few of Hunt Country’s local authors and books to add to your summer reading list. Whether you’re looking for something to entertain your kids, or recipes for your summer barbecue to keep your guests

Photo by Jennifer Gray.

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coming back for more, we’ve found a title for you. Here’s our round-up of the best books by local authors. There’s no better time than the summer to curl up with a good book … or five. “The Wayward Spy” by Susan Ouellette One of our top picks for this summer is local author Susan Ouellette’s debut novel, “The Wayward Spy.” This thrilling page-turner is centered around Maggie Jenkins, a young woman who lives a seemingly normal life with her CIA operative fiancé. Little does Maggie know that her last encounter with her fiancé would be their final one. When she is informed about her fiancé’s

murder during his last mission in Tbilisi, Georgia, grief-stricken Maggie stops at nothing to uncover her fiancé’s true cause of death. Determined to unravel the truth, Maggie flies to Georgia to discover who killed Steve and find out who the real traitor is. Ouellette’s writing is interesting and fast-paced with relatable characters like Maggie who is sharp, determined, and a passionate protagonist in a plot that’s reminiscent of the Bourne series. Ouellette, an ex-CIA analyst herself and international relations expert, conceived the character Maggie Jenkins, during her work in the U.S. Capitol. Perhaps more importantSummer | Page 31

Summer | From page 30 ly, this book is most relatable for those who have experienced or known anyone in the real-world field of intelligence. “The Wayward Spy” leaves readers looking for more to come and hoping for a sequel. The novel is now available for purchase through ComCat books or Amazon. “Farm Girl in the City: Of Food and Love” by Bonnie McDaniel Bonnie McDaniel’s background in farm to table cooking is a result of her upbringing in the small town of Ocala, Florida, in the Tucker Hill section, where every Sunday supper was about gathering with family. McDaniel grew up in town and her grandparents had a farm on the outskirts where they raised sugar cane, fruit and nut trees, vegetables, and livestock — all of which were used to feed a family of six children. It was on Tucker Hill that McDaniel learned how to cultivate the right vegetables to go with just about any type of food, and the essential tools needed to make these must-have recipes for family get-togethers. In her book, McDaniel writes, “My grandmother was an example of how to create good food through love,” which she captures through her traditional southern recipes that have a modern, healthy twist, using simple ingredients from the garden. The book is beautifully photographed with recipes and gardening tips, created with simplicity in mind. From breakfast to dinner, there’s a little something for everyone, like her grandmother’s sweet potato pie, homemade peach butter, and McDaniel’s personal favorite — shrimp and grits. Her recipes are so good, in fact, that her lobster mac ‘n cheese landed her a spot on the Today Show with Al Roker. In 2016, McDaniel was nominated for the Today Show’s Turkey Trot Surprise by her friend, Maimah Karmo, who McDaniel nurtured for many years at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, following Karmo’s diagnosis of breast cancer at the age of 32. Today, McDaniel is focused on her company, Tucker Hill Home, where she specializes in landscape design to create gardens for clients that reflect timeless value based upon a philosophy that “home” is not where you exist, but rather where you live. Her cookbook, “Farm Girl in the City: Of Food and Love” can be purchased at Crème de La Crème in Middleburg or online.

“Paving Paradise” by J. Harris Anderson “Paving Paradise’’ is John Harris Anderson’s third installment from his Paradise Gap books, a group of stories centered around fictional characters from Virginia’s Crutchfield County where life revolves around fox hunting traditions. His latest novel is an adventurous story about Myrna Billington, a struggling actress who comes back from Hollywood to her hometown of Crutchfield County, in an attempt to flee a shady loan shark to whom she is indebted. Myrna hopes selling her share of the family’s estate will save her from the predicament she’s found herself in, but the prospective buyer plans to build a major resort that will forever change the area’s rural nature. Her brother, Thumper Billington, is a proprietor of the historic property. Myrna’s attempts in convincing Thumper to allow her to sell her share of the estate leads to deceptive antics between family and the threat of personal ruin for Thumper and those he cares about. Anderson’s inspiration for “Paving Paradise” came from his experiences 25 years ago watching the rural town of Haymarket come close to turning into a Disney resort. At the time, Disney was looking for an area to build a resort with an established local tourist base. Anderson tells us he was living in Prince William County at the time, and the horse community was the forefront of the project. “The seed was planted back then,” he says about inspiration for the story. “I wanted to write a story about a large commercial development that would have a significant adverse effect on the rural community in the fictional county I’ve created; hence the concept ‘Paving Paradise,’ with homage to the lyrics of the Joni Mitchell song, ‘Big Yellow Taxi.’” Anderson, born and raised in Virginia around horses, spent much of his youth in and around the barns of Fairfax County, during a period when horse riding was much more available to the public. Anderson had a horseback riding club when he was in high school, but didn’t come across foxhunting until the ‘90s, when a friend urged him to give it a shot. Once he did, he “was hooked” and it’s been a central force in his life ever since. These experiences are what inspired him to use his Mensa-gifted talent to start on his first book, “The Prophet of Paradise,” which was published in 2013. Anderson tells us, “‘The Prophet of Paradise’ is a magical realism story, centered around the character Ryman McKendrick, who believes he’s been sent a vision from St. Hubert, the patron saint of Summer | Page 32

MEET THE AUTHORS

Author of “The Wayward Spy,” Sue Ouellette

Bonnie McDaniel, author of “Farm Girl in the City: Of Food and Love”

John Harris Anderson, author of “Paving Paradise”

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Summer | From page 31 hunters, to start the Church of Foxhunting. “Adventures and deceptive antics ensue around the village of Paradise Gap and throughout the fox hunting community, as not everyone is supportive of the movement, and one mysterious critic sends increasingly threatening messages,” Anderson says. The book was so well received that Anderson started on his second Paradise Gap novel, “The Foxhunter’s Guide to Life and Love,” a humorous book reminiscent of Don Miguel Ruiz’s “The Four Agreements,” but with a foxhunting twist to it. Main character Thumper Billington believes that life is about “the chase,” and as such, enumerates the seven principles of the foxhunter model: primal urges, pageantry, preparation, practice, patience, persistence, and payoff. Throughout the book, Thumper illustrates these principles through a series of stories and lessons from his life to show how anyone can use those principles to get more out of life and relationships. Anderson’s books vary in their approach, but include similar themes with characters in the foxhunting circuit and their interactions with each other. Ultimately, Anderson’s books are for just about anyone. You certainly don’t have to be a foxhunter to enjoy a good story, but foxhunting adds a bit of color to the overall themes of his novels. Today, Anderson says he shares “a modest farm in Virginia hunt country with my wife Ellen, two dogs, one cat, and four horses.” “I’ve served as a foxhunting field leader, whipper-in, and racecourse outrider,” he says. “My connection to country life and all things equine is strengthened by my role as managing editor for In & Around Horse Country, a national publication covering a variety of equine-related topics.” Anderson’s books are available on Amazon, both print and eBook. Horse Country Saddlery available via print in Warrenton, Virginia. Find more details about the books at bluecardinalpress.com. “Being Elephant – How it Feels to Be Jumbo” by Norman J. Reid This whimsical children’s book is for elephant lovers of all ages. After a trip to Africa where author Norman J. Reid experienced the majestic nature of safaris in Botswana and Kenya, he was so inspired that he took to pen

and paper and began writing. “I was so overcome with emotion and excitement about the experience that I felt I needed to put my thoughts on paper,” he says. “I wrote a number of things, thinking that at some point I would publish them as a book. Most were short essays, but a couple were poems. I showed this poem to my wife and she saw the possibilities as a children’s picture book.” With stanzas like “Beware of the plodding elephant, as on its way it goes; You dare not step in front of it unless you want flat toes,” Reid tells the story of the unique traits of elephants he observed during his time in Africa. The 41-page book is fully illustrated with photographs taken by Reid in the wild in Kenya and Botswana. “The book weaves an intriguing tale of what it’s like to live the free life of a jumbo in the remaining unspoiled land of their birth,” Reid says. “The result is a feast for the eyes and a treat for the imagination.” Reid has published several other books, including books on photography, woodworking, and even a murder mystery. Readers can learn more about his endeavors at CobblerMtnPress.com. “Being Elephant – How it Feels to be Jumbo” book is available for purchase on Amazon. “Tales from the Barn Aisle” by Sarah Hickner “Tales from the Barn Aisle” is a quick, fun read by our very own Middleburg Life contributor Sarah Hickner. A self-proclaimed “horse obsessed girl” from the deep south, Hickner’s love of horses inspired her to begin writing her favorite stories from her moments

Top: J. Norman Reid, author of “Being Elephant: What it Means to be Jumbo.” Bottom: Sarah Hickner, author of “Stories from the Barn Aisle.”

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spent with them. Hickner’s debut book goes into some of her funniest stories as a horse owner and rider, like her very first experience riding. When Hickner finds out that her Aunt Sadie’s daughter has a horse, she immediately begs her father to give her a chance to ride it. “Books had taught me the basics of riding: pull back to stop, pull the right rein to go right, left rein to go left, and squeeze my legs together to go forward,” she writes. But it wasn’t until “incessant kissing and a kick” that she was able to get the horse moving. Hickner hilariously recalls the experience being “like a four-year old driving a Power Wheels car.” Her early experiences with horses only deepened her love of thoroughbreds. After high school, Hickner decided to leave her home in Mississippi for a new adventure in Louisville, Kentucky, where she galloped racehorses on the track during college. Hickner recalls her move from Mississippi to Kentucky, with her horse Gideon in the trailer. She and her mom decide to take a stop at a gas station. Thinking Gideon must be as exhausted as they were, she let him out of the trailer. Little did she know how hard it would be to get him back in the trailer, attracting the awkward attention of onlookers. Trying everything from tempting him with treats to having her mother push him from behind while she pulled him in front, the show went on for much longer than anticipated, until Gideon finally decided to give in and “calmly walked up the ramp.” This endearing book is something that any animal lover can relate to and the lengths you must go in order to follow what you love. Hickner’s book recently made the number one bestseller list under the “equestrian sports” section on Amazon. Locals and tourists alike can also purchase Hickner’s book at Second Chapter Books in Middleburg. ML

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LoudounGo Marketplace Brings Farm to Table to the Digital World Written by Shayda Windle | Courtesy photos by LoudounGo

f you’re looking for a farm-to-table experience delivered right to your doorstep, look no further than LoudounGo Marketplace. The online farmer’s market is the brainchild of local Loudoun County residents, Luke Baldwin and Jack Clark, whose passion for preserving Loudoun’s agritourism industry was the catalyst for launching the platform into a full-blown marketplace last year. It’s no secret that agritourism has been on the rise in Loudoun County. In 2018 alone, a study by the Institute for Service Research reported an astounding 1.2 million guests traveled to the area to experience the agritourism here, generating a total economic impact of $413.6 million. The report showed another exciting statistic — 40 percent of those people traveled from outside the region. Suppose the economy continues to move in the right direction. In that case, those numbers will only be increasing as venues continue opening up and we settle into a new post-pandemic world of travel and tourism. According to the study, agritourism is defined as any activity on a farm allowing members of the public to enjoy rural activities, including farming, wineries and breweries, cultural and harvest-your-own events. This past year, agritourism has both increased and pivoted, as we’ve seen small business owners and farmers shift their business models to offer goods and services online, for curbside pickup, through delivery, and more. Baldwin’s vision for the LoudounGo Marketplace has always been to preserve what makes Loudoun County so special “by allowing locals, tourists, and visitors alike to discover Loudoun’s hardworking business owners who are responsible for creating Virginia’s ‘must-see’ destination as D.C.’s historic wine country,” he says in a recent interview. “Through the LoudounGo Marketplace, those outside our county can experience Marketplace | Page 35 Top: Root and Marrow Farm after a long day’s work. Bottom: Harvesting carrots at Root and Marrow.

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Marketplace | From page 34 locally-grown produce, locally-raised meat, and many other Farm-to-Door™ products through delivery to anyone within a 100-mile radius of our region.” The process for buying on LoudounGo is straightforward. Buyers search by their favorite product or business and add their selections to their cart. They then choose whether they’d like their purchase to be delivered or prefer local pickup at ChefScape in Leesburg, both of which are offered every Saturday. Customers can use the marketplace to plan weekly meals, plan a party, send a gift to family or friends, or buy a gift card for themselves or someone they know. The newest offerings to the LoudounGo Marketplace include weekly Community Supported Agriculture products delivered right to your door from CSA’s David Lay Farms and Root and Marrow Farms. Each farm offers different products, program lengths, and delivery day options. Through David Lay Farms, a CSA that provides local vegetables to Loudoun restaurants, customers can sign up for a 12-week membership. The subscription gives customers half a bushel of fresh fruits and vegetables selected from what’s being picked each week. For example, during the early part of the growing season, customers receive produce like lettuce, broccoli, carrots, turnips, and other available vegetables during this period. Different types of produce may be substituted for these, depending on the weather. Through the Root and Marrow Harvest

Club Membership, customers sign up for a 20-week subscription to be delivered to their door or picked up at ChefScape in Leesburg. Vegetables are hand-selected each week when they’re at their peak. Customers can expect to receive a box filled with popular items that can be used in everyday salads and meals throughout the week. This new offering not only allows locals and tourists to experience the exquisite produce from local farms, but it also allows them to shop online, spending half the amount in usual delivery fees. Since its beginning, LoudounGo’s mission has been to serve, preserve, and compliment the agritourism industry in Loudoun County. They are doing just that through their online farmer’s market and other avenues like their sister company, LoudounStay, an organization “built to help bolster Loudoun County’s economic growth, while preserving the integrity, heritage, and land here,” Baldwin says. Through the LoudounStay platform, tourists or locals looking for a Loudoun County agritourism experience can book weddings, private parties, and corporate offsites at historic venues like Shiloh Manor Farm and The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm. “LoudounStay provides accommodations, and four-season venues, through innovative marketing mobile and web-based approaches, taking the work out from small business owners and farmers who need the time to focus on what they are best at — creating some of the best wines, beers, produce, and food the D.C. area has to offer,” Baldwin says. Baldwin is currently working on expanding the LoudounStay program to include ac-

commodations at two historic homes in the quaint town of Paeonian Springs, which will start serving a capacity of at least twenty or more guests per visit, and is set to launch in early June. Later this summer, they will also add two more homes in Bluemont and another in Hillsboro. “While here, tourists may utilize LoudounGo services to deliver local goods, wine, beer, meals, private chefs, and more to those who stay in LoudounStay properties,” he says. This allows them to spend more time with their friends and family or enjoy their favorite activity, winery, or brewery in Loudoun County. As an extension of our services, we will also be offering a Wednesday pick-up and delivery day in May 2021.” LoudounGo is currently growing to support the agritourism industry and is ready to onboard any small and local business interested in providing their products on the LoudounGo Marketplace. So what else could be in store for the future? Baldwin tells us they are “looking to expand their product offerings to more Loudoun farm wineries, breweries, local restaurants, caterers, chefs, and wedding vendors.” “We also want to add to the marketplace local retail products, including home décor, pantry essentials, household essentials, and boutique Etsy-like products,” he says. There’s no doubt the LoudounGo program will keep locals and tourists coming back for more of the best Virginia has to offer. ML For more information, visit loudoungo.com and loudounstay.com.

Left: Co-Owner/CEO of LoudounGo and LoudounStay, Luke Baldwin and his wife, Ardelle. Middle: Fresh produce from David Lay Farms. Right: LoudounStay B&B in Paeonian Springs.

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ummer is upon us, and as the ponies shed out their winter coats, new riders are clamoring to pursue their equine dreams. When you are ready to finally give in to your child’s begging — or simply want to offer an outdoor activity in the warmer months — there are some essential things you will need to know and have. First, let’s talk about finding the perfect barn for you and your kid. Barns come in all styles, disciplines, and age groups. Some of them are kid factories, running little ones through the program like a welloiled machine, producing equestrians with efficiency. Some barns are laid back, with a “come-and-stay-awhile-and-join-the-family” atmosphere. Also, most places will focus on a single discipline or two. Does the idea of your kid galloping cross country and jumping unmoving obstacles get you pulling out your checkbook or make you grasp for a vomit bag? This is something to keep in mind. It may seem harmless when they take their first lesson and learn to trot on a cute pony at the end of a lead line. But if your kid loves riding, they will likely want to pursue whatever competitive outlets those around them are doing. We are blessed to live in an area with a lot of options. From natural horsemanship to chasing cows to jumping, you can probably find it here. If thinking beyond this summer gives you hives, just find a place that feels like a good fit now and know that you can change barns in the future. Just like finding the right pediatrician or preschool, some people might like to shop around when looking for a suitable barn. Here are a few questions I recommend asking if you’re looking for more information: • At what age does your lesson program start? • Do you offer summer camps? • Will my kid start in private lessons or groups? • Do kids learn to groom and tack up as well, or just ride? • Are there opportunities to ride outside of

the ring when he/she is ready? • Does your barn compete? If so, what discipline? I prefer a barn that teaches kids to take care of the horses. However, if I am paying for a thirty-minute lesson, half of that time will easily be spent on the ground learning to pick feet and groom until my kid knows it well enough to show up early and do it before her riding time.

get out of the way. Every program is different. This could be your chance to learn more about horses and spend some quality time with your kid, or you might get to sit by the arena with a good book for a few minutes.

What to Bring Beginner riders only need two things: a riding helmet and boots with a heel. A heel helps keep the rider’s foot from sliding through the stirrup and getting stuck. Most barns don’t care if your kid is wearing red glitter cowboy boots from Target or proper paddock boots, as long as there is a heel and nothing extra to get stuck in straps or rub sores. As tack stores gear up for summer riding camps, they often offer new rider specials featuring a helmet and boots for around $70. The second-hand tack stores have tons of boots in good condition, ready for a new rider. There is always more gear you can purchase, and as your young rider improves, more gear will be needed, but you don’t need much for beginners. What to Expect It’s finally the big day! Make sure your kid is wearing comfortable long pants that aren’t too slippery. Arrive several minutes early, introduce yourself to the trainer, and ask if you can do anything to help or if there are any papers to fill out. Then ask the trainer if she wants you to hang out with your kid or

Bonus tip: Even if you’re not riding, wear long pants to the barn. Large animals attract bugs, and it’s pretty annoying to feel like something is attempting to suck your blood constantly. ML For more info on being a horse mom, check out novabarnmom.com.

Photo by Jennifer Gray. Taken at Camp Highroad, Middleburg, Va.

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Field Notes

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June 18, 2021– January 9, 2022 NATIONAL SPORTING LIBR ARY & MUSEUM NationalSporting.org

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“I try to do something unique every year. So, I pulled a lot of my reference photos of foxes that I had throughout the years. When it came down to it, I couldn’t choose any one, so I decided, I’ll do them all.” — J. Douglas

n Middleburg, the explosion of color synonymous with spring is aided by technicolor foxes found up and down East Washington Street, as part of Foxes on the Fence, the town’s beloved event. On display through May 15, the bi-annual exhibit is celebrating its third installment with new artists, a new Middleburg Arts Council Chair, and as always, charitable proceeds destined for a worthy cause. Deb Cadenas and Mary Ann Burns of the Middleburg Arts Council explain how the tradition started and what’s in store this year, and participating artists share the inspiration behind their critter creations. “It’s so funny the way it started,” Deb Cadenas, the Foxes on the Fence founder and a Middleburg Arts Councilwoman, shares. “My mom and dad have a house in Cape Cod that we go to every year in July or August. And every year, I would see this most amazing art event called Sharks in the Park. They were Mako sharks that were painted and displayed in Chatham. It was so cute. My husband and I said, ‘We should do this in Middleburg.’” With the idea in mind, Cadenas turned to

her son to help make the Middleburg concept a reality. “I thought, it’s got to be foxes because Middleburg is all about the fox,” she says. “So, I talked to my son Tyler and he designed the most amazing logo of a fox with a rainbow of colors going through it and we decided we’re going to call it ‘Foxes on the Fence.’” Cadenas also sought the assistance of two Middleburg-based groups she knew could get the event up and running. “I was Chairwoman of the Middleburg Arts Council at the time and I brought [the idea] to them,” she says. “I thought this would be a really terrific arts idea to do for the town. And they were on board. But I really needed a larger platform to help me get through the logistics. And I wanted a nonprofit to partner with and the Garden Club was wonderful. They helped me see the vision through. I worked with the president of the Garden Club at the time, Darcy, who was very good with the Bidding for Good site. She was able to handle all those details and work it out so we could make the thing happen.” Cadenas and company held the first Foxes

Above: “Foxes Galore,” artist: J. Douglas, sponsor: The Salamander Resort and Spa.

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on the Fence in 2017, recruiting Middleburg’s professional and amateur artists to deck out the foxes. Local businesses sponsored the pieces in the name of charity. “It was wildly popular in 2017,” Cadenas says. “And then I said, ‘You know what? We should do something a little different. Let’s add the hounds,’ which were terrific.” New this year are smaller hare templates, the involvement of Mary Ann Burns of Old Ox Brewery, and new Chair of the Middleburg Arts Council. “Mary Ann has been awesome,” Cadenas says. “She is our new Chair for Middleburg Arts Council, and she is a genius. This woman is so giving of her time with Foxes on the Fence, and that’s a lot of work. My hat’s off to her, because without her, it would have been really difficult to make this happen.” In addition to her work ethic, Burns shares Cadenas’ passion for the project. “We have a few new artists this year, which is exciting,” Burns says. “It’s such an inFoxes | Page 41

Foxes | From page 40

“I just loved adding personality to the fox and making it 3D. And it just made sense, working with Journeymen Saddlers, to make my fox use a tack that horse riders are familiar with and fox hunters use. So, I put that into my piece to make it a little unique.” — Deb Cadenas

Top: “Happy Trails and Happy Tails,” artist: Deb Cadenas, sponsor: Journeymen Saddlers.

“I collect coins and I just thought it was such a great idea, you know, penny for your thoughts on 2020. So, I sat down with all of my pennies and put them into categories of very ugly ones that no one wants, everyday pennies that were sort of ugly, and then all of the shiny ones. And, of course, I had to have the 2020 ones across his head because 2020 had to be in his thoughts.” — Adina Proffitt

“Penny for Your Thoughts,” artist: Adina Proffitt, sponsor: BB&T.

“Growing up, Middleburg was like our town. My family lived in Leesburg and my brother went to school in Middleburg, so I was going to Middleburg every day. The trip between Middleburg and Leesburg along Route 15 always felt like home. And after high school, I moved away, and when I would think of home or close my eyes, that is the scenery that comes to me and makes me feel like I am home. I think that it is something built into our DNA. We were created for a place, we have a longing to be home, and I love this idea of what home is and how you can feel the soul yearn for it when you are away from it.” — Lydia M.E. Schrader Foxes | Page 44 “Home,” artist: Lydia M.E. Schrader, sponsor: Safeway.

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Foxes | From page 41 teresting group. There are some professional artists, there are amateur artists, and actually a couple of students from some of the schools too. And every time a [piece] came in, I just thought, ‘Wow.’ I think it is such an incredible event. It’s grown over the years, and this being the third one, they’ve done a good job making sure there is always something fresh.” But more than art for the sake of art, the Foxes (and hounds and hares) on The Fence are bid on and the earnings put toward a good cause. This year, Cadenas and Burns teamed up with Punkin Lee at Middleburg Beautifi-

cation and Preservation Inc. “It was natural to partner with Punkin and her nonprofit for this year because the money will go right back into the town, which is really what I envisioned happening,” Cadenas says. “I wanted it to go towards keeping Middleburg as beautiful as it is.” Interested parties can submit bids until the auction closes at midnight on May 9, and winning bidders can pick up their creatively colored creature on May 15. To place a bid, visit biddingforgood.com/foxesonthefence. With 2021’s Foxes on the Fence in full swing, Cadenas and Burns reflect on how rewarding the event is, not just for the town, but

to them personally. “It is such a wonderful thing to see that artists want to be a part of something bigger and give their time and talent to this project,” Cadenas says. “It’s a joy to see the creative side because no two are alike. Every [piece] is different and every one is special.” “I think it’s wonderful working with such a talented group of people both on the arts council and in the community,” Burns adds. And if as an artist, a business, or a bidder, you missed your chance to participate this year, don’t fear. “We’ll continue to do it every other year as long as we have the volunteers to help us make it happen,” Cadenas says. ML

“My mother [Regina Mountcastle, who sadly passed away on March 5] was very sick, and I knew it would be something that would lift her spirits. I thought this was something she could do to take her mind off of things a little bit. And she came up with the little cufflinks and gold buttons, [the hare] is even wearing a ring and has his little cane. She always really liked animals and humanizing animals. That was sort of the fun of it for her.” “Hare & There,” artist: Regina Mountcastle, sponsor: Federal Credit Union.

“Keep on Chasin’ Peace,” artist: Teresa Duke, sponsor: Middleburg Spring Races.

— Adina Proffitt

“A friend of mine gave me a Milton Glaser book and he was a great illustrator. He did some iconic pieces, like the cover of a Bob Dylan album. I was looking at that and working with my students on different fonts, and I just had this idea to do something that was very different and colorful. I think because of the last year of collective grief, I wanted to do something that was light and fun. But I also wanted to embed a message in there, that we really need peace, love, unity, and art, all those things that enrich our lives and make them better. I think the pandemic really laid bare so many divisions in our country. So, when I included the word ‘unity’ I wanted that word to look a certain way to convey a certain message. I also wanted to pay homage to Middleburg and the Piedmont, so I included the hippie rider on the horse.” — Teresa Duke

“I think my favorite of [my entries] is for the Montessori school. The hare with a little child riding it. I just had fun doing it, because I couldn’t think of what to do and I had fun coming up with it. The experience has been wonderful because I really got to know downtown, the merchants, the people, the artists and everyone has been so lovely. It’s amazing.” — Susan Pollard

“Hobby Hare,” artist: Susan Pollard, sponsor: Middleburg Montessori School.

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OLD DOMINION HUNT POINT TO POINT RACES

First race Am-Nov rider #3 Go as You Please, ridden by Sophie Henelius winner.

Photos by Joanne Maisano

Winner of Am-Nov Timber Undisclosed, ridden by Bryan Cullinane.

The importance of outriders. Here is Sommers Olinger bringing back a horse that lost its rider.

Lady Timber Chloe Hannum wins on Cocodimama.

Open Hurdle race

BLUE RIDGE HUNT

Former huntsmen enjoy a day at the races. Gerald Keal, Chris Howells, and Don Anderson.

POINT TO POINT RACES Photos by Joanne Maisano

Julie Nafe, winner of the Side Saddle race.

Choo Choo, ridden by Bryan Cullinane and trained by Neil Morris, wins the Novice Rider Flat Div.

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The Lehews at Blue Ridge Hunt races.

Morgan’s Ford Farm’s River Deep, on left, wins the VA Bred Flat Race, ridden by Gerard Galligan and trained by D.M. Smithwick, Jr.

FOXES ON THE FENCE Now through May 15 middleburgva.gov/355/Foxes-on-the-Fence Artwork in the form of foxes, hounds, and hares will be on display around the Town of Middleburg. Bid to purchase your favorite piece; auction ends May 9. Proceeds to benefit beautification projects and promote the arts for the Town of Middleburg. For more information, contact Mary Ann Burns or Deb Cadenas at 703-489-4643. “TUCKER SMITH: A CELEBRATION OF NATURE” AT THE NATIONAL SPORTING LIBRARY & MUSEUM Now through Aug. 22 | nationalsporting.org “Tucker Smith: A Celebration of Nature” and accompanying catalogue present a retrospective of the work of American artist Tucker Smith. Featuring more than 75 original oils, this exhibition is a true survey of the painter’s life’s work, with pieces ranging from his early years as a professional artist to his most recent paintings. Organized by the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States and guest-curated by B. Byron Price, Director of Charles M. Russell Center for the Study of Art of the American West, University of Oklahoma. MONTHLY EQUINE/ANIMAL SCULPTURE WORKSHOPS WITH THE ARTISTS IN MIDDLEBURG Beginning May 6 | 1 - 5 p.m. theartistsinmiddleburg.org/equine-sculpture-workshop Goksin Carey continues her monthly sculpting classes on Zoom! She meets with students who have taken at least her first workshop, in-person, every Thursday, from 1-5 p.m. Cost is $200 per month. Register online or call 540-270-6165. HUNT COUNTRY MARKET Beginning May 12, every Wednesday from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m huntcountrymarket.com Shop a collective of the best farm and artisan products, curated in the heart of Hunt Country at Buchanan Hall in Upperville. Menu by The Market at Bluewater Kitchen. Live music, garden seating, over 20 farms and artisan vendors, beer and wine. LIVE MUSIC AT LOST BARREL BREWING May 14 - May 30 | 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. lostbarrel.com May 14 – Live music by The Crooked Angels

May 21 – Live music by Chris Bone May 28 – Live music by Mercury Avenue May 30 – Live music by Robert Mabe, held at 3 p.m. CLARKE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET GRAND OPENING May 1 | 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. clarkecountyfarmersmarket.com The 2021 market season begins May 1! See the farmers you know and love, and shop fresh produce, meat, eggs, tea and coffee, plants, home baked goods, local honey, salves and soaps, and so much more!

ART IN THE ‘BURG May 15 | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. middleburgva.gov/310/Art-in-the-Burg Join the Middleburg Arts Council during their biannual celebration, featuring artwork from more than 20 local and regional artists. Art lovers will get the opportunity to purchase original works without gallery fees. While you’re here, visit Middleburg’s many restaurants and quaint shops. The event occurs on the third Saturday in May and September, and is held in downtown Middleburg.

VIRGINIA GOLD CUP May 29 | vagoldcup.com Race day activities include terrier races, shopping, hat contests, tailgate contests, and some of the best steeplechase racing you’ll find anywhere. We are working with the State of Virginia and public health authorities on a safe environment for a physical event in 2021.

UPPERVILLE COLT & HORSE SHOW June 7-13 | upperville.com In the shade of the majestic oaks near the village of Upperville, Virginia, the 168th anniversary of the oldest horse show in America will begin. During this week, the nation’s top ranked hunters and jumpers will compete alongside the local ponies, sidesaddle ladies, and racing Jack Russell terriers. ML

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2021

Recapture Moments That Matter Whether it was a milestone birthday celebration or a family getaway put on hold, recapture moments that matter at

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