A Field of Dreams for Bernadette Boland
B
ernadette “Bernie” Boland, 25, comes from a family of seven: five girls and parents Elaine and Brad Boland. They’ve lived in Middleburg for twenty years, since her mother’s dream of a owning a farm was fulfilled. “My mom always wanted a farm in an area that experienced all four seasons,” she noted. “My aunt and uncle were touring around one day when my dad received a call from them saying that ‘if Elaine wants a farm, Loudoun County/Northern Virginia is the place to be.’ So mom and dad packed us five girls up and we moved from the West Coast to Middleburg so mom could have her farm.” Following school at Middleburg Elementary and Our Lady of Hope Catholic School until the 8th grade, “Bernie” attended high school at Loudoun Valley in Purcellville.
Photo © by Vicky Moon
Bernadette Boland
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She then “dabbled in a college career for a year and a half after high school graduation.” Now she helps her mother run their farm shop and bistro, Fields of Athenry Farm & Side Saddle Bistro, located in the village. “We specialize in pasture raised meats and private events,” she added. As hard as operating a family enterprise can be, working in their business has been especially satisfying. “I have skin in the game in ways I wouldn’t working for someone else,” she added. “There’s a different sense of accomplishment, excitement, and contentedness when you’re accomplishing business goals.” She adores Middleburg. “I love that I can walk into establishments, bump into people I know and be greeted with a warm, sincere greeting and reciprocate that. There’s such a strong sense of community and camaraderie.” Like some other of ZEST’s other 30-somethings, she rides and has an upcoming four- year-old Irish horse she plans to take hunting this fall. In between work and her horse, “Bernie” spends time with her best friend, Mackenzie Taylor. “This girl works so hard and is tough as nails. We met a few years ago and it’s been amazing going through our 20s together. It’s nice to have a friend the same age operating and running a business to bounce ideas off one another and just vent without judgement.” As for Middleburg in the next 20 years? “I’m not sure the small-town feel will ever go away. I hope the sacredness of our town with its historic values remains what it is today while also working to maintain land conservation within its area. “I hope my generation and the ones younger than mine don’t take for granted the quality of life that Middleburg has to offer.” She and her family often have hold charitable military events at their business to raise funds for the Navy Seal Foundation in honor of her cousin, Chief Petty Officer Charles Keating IV. He was killed in action in May, 2016. “People lately seem to forget that freedom doesn’t come free,” Bernadette Boland added.
MIDDLEBURG SUSTAINABLE COMMITTEE| Winter 2022
