Cultivate Winter 2024 by Virginia Farm Bureau

Cultivate WINTER 2024

Virginia Farm Bureau

Musical Harvest

Complex song styles rooted in agriculture

Volume 17, Number 1 Winter 2024 Cultivate (USPS 025051) (ISSN 1946-8121) is published four times a year. February, May, August, October. It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid at Richmond, VA and additional mailing offices. The annual Subscription Rate is $1.13 (included in membership dues).

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DOG DETECTIVES

Canine companions are using their impeccable sense of smell for innovative uses—like sniffing out the invasive spotted lanternfly.

“As workers tended the curing of tobacco, they were playing music.” — GREGG KIMBALL, Library of Virginia outreach director

MUSICAL ROOTS

Agricultural activities inspired a complexity of musical styles expressed by those working the land and sea.

Postmaster: Please send changes of address to, Cultivate, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261; fax 804-290-1096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804-290-1096. Email address is Cultivate@vafb.com. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. All advertising is accepted subject to the publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for the content of their advertising. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products. Member: Virginia Press Association

EDITORIAL TEAM Pam Wiley Vice President, Communications Kathy Dixon Managing Editor Nicole Zema Sr. Staff Writer/Photographer Christina Amano Dolan Staff Writer/ Photographer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer

Eleanor Stickley Graphic Designer

MOONSHINE LEGACY

Alice Kemp Sr. Staff Writer/Advertising Coordinator

Enduring stories of those who crafted a legacy of Virginia moonshine can be found throughout the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Departments

TOWERING TREES

By the Numbers

For Your Benefit

Heart of the Home

The Virginia Big Tree Program is comprised of hundreds of awe-inspiring giants, including the commonwealth champion—a 90-foot-high American beech tree.

VISIT US ONLINE vafb.com

WE’RE SOCIAL!

MEMBERS — Address change? If your address or phone number has changed, or is about to change, contact your county Farm Bureau. They will update your membership and subscription information.

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

Associate members will receive their next issue of Cultivate in May. The magazine is published quarterly, and back issues can be viewed at issuu.com/virginiafarmbureau.

ON THE COVER Bassist Danny Boyer and his son, Daniel, play in a Grayson County band (Photo by Nicole Zema).

Did you know? Virginia is home to about 400 of the 900 species of birds found in North America, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. However, many of these birds are declining in population. Helping create habitat for them or supplying supplemental feed in the winter months can go a long way toward their survival. Birds feed on fruit or seedproducing canopy trees like oak and red maple; conifers like Eastern red cedar and pine; shrubs like serviceberry, redbud and dogwood; and ground plants like sunflowers, coneflowers and asters. If you don’t have those trees or shrubs, or simply want to

supplement during the cold winter months, you can place commercial bird food in bird feeders but keep these guidelines in mind: • Keep bird feeders clean and filled with fresh food. It’s a good idea to keep a spare feeder handy to fill and put up as you take one down. This will give you time to clean the empty feeder. • Avoid seed blends that contain milo, sorghum, cracked corn and wheat. These are considered fillers, and birds don’t care for them. • Birds like cardinals, finches, chickadees and titmice prefer blackoil sunflower seeds. • Peanuts and suet cakes are other good choices. • Be careful when choosing a bird feeder location: They should be at least 6 feet above the ground and

close enough (about 15 feet) to shrubs and evergreens so the birds can escape predators but not close enough for predators to hide and pounce. • Feeders also should be located far enough away from windows to prevent collisions. The American Bird Conservancy reports that up to 1 billion birds die each year in the U.S. due to collisions with windows. • Don’t forget the water! Birds need water to drink and to keep their feathers clean. • Consider placing a heated bird bath near the feeders, and change the water daily. You can find a detailed breakdown of which bird species prefer which food sources in Feeding Wild Birds here: https:// bit.ly/3uZX7Yo.

vafb.com / WINTER 2024

SPOTTED LANTERFLY

325 million

That’s how much damage the invasive spotted lanternfly has caused to crops across the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Virginia Tech is now working with a program to train dogs to detect the pest. Read more on page 10.

WATCH US!

Charles City farmer breaks world record—again, on Real Virginia Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Charles City County grain farmer David Hula breaks the world corn production record—for a fifth time. • Loudoun County Farm Bureau wins a national award for local engagement efforts. • Find out what’s involved in a skid steer rodeo that was a highlight of the Virginia Farm Show in Fishersville last month. Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV, and on selected cable outlets around the state. It airs weekly on WBRA digital channel 15.2, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, and on the first and third weekends of each month on WVIR Charlottesville, WSVF Harrisonburg, WRLH Richmond and WSLS Roanoke.

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For Your Benefit

Lighten your workload with heavy discounts on machinery Get discounts on Caterpillar machines that help with heavy work

Save time with American-made Bush Hog mowers

If you’re planning some heavy work this winter and into the spring, Caterpillar Inc. offers Farm Bureau members savings of up to $2,750 on select Cat machines, as well as a $250 credit on work tool attachments purchased with a new Cat machine. Savings are good on compact track loaders, small wheel loaders, skid steer loaders, backhoe loaders, mini hydraulic excavators and telehandlers. You can generate a certificate to present at your local dealership at vafb.com/benefits; have your membership number at hand.

Since 1951, Bush Hog has offered dependable rotary cutters, finishing mowers, landscape tools and a wide variety of tractor-mounted implements. Bush Hog offers American-made equipment to meet all your landscaping needs—like zero-turn mowers that reduce mowing time and allow you to cut more efficiently. Its rotary cutters are perfect for mowing fields, and they come with a 10-year gearbox limited warranty. And Virginia Farm Bureau members can save $250 when they purchase Bush Hog products valued at $5,000 or more! Visit vafb.com/benefits and log in as a member or create an account, then print out a Membership Discount Agreement Form and take it to any authorized Bush Hog dealer at the time of sale. The discount must be claimed at the time of purchase.

Save up to $500 on qualifying Case IH tractors, balers and mowers Members can save $300 to $500 on qualifying products from participating Case IH dealers. Eligible members receive the following manufacturer discount on purchases of these products: Tractors: • $300 off Farmall Compact tractors, A, C and C CVT series • $500 off Farmall Utilities, C and U series • $500 off Maxxum Series and Farmall 100A series Balers: • $300 off Round balers • $300 off Small square balers • $500 off Large square balers Mowers & Utility Vehicles: • $300 off Disc mower conditioners •$300 off Sickle mower conditioners • $500 off Self-propelled windrowers • $300 off Scout utility vehicles You can generate a certificate to present at your local dealership at vafb.com/benefits; have your membership number at hand.

Save on recreational Yamaha vehicles Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., designs, engineers and tests its all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles in the real world. Their products are assembled in America at a stateof-the-art facility in Newnan, Georgia. And now Farm Bureau members in Virginia are eligible to receive $250 Factory Direct Cash on the purchase of select new Yamaha 4WD ATV and SXS vehicles, excluding youth models under 350cc. To claim your rebate: • Members have up to 30 days after purchase to apply for the $250 rebate*, and there is no waiting period for new members to use the Yamaha discount. • Go to vafb.com/membership-at-work/membership/ benefits, and search for Yamaha. Click on the link, select your state, and enter your Farm Bureau membership number and other required information. • Click submit, and Yamaha will send a $250 rebate check within 6-8 weeks of submitting the request. * Limit one Factory Direct Cash serialized coupon per eligible VIN, and multiple qualified purchases per household are allowed.

vafb.com / WINTER 2024

Paperless option offers instant access to policies Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. customers can enroll their policies in the company’s paperless option for quick, easy access to insurance documents and policy information. Paperless enrollees have around-the-clock access to policy documents and statements. Additionally, they can pay their bills online, review important documents and receive email alerts when new documents become available. Paperless services are available on most VFBMIC products across all lines of business. Policyholders can enroll in the paperless option by logging in to their account on vafb.com. Customers who don’t have an online account may register at vafb.com/ register. Once logged in, eligible policies for paperless will be listed, and customers can choose which policies to enroll. Customers also can enroll their policies by calling their county Farm Bureau office.

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REAL VIRGINIA

A weekly television program produced by Virginia Farm Bureau® Agriculture touches your life every day! Meet the Virginia farmers who raise products for your table and your community. Learn how to prepare delicious Virginia foods and cultivate a lush landscape and edible garden. Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV, and on many cable outlets. Check your local listings. Watch anytime at vafb.com, and weekly on • WBRA digital channel 15.2 • WHRO Norfolk

• WTKR Norfolk • WVVA Bluefield

Watch the first and third weekends of each month on • WRLH Richmond • WSVF Harrisonburg

• WVIR Charlottesville • WSLS Roanoke

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Save the Date!

Celebrate National Ag Day, Agriculture Literacy Week this March

National Ag Day will be celebrated on March 19 during National Ag Week, March 17-23. The annual observances are organized by the Agriculture Council of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society. Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom will hold its annual Agriculture Literacy Week March 18-22. AITC’s mission is to help students and educators gain a greater understanding of agriculture. During Agriculture Literacy Week, AITC’s largest educational event, thousands of volunteers read to approximately 60,000 children statewide. Visit virginia.agclassroom.org/ volunteers/literacy to learn more.

Charity golf tournament benefits AITC

Sponsors and teams of four are invited to participate in the annual Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Charity Golf Tournament in May. The tournament will offer two shotgun starts with awards following each round of play. Food and refreshments will be available throughout the day. When: May 13 Where: The Dominion Club in Glen Allen Registration: Registration opens in February. Visit virginia. agclassroom.org for details.

The Meadow Event Park plans educational field trips for students

This spring, The Meadow Event Park will host two days of fun, educational field trips to connect children with the

sources of their food and demonstrate the important role agriculture plays in their daily lives. The field trips will be held May 2 and 3 with morning and afternoon sessions. Student groups will rotate through inspiring lessons and hands-on, interactive activities. School children also will have a chance to explore and discover agriculture through exhibits including the popular Young MacDonald's Farm, the Southland Dairy Milking Classroom, Virginia State University’s mobile education unit and Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s agricultural exhibit. Engaging sit-down lessons with educational partners also will encourage children’s curiosity about the commonwealth’s farms and how food travels from farm to fork. The educational field trips are open to school groups including public, private and homeschool students. Field trip details are still being developed. Visit MeadowEventPark.com for more information and updates. vafb.com / WINTER 2024

FLOWER POWER! Garden blooms and greenery brighten interiors throughout the seasons

BY NICOLE ZEMA

arvest season is almost yearround for Virginia’s flower farmers and gardeners. Their cuttings are arranged into showy designs, enhancing private and public spaces alike, from kitchen tables to historic landmarks.

U-pick flower farm features romantic cottage varieties Trudy Cuoghi was limited by the few supermarket flower bunches available to practice floral arranging. But now she’s “spoiled” by the dazzling variety of fragrant, field-fresh flowers that brighten her Powhatan County home. “I have a bud vase on my dresser,” she said. “Another favorite place is the kitchen table, especially when the greenery is fragrant, like mint or scented basil.” Cuoghi and husband John established Graystem Farm in 2021 and opened a pickyour-own operation in 2022. They started with “almost everything” in the seed catalog. It was hit or miss, but they learned what worked. Their cottage garden varieties evoke visions of the English countryside, with blooms that are informal, fragrant, romantic and old-fashioned. Favorites include tall spikes of larkspur, foxglove, hydrangeas climbing sweet peas, lavender, dianthus, phlox, alliums and monarda. “To name just a few,” Cuoghi joked. Now a lavender field, sunflower patch and several beds of mixed flowers make up the 5-acre flower farm. Though a delicate commodity, flower

Cottage garden varieties of flowers grown on Graystem Farm in Powhatan County evoke visions of an English countryside. COURTESY OF GRAYSTEM FARM

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COURTESY OF JOANNE HUTTON

COURTESY OF GRAYSTEM FARM

Fresh cut flowers are the inspiration for arrangements like this bright yellow one made at Graystem Farm in Powhatan County or this altar arrangement made by Master Gardener Joanne Hutton for St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.

farming is still farming. To keep their soil healthy, the Cuoghis practice crop rotation, use silage tarps on bare soil, test and amend nutrient content, and simultaneously plant cover crops. They use homemade compost and recently added a high tunnel to extend the bloom season. To get desired varieties, they order seeds and bulbs a year in advance. And they’re preparing to grow wildflowers and milkweed for pollinators, as part of the Monarch Waystation Program.

Volunteer flower guild beautifies historic D.C. church Low-profile flower beds bloom with inspiration for the volunteer flower guild members beautifying historic St. John’s Episcopal Church in D.C.’s Lafayette Square, one block from the White House. Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener and Virginia Master Naturalist Joanne Hutton of Arlington joined the guild with her daughter in the late ’90s. About 20 people share

the work of creating fresh displays each Sunday, or for special occasions. “In a church, you want things that look good from a distance,” she explained. Hutton was given space to grow flowers in a community garden plot by a friend, Suzanne McIntire, who wrote the book An American Cutting Garden. “She was working on the substance of the book, using the plot as a trial garden growing flowers to see how well they did in a vase,” Hutton said.

The 16-by-16-foot community garden plot is in urban Arlington. Crowd-pleasing varieties include zinnias, sunflowers, coxcomb in summer, and in May, larkspur, poppies and wax flowers. Plants grown in Hutton’s home garden serve to embellish what’s cut from the community garden. And as regional co-chair for the Plant NOVA Natives campaign, she chooses varieties that double as habitat and sustenance for wildlife and pollinators. vafb.com / WINTER 2024

Dog Detectives:

Companion canines join fight against spotted lanternfly | BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

rom ancient warriors to modern police K-9s, the remarkable abilities of man’s best friend have benefited humans for thousands of years. Some have put their impeccable noses to innovative uses—sniffing out truffles or detecting plant diseases. Now, companion canines are teaming up with researchers at Virginia Tech and Texas Tech University to take down a new foe—one that’s decimating vineyards, orchards and other lands across the U.S.

The rise of the spotted lanternfly

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH

Native to mainland China, the invasive spotted lanternfly has caused about $325 million a year in damaged crops, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. First detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, they have been found in an additional 13 states since. These “hitchhiking” insects have continued their rapid spread through human-assisted movement—laying eggs on logging trucks and other traveling cargo. Favoring grapevines among 70-plus host plant species, spotted lanternflies have become a “big issue for the wine grape community,” said Mizuho Nita, grape pathology specialist for the Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. He’s been battling a spotted lanternfly infestation at the school’s research vineyards for the past two years. While his team has managed losses with efficient spraying, slowing the species’ movement requires a more proactive approach. Stomping on the small, grey-colored egg masses will kill the insects before they hatch into swarms, but they’re extremely difficult to spot with the untrained eye, which inspired Nita and fellow researchers to recruit the masters of scent detection.

The Canine Citizen Science Study

With a four-year, $475,000 grant from the USDA, Nita and Erica Feuerbacher, Virginia Tech associate professor of applied animal welfare and behavior, teamed up with Texas Tech associate professor Nathan Hall to launch the Canine Citizen Science Study. “There are lots of dogs that can benefit from even more enrichment, so we thought it would be great to turn this ubiquitous resource of pet dogs and average handlers into an early detection force for some of the many environmental and agricultural issues,” Feuerbacher explained. The project began at a Texas Tech olfactory lab two years ago. Using freeze-killed egg samples provided by Nita, Hall led a series of behavioral and olfactory research studies with shelter dogs. The experiments proved it was possible in a lab setting, with a majority of dogs able to detect the eggs with 95% confidence. In spring 2023, the project’s second phase began exploring the effectiveness of citizen dog teams under the leadership of Sally Dickinson, a doctoral candidate in the Virginia Tech School of Animal Sciences. 10

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Above, Sally Dickinson and her dog, Flint, sniff out spotted lanternflies on grape vines. Mizuho Nita inspects vineyards where he's been battling the pests for the past two years.

Dickinson said they were “blown away” by the amount of public interest in the volunteer-based study, with almost 1,000 parties completing the application process. Over 90 handler teams with prior nose work experience were selected from around the country, grouped geographically under one trainer, and began spotted lanternfly training in June and August. Teams were provided with training aids containing freezekilled egg masses; completed weekly training logs to monitor progress; and scheduled an odor recognition test when they were ready. After

receiving at least an 80% score, teams were given guidelines for the field evaluation test, which challenges dogs to detect freeze-dried eggs in a small, outdoor setting. The team hopes to expand the study to “completely naïve dogs” without experience in scent work, which would require additional project funding. Researchers also have been exploring the effectiveness of dogs in sniffing out powdery mildew, a widespread fungal disease found in a variety of plants, which recently proved to be possible in a lab setting. “Hopefully we can do a little bit

more expansion to include other diseases or disorders,” Nita added.

Teamwork enriches canines, handlers

Dickinson said many project participants found enjoyment in combining their passion for canine welfare with a meaningful cause, with some of the most successful handlers driven by environmental concerns. “It’s an entirely different thing to do something with their dog that could potentially have an impact on their community and environment,” she remarked. “And who doesn’t want to make sure that we have wineries, breweries and cideries in the future?” vafb.com / WINTER 2024

‘WE POOR FARMERS’ Songs and rhythms of agricultural work at the roots of American music

BY NICOLE ZEMA

‘Corn Shucking Time’

The live soundtrack of harvest time was important to enslaved Virginians, noted Gregg Kimball, recently retired Library of Virginia outreach director. Songster and street musician Jimmie Strother’s Depression-era recordings paint a historical picture of toil and jubilation. The song Corn Shucking Time has a minstrel feel but commemorates an important communal event. Enslaved people visited surrounding plantations to shuck the corn harvest, followed by a meal and dancing, with banjos, fiddles and other roots instruments. Kimball said these gatherings might be a precious opportunity for an enslaved husband and wife to briefly reunite after forcible separation. 12

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COURTESY OF MUSICOFOURMOUNTAINS.COM

irginia’s unique patchwork of agricultural activities was the inspiration, or lament, heard in music expressed by those working the land and sea. A complexity of styles rooted in African, British and German musical traditions feature lyrics, melodies and techniques distinct to Virginia’s varied agrarian regions.

Jimmie Strothers and Joe Lee recorded Corn Shucking Time at the Virginia State Prison Farm, and the song was posted in a recording catalog.

COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

barn raisings. The hosts hired local musicians for an evening dance, attended by hundreds. Providing dance music, old-time string bands are known for their strong, driving rhythms and foot-pounding beats. The Blue Ridge Corn Shuckers recorded Old Time Corn Shuckin’ for Victor Records at the famed Bristol Sessions in 1927. Carroll County native Ernest V. “Pop” Stoneman led and organized the session, eventually elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame—an event commemorated at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol.

Setting pace, breaking monotony The Stoneman Family comprised the Blue Ridge Corn Shuckers, who recorded Old Time Corn Shuckin' for Victor Records.

“‘Cause she knows she gonna bake that ‘possum and then get tipsy on wine. She swears she’s a-willing to go to Heaven after that corn, corn-shucking time.” — Jimmie Strother of Culpeper County with fellow inmate Joe Lee, recorded at Virginia State Prison

Farm by ethnomusicologist John A. Lomax, who traveled the South recording unknown Black artists. Music also was central to communal tasks in white farming communities. According to Smithsonian Folkways record label, string bands formed when rural families called upon neighbors to assist with harvests or

At corn shuckings, song leaders or “captains” would stand on piles of corn to chant, promoting the work. “It was a competition to shuck the corn fastest,” Kimball said. Those work-chant vocalizations are stylistic mechanisms later echoed in blues, Black gospel music and protest songs. Work songs coordinated pace and movement in work settings—from fields to flue-cured tobacco barns and coastal fisheries. “Menhaden fishermen on the Northern Neck are one of the best examples in Virginia,” Kimball vafb.com / WINTER 2024

‘WE POOR FARMERS’

Pay my board and buy my snuff. It’s hard. It’s hard. It’s hard on we poor farmers. It’s hard. Work all the week to sun to sun. Fifteen cents when payday come. It’s hard. It’s hard. It’s hard on we poor farmers. It’s hard.”

Old-time music of Southwest Virginia

Old-time music styles thrive in Southwest Virginia’s preservation of the string band tradition—notably at the annual Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention, continuous since 1935. Banjo player Daniel Boyer of Grayson County hasn’t missed one since birth. “I would pull him around down there in a little red wagon,” said his dad Danny Boyer, a bassist in their band, The New Spring Mountain Boys, which includes a grandson, Dylan Isom. Their band name honors an old band from the community. “Some generations of the same families played in both,” Danny 14

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“Work all the week and don’t make enough.

said. Before that they were the Iron Mountain Ridge Runners. But Danny, a cattleman and hay producer, didn’t grow up in a musical family. “A friend who played bass in The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters showed me how to play some chords,” he recalled. “The next thing I know, I had a bass, and we’d play.” Daniel has placed in Galax banjo competitions, where he jams with world-class musicians from every state and many countries. “You can play with them if you’re not a total jam-buster,” he joked. “If you can keep up and not screw it up!” He learned to keep time on guitar in his teen years, and eventually got an old banjo. “I started playing clawhammer and picked it right up,” Daniel said. Clawhammer is an old-time style of banjo playing, clawing downward, with a fifth string as a drone to keep rhythm. Classic three-finger picking is mostly associated with bluegrass. Immortalizing the region’s musical heritage, renowned luthier Wayne C. Henderson has built guitars for the greats—Doc Watson, Peter Rowan, Gillian Welch, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill and Eric Clapton, among others. “He’s one of the best guitar makers in the world,” Danny said. “Right here in Grayson County.”

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continued. “You had a leader who would chant, and in a particular moment, all these men would pull up an enormous net of menhaden fish.” Until 2020, the Northern Neck Chantey Singers shared those lyrical maritime harmonies with the world. Work songs also distracted from monotonous tasks. “There are recordings of women in crab houses singing religious songs on the Northern Neck and Eastern Shore,” Kimball added. “As workers tended the curing of tobacco, they were playing music to pass the time.” Other songs were cries of lament or protest, like Poor Farmers by Lemuel Jones, recorded at the state penitentiary in Richmond:

NICOLE ZEMA COURTESY OF THE BOYER FAMILY

COURTESY OF REEDVILLE FISHERMEN'S MUSEUM

COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Opposite page, Menhaden fishermen contributed to the roots of rural music as they sang while pulling in a catch. Album covers highlight Virginia work songs and traditional string bands. Above, bassist Danny Boyer, left, and his son, Daniel, who plays the banjo, jam with other family members in the band, The New Spring Mountain Boys. vafb.com / WINTER 2024

Moonshine legacy: Age-old craft kept alive in Virginia’s mountains

Hell’s Holler moonshine is the only spirit produced by Law’s Choice distillery in Franklin County that is sold in Virginia ABC stores. Henry Lee received his distiller’s license in 2017, and this wheat-based moonshine is based on a family recipe passed down through generations of his family.

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BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

ith tales of the country’s most notorious bootleggers still capturing audiences today, some may marvel at the modern-day moonshine movement— especially those entrenched in its long, complicated history. Tucked away in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, winding through vast wilderness and sprawling rivers, are the enduring stories of those who crafted a lasting legacy in the shadows. These distillers defied all odds in a centuries-long catand-mouse game.

CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

‘Moonshine Capital of the World’ With ties to some of the earliest Virginia settlers, the age-old craft of distilling spirits from fruits, grains and corn has deep roots in the small, rural communities of southwestern Virginia. Named after the tradition of distilling illegal spirits under the moonlight, some of the earliest “moonshiners” resided in the secluded Blue Ridge mountains of western Virginia during the Revolutionary War. They hid their distilling operations to avoid paying taxes on resulting liquors. The moonshine industry exploded during Prohibition, with bootleg liquor sales reaching an estimated $3.6 billion in 1926. This brought economic prosperity to communities like Franklin County—where over 130,000 gallons of illegal liquor sales were seized during that time. Known today as the “Moonshine Capital of the World,” Franklin County made national headlines in the Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935—unearthing a remarkably complex bribery system for the biggest moonshiners in the region. If they had legally sold their products between 1930-1935, Franklin County moonshiners would have generated $5.5 million in taxes. Famed Franklin County bootleggers such as the Brondurant brothers,

featured in the 2012 film Lawless, have gained national notoriety. “We’ve got the stories—that’s what separates us from everybody else,” remarked Henry Lee Law, owner of Laws Choice distillery in Franklin County, whose cousin was indicted in the trial. A third generation “moonshiner,” Law lived through many conspiracies in the tumultuous years that followed—realizing at a young age that his father ran one of the biggest bootlegging operations around.

Life on the moonshine run Henry Lee has collected many stories from the 10 years he helped his father, Amos Law—a renowned Virginia moonshiner who was featured on Discovery’s Moonshiners. By the 1970s, Amos was a kingpin of the modern-day moonshine industry and managed distribution up and down the East Coast. Growing up with a father in and out of jail, Henry Lee often wondered, “What would cause a man to make liquor, get caught, go to jail, and come back out and do it again?” But he inherited his father’s love for the craft, helping him build up his business to manufacturing up to 12-15,000 gallons of liquor a month. Police officers and tax enforcement officials hunted down moonshiners with the help of local informants. Agents often monitored their properties in hopes of raiding a still site and destroyed stills using axes or sticks of dynamite. The Law boys became known for their ability to outrun police after being discovered at a still site or during transport—often losing a lot of vehicles and money in the process. Henry Lee recalled the night he lost 50 barrels of peach brandy, hopped in another truck, and drove off to grab some more Georgia peaches. “They’d knock us down, and we’d go right back to work,” he said. “Most people, they see the law and it’s over. vafb.com / WINTER 2024

THE BLUE RIDGE HERITAGE ARCHIVES

Moonshine legacy

Hosea Thomas’ still in Franklin County circa 1915.

They can’t go back to the still place— their nerves won’t keep them there.” But police raids were rarely violent back then, as moonshiners and officers had a mutual understanding to leave guns out of it, according to the Franklin County Historical Society. While there were some thrills outrunning the law, “it was a tough business” to endure for long, Henry Lee said. “Everyone glorifies it a lot, but there was a dark side to moonshining as well.” His first near-death experience occurred during childhood when a stranger rampaged through the family’s house with a gun, resulting in the deaths of his father’s partners. While working his first still site as a teenager, he learned the dangers of the distillation process, which requires substantial heat to boil the mash. He survived a violent explosion and escaped an unknown stakeout while he was engulfed in flames. Tensions heightened in the late 90’s and early 2000s when the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms began to crack down on moonshiners, including seizing property where still sites were found— largely ending illegal moonshining in the region.

Carrying on the family legacy After years of petitioning the governor, the Laws finally got their civil rights back. Henry Lee voted for the first time in decades, and he began 18

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looking to the future. “So I looked at my cousin, Kenny, one day and said, ‘I’d like to apply for my distillers license,’ and he told me, ‘You’ve got to be out of your mind,’” he laughed. After wading through the paperwork, he received his distillery license from Virginia ABC in 2017. “I never dreamed in 100 years that they’d give me a license,” Henry Lee said. Just like his father and the generations before, he and Kenny started from scratch. They built every piece of equipment by hand, including their stills, thumpers and worms, in “no time at all. “That’s what’s so amazing about Franklin County and moonshine here in Virginia—we built everything we needed,” he said. “We had the skill set, hard work and ingenuity, and that’s what I love about it.” They distill their whiskey “exactly the way we did in the woods” and source every ingredient from local farms, including rye, wheat and fruits. Currently, only their wheat-based liquor, “Hell’s Holler,” is available for sale in select ABC stores. He hopes to get more of his recipes on the shelf and is even experimenting with new techniques. “I can’t wait to get some bourbon out on the streets to the people, because we’ve never aged any of our liquor—it sold so fast, we didn’t know what putting it in a barrel meant,” Henry Lee said.

Since opening his own distillery, he’s realized that his life on the run—sent by his father to every kind of distillery imaginable—gave him a treasure trove of knowledge. “He put me with the best of the best, and I learned every single thing you could think of as far as liquor,” he noted fondly. “Now, I’m able to teach my sons and hand them down recipes on how it’s done—exactly like my dad did me, and his dad showed him.” He named his distillery “Law’s Choice” in hopes his sons will carry on the family legacy. “And hopefully, with time, people can see what our family and Franklin County are all about,” he said. Visit lawschoice.com to order moonshine and learn more about the Law family. Franklin County hosts an annual Moonshine Heritage Month to commemorate the history and cultural influence of moonshine. Visitors also can find moonshine artifacts, including those of the Law family, at the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum and Franklin County History Museum. Today, in almost every region of Virginia there are distilleries making legal moonshine—including some who are carrying on their own family legacies. To discover more Virginia distilleries, visit virginiaspirits.org/ distilleries.

COURTESY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE BLUE RIDGE HERITAGE ARCHIVES COURTESY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Clockwise from top: ABC agents inspect a submarine still in Franklin County; this copper turnip still is circa 1912; Henry Lee, right, and his son, Austin Law, pose by their distillery; and a display from the Franklin County Historical Society shows a moonshine smuggling kit.

vafb.com / WINTER 2024

ALICE KEMP

Reaching for the sky: Virginia’s majestic trees inspire awe BY ALICE KEMP

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ALICE KEMP VIRGINIA BIG TREE PROGRAM

Left, the American beech in New Kent County towers 90 feet high. Clynt Parrish, above, stands in front of the beech trunk And this 139-foothigh tulip poplar in Bedford County was crowned sole national champion by American Forests in 2021..

cross the commonwealth, aweinspiring giants tower over the land, creating serene spaces to contemplate nature—giants like the stately American beech tree in New Kent County. Measuring a staggering 90 feet high with a 224-inch trunk, the commonwealth champion dwarfs landowner Clynt Parrish in his front yard. A fixture on the property for nearly 200 years, the tree’s grandeur is captivating. “It really stands out from the road,” Parrish said. “We’ve had quite a few students have their graduation pictures taken with it, and it’s been (featured) in wedding photos.” Parrish’s tree is one of hundreds of large trees throughout the state recognized by the Virginia Big Tree Program. A natural resources outreach program of Virginia Cooperative Extension, the initiative aims to promote the conservation and care of forests by celebrating Virginia’s largest trees. What began as a 4-H and FFA initiative in 1970 to encourage youth engagement in forestry and natural resources has branched into a community of tree enthusiasts scouting standouts on historical sites, public areas, farms, residences and in the wild. “We can get people’s attention with them,” said Eric Wiseman, an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation and coordinator of the Virginia Big Tree Program. “It’s a way to get people excited, inspired and appreciative of trees and forests.” Big trees bring to mind titans like the 139-foot-high tulip poplar in Bedford County or Harrisonburg’s 96-foot-tall Fraser fir standing sentinel over the city cemetery. But “big” is relative, Wiseman said. “We recognize the three largest specimens of each species of tree,” he explained. “They’re super big for their species but not necessarily huge, towering trees. Our state champion

dogwood, for example, is a relatively small tree but big for its kind.” Recording the natural marvels has led to a registry of over 2,500 trees encompassing 400 native and nonnative species. The Virginia Big Tree Register boasts 566 state champions with 82 claiming the national title—the biggest in the country recognized by American Forests’ National Champion Trees Register. Trees are ranked and scored on a point system based on height, trunk girth and average crown spread. The champions are periodically visited by volunteers and arborists for recertification. “Sometimes the champion tree is not the most picturesque tree,” Wiseman explained. “Trees recognized as champs are really tall and girthy.” While age isn’t a factor for scoring, “big trees are often ancient trees,” he noted. “It’s one of the ingredients— they’ve got to live a reasonable amount of time to get to superlative size.”

Champions through generations In a time of increasing modernization and development, big trees serve as a reverent reminder of past generations and changes they’ve endured. There are trees that survived battlefields, helped shade cattle, or served as a property boundary on an old homestead. “They have a lot of history,” Parrish said. “They’ve seen a lot.” Like many on the registry, Parrish’s state and national champion American beech has withstood the test of time, weathering hurricanes and tornadoes. A severe storm once knocked down a main branch—one his nephews loved climbing. Still the largest of its kind, the tree’s sprawling canopy offers summertime shade, a tranquil setting for family croquet matches and memories of picnics with his late wife. “We tried wrapping a ribbon around it once like in the old oak tree song, but that didn’t work out,” he reminisced. “It’s just too big.” vafb.com / WINTER 2024

ALICE KEMP

VIRGINIA BIG TREE PROGRAM

Reaching for the sky

VIRGINIA BIG TREE PROGRAM

Above, a honeylocust tree in Botetourt County is pictured in an older photo in the winter and a newer image taken in the spring. Below, located on the grounds of the Patrick Henry National Memorial in Charlotte County, this famed Osage orange tree has a 93-foot crown spread and is said to be over 300 years old. Its unique trunk is comprised of multiple stems. To the right, this 96-foot-high champion Fraser fir overlooks a Harrisonburg City cemetery.

Want to see more? Scan the QR code or visit bit.ly/48dvppc to watch Real Virginia’s feature on the Virginia Big Tree Program.

Do you have a big tree on your property?

The Virginia Big Tree Program welcomes nominations from the public. Visit bigtree.cnre.vt.edu to browse the champions and learn how to measure and report a standout tree of your own.

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PHOTO COURTSY OF CURT PORTERFIELD

Fully enjoy the ATV experience with attention to safety

BY NICOLE ZEMA

andowners who feel connected to the great outdoors on their allterrain vehicles can continue to enjoy traversing the state’s trails by keeping some critical safety tips in mind. Safety is especially important in mountainous counties of Southwest Virginia. “Just in the area, ATV-related injuries and deaths are up nearly 30% since 2021,” said Curt Porterfield, training coordinator for Virginia Tech Environmental Health & Safety. “The average hospital stay from an ATVrelated injury is about 7.5 days, costing an average of $127,000.” Fatality rates are higher in this sixstate mid-Atlantic region overseen by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “There’s more farming going on, yes, but incidents involving recreation are important in these statistics,” Porterfield added. Five hundred people die in the U.S., and another 100,000 are seriously injured while operating ATVs every year, he continued. “And 11,000 of those emergency room visits account for children.”

Grown-ups should be leading by example, Porterfield advised. Of disclosed ATV injuries, only 10.3% of adults reported wearing their helmet. Compare the hardness of a watermelon to an average human skull. “How easy would it be to drop that watermelon and have it bust?” Porterfield asked. Matt Nuckols, Virgnia Farm Bureau’s safety coordinator, said selecting properly sized personal protective equipment is crucial in any ATV activity—be it for work or play. “ATVs are a popular way to explore nature and experience the outdoors,” he said. “In addition to modern, wellfitting protective gear, it’s important that riders read their owner’s manual thoroughly, to know the vehicle’s hazards and limitations.” In an AgriSafe webinar presented during National Farm Safety and Health Week, Porterfield said safely enjoying ATVs comes down to four simple rules: • Wear your helmet. • Know your terrain. • Control your speed. • Avoid steep slopes. “If we can help people manage those, then we could get that number well

below 100 or more fatalities on ATVs,” he said.

Prevent rollovers; consider ROPS

Rollovers are the most common types of ATV incident, Porterfield explained, often occurring in hilly areas. On steep terrain, is it better to go up, or sideways? “Doesn’t matter,” Porterfield said. “Just limit it to 15 degrees. If not, it’s better to go sideways and be able to lean and reduce rollover risk. Know how to fight the gravity.” Some manufacturers now offer rollover protection systems for ATVs. “They’re not required, but recommended,” he said. “Check with the manufacturer.”

ATV safety resources Find more Virginia Tech ATV safety resources at shorturl.at/ MNW12 See the AgriSafe ATV safety webinar at shorturl.at/uxJM2 Learn more about Virginia Farm Bureau safety resources at shorturl.at/hmNQ7

vafb.com / WINTER 2024

Missed open enrollment?

Explore your health care coverage options BY CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN

f you want to obtain health insurance for the upcoming year, open enrollment periods typically are the only time to sign up for coverage. The Affordable Care Act open enrollment period to purchase individual health insurance for 2024

runs through Jan. 15. But if you missed the deadline, there are still opportunities to secure some form of health coverage.

Special enrollment periods If you’ve experienced certain life events, you may qualify for a special

enrollment period. These typically 60-day periods allow individuals to sign up for health insurance outside of conventional open enrollment periods. Examples of qualifying events include getting married or divorced; having a child; certain changes in residences; losing employer group coverage; or Continued on page 30

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Auto, homeowner policies have been adversely affected by increased supply costs BY KATHY DIXON

The U.S. Consumer Price Index for motor vehicle maintenance and repairs jumped 27% from December 2020 to November 2023, and the U.S. Producer Price Index for building materials and supplies increased 17% in that same time frame. The CPI for auto maintenance and repair was 309.89 in 2020 and rose to 393.92 toward the end of 2023. For building materials and supplies during that same time frame, the PPI rose from 177.60 to 207.93. Increases like this are part of what’s driving rising insurance rates for both auto and homeowner policies. Auto repair costs have gone up because of escalating costs for vehicle parts and labor, and homeowner rates have risen due to inflated prices for building materials. Property insurance rates have climbed as well due to increased weather activity and significantly higher reinsurance costs, according to Bob Brown, executive vice president and general manager of the Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. and CEO of Countryway. “The personal auto and homeowners insurance represent Virginia Farm Bureau’s two largest lines of business, and we have not been immune to these profitability pressures,” Brown noted. When it comes to auto claims, part of the blame for rising repair costs is because today’s vehicles are more complex than they used to be. “That means more parts to replace when you’ve been involved in an accident,” noted Anne Baskette,

VFBMIC director of claims administration. “Auto claim severity has gone up 25% since the pandemic.” In addition to the increase in auto parts, repairer backlogs are at an alltime high, according to data from CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc., a data collection service that VFBMIC uses for evaluating auto claims damages. Backlogs are due to a shortage of technicians paired with increased auto accidents. Labor rates and auto parts have both more than tripled since 2020, according to CCC. Much of the increase in parts costs has occurred in the last year. The parts experiencing the most increase in cost are headlights, hoods and windshields. “Back in the old days, a windshield was just a piece of glass,” explained Baskette. “Today’s windshields include advanced safety systems, which require complete recalibration when a windshield is replaced.” The average cost loss for windshields in 2023 was $490, up 10% from 2022, according to Safelite Solutions, a VFBMIC partner. In addition to auto parts, the cost of building materials has also skyrocketed. So across the board, increased supply costs are what have led to a Combined Ratio for the U.S. personal lines market—defined as insured losses and expenses divided by premium—of 110.1% for 2022. In other words, for every $1 collected in premiums, the industry experienced

over $1.10 in losses and expenses. Farm Bureau’s combined ratio is lower than the national average. “We ended 2022 with a consolidated combined ratio of 108.4%,” Brown explained. “So, our results have performed better than the industry.” Some competitors have exited lines of business, but “we are not taking those drastic steps,” Brown said. “We will continue to work toward achieving adequacy in our rates and be prudent in our underwriting approach.” Here are some ways you can help lower insurance premiums: Increase your deductibles—Raising your deductive on specific coverages can lower your premiums. • Bundle your auto and home or farm—Customers with multiple vehicles and multiple products (auto, home, farm, umbrella) qualify for greater discounts. • Pay on time—Customers who pay on time and don’t miss payments receive the best rates. • Practice safe driving—Safe driving habits like avoiding tickets and accidents help keep premiums low. • Maintain your home—Taking steps to maintain your home can better prepare your property to withstand extreme weather and other damaging events For more cost-saving tips, contact your local Farm Bureau insurance agent. vafb.com / WINTER 2024

Stay safe and warm this winter at home

and on the road

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W BY ALICE KEMP

ith snow, ice and freezing temperatures, Old Man Winter can be treacherous. So whether you’re heading out on the road or hunkering down at home this season, it’s important to take the proper precautions.

Protect your home during winter

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Laurie Gannon, vice president of claims for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Ensuring your home systems are working properly and efficiently helps protects your largest investment from loss or damage.” She suggests scheduling preventive maintenance for home heating systems. Additionally, to keep homes snug, caulk and seal around exterior windows and doors and add weatherstripping as needed. Insulate pipes near exterior walls and in hard-to-reach places like attics and crawl spaces. Ensure chimneys, fireplaces and woodstoves are cleaned each year and are in good working order to prevent fires and keep carbon monoxide from building up indoors. And if leaving home, even for a few days, “maintain your heat at a reasonable temperature—over 60 degrees,” Gannon advised. Outside the home, check your roof, and replace loose, damaged or missing shingles. Fix any gaps or broken seals around vents, chimneys and roof corners. Roof leaks and ice dams can be avoided by clearing debris from gutters and drains. Trim tree branches overhanging your house, as they can damage the roof, siding and windows. Shut down sprinkler systems, and drain outdoor faucets, irrigation systems and hoses. Also, take an inventory of your home, and know what’s covered, Gannon noted.

“It’s always time well spent to review your policy with your insurance agent. Our agents can provide details on any new enhancements to home or business policies that you may be missing out on.” Finally, don’t forget to protect yourself. Monitor weather alerts, and plan accordingly. Having an alternate heating source like a generator is recommended in case of power outage.

Stay safe on wintry roads With over 70% of U.S. thoroughfares located in areas that experience snow and ice, it’s no wonder more than 150,000 auto crashes occur annually due to treacherous road conditions. Before venturing out, Drive Smart Virginia urges drivers to wait out storms and share travel plans with someone. Plan your route in advance, and monitor the weather, road conditions and traffic. Familiarize yourself with directions and maps before leaving, even when using GPS. Ensure your phone is fully charged before leaving in case you need to make an emergency call. “Adjust your driving habits according to the weather conditions you encounter,” advised Rich Jacobs, Drive Smart Virginia’s public relations and outreach manager. “If road conditions are poor, it may be best to avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.” When driving on wintry roads, caution is key, Jacobs said. Slow down and increase your following distance 10 seconds or more to allow ample stopping time, don’t engage cruise control, and always accelerate and decelerate slowly on slick surfaces. Keep your car winter-ready and perform a car inspection ahead of your trip. Check the fluids, brakes, hoses, battery, lights, wiper blades and replace any worn or damaged tires. Always keep your fuel tank at least half full.

Emergency kit for HOME:

Emergency kit for CAR:

Battery-powered or hand-crank radio to monitor weather alerts

A snow shovel, broom and ice scraper

Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit 3- to 5-day supply of nonperishable food and water

Abrasive material (sand or kitty litter) in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow Jumper cables First aid kit

Necessary medicine and important personal items

Flashlight and warning devices (flares and emergency markers)

Blankets or sleeping bags

Blankets and extra coats, hats and gloves

Cash and credit cards

Fully charged cell phone and charger Water, nonperishable food, and any necessary medicine vafb.com / WINTER 2024

Heart of the Home

riginating in France, these classic soups highlight shellfish like crawfish, crab, lobster, shrimp and oysters as the main ingredient. One of the most favored seafood soups around the world, bisques traditionally achieve their thick base from a paste created by grinding the shells or with seafood stock and cream. To add complexity and elevate flavors, some recipes incorporate a splash of brandy, cognac, sherry or wine. While the traditional approach revolves around seafood and shellfish, modern interpretations have broadened bisques to include other main ingredients— crustaceans notwithstanding. Many varieties feature produce like corn, tomatoes or butternut squash, and achieve the signature thickness with cream or pureed rice. But the hallmark of all bisques lies in their smooth texture and rich, buttery flavors. So stay warm this winter, and grab some crusty bread or crackers, find a cozy spot by a crackling fire, and tuck into a flavorful bowl of bisque.

Crab Bisque

Bisque Bliss Creamy, rich and velvety, bisques bring comfort and warmth on brisk winter days

INGREDIENTS

10½-ounce can tomato soup 10½-ounce can green pea soup 20 ounces half-and-half 1 can or 6½ ounces crabmeat, chopped ½ cup sherry unsweetened whipped cream for garnish, if desired DIRECTIONS

In a pot over medium heat, mix the tomato and pea soups. Add the half-andhalf gradually, stirring between additions to remove any lumps. Add the crabmeat and cook until it’s warm. Add the sherry. Remove from the heat, and ladle the

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soup into the bowls. Add a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream, if using, to each bowl before serving for a nice presentation. —Recipe adapted from the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

Add the shrimp stock, brandy, tomato paste and paprika. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat, and simmer for 35-40 minutes. Add the shrimp, and cook until they’re pink and firm, about 8-10 minutes. Garnish with a drizzle of sherry and chopped parsley, if desired. Serve with French bread. —Recipe adapted from the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board

Mushroom Bisque Shrimp Bisque INGREDIENTS

½ cup butter ¾ cup all-purpose flour

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 shallots, chopped 1 tablespoon finely chopped thyme, plus sprigs for serving

¼ cup chopped celery

1½ pounds assorted fresh mushrooms, such as button, shiitake or porcini, coarsely chopped

¼ cup chopped green bell pepper

kosher salt to taste

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ cup dry sherry, plus more for serving

½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

1½ cups chicken stock

2 cups half-and-half

1 cup half-and-half

8½ cups shrimp stock

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ cup brandy

chives for garnish (optional)

½ cup chopped yellow onion

5 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

DIRECTIONS

1 pound peeled and deveined large fresh shrimp

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, and add the shallots and thyme. Once the shallots are softened, add the mushrooms, salt, and stir thoroughly.

dry sherry and chopped fresh parsley for garnish French bread DIRECTIONS

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour, and cook for about 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic and Old Bay. Cook for 7 minutes, stirring constantly. In a blender, combine the onion mixture with the half-and-half. Blend until smooth, and return to the pot.

Once the mushrooms have released their water, add the sherry and let them simmer approximately 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock, and simmer for another 10 minutes. Using an *immersion hand blender, puree the soup, and stir in the half-and-half and pepper. Garnish with chopped chives. *Alternatively, the soup may be pureed in a blender, adding half at a time, but be sure to vent the top, and pulse the blender. —Recipe adapted from Tammy Brawley, owner of The Green Kitchen vafb.com / WINTER 2024

Missed open enrollment?

Continued from page 24

losing Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid coverage. In April 2023, Virginia began to redetermine eligibility for many Medicaid members for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The Department of Medical Assistance Services estimates that roughly 14% of Virginia’s Medicaid members may lose coverage during the 14-month redetermination process. “If you find yourself losing Medicaid during this redetermination, Farm Bureau is here to help you find other coverage,” said Tracy Cornatzer, director of sales for VAFB Health Insurance Solutions. Many businesses have open enrollment periods as well, and

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employers who offer insurance to their employees are required to provide a special enrollment period of at least 30 days. Employees should verify their group’s open enrollment period with their employer or Human Resources representative.

Short-term health insurance Individuals who don’t qualify for a special enrollment period may purchase short-term health insurance plans to provide temporary coverage. Though these plans do not meet ACA requirements for minimum coverage and require that your health qualify, they will offer basic protection against catastrophic medical expenses.

Enrollment in short-term plans is limited to three-month increments.

Other year-round options There is no open enrollment period for Medicaid or CHIP, and individuals who quality for coverage may enroll anytime. CHIP offers low-cost health and dental coverage to children in families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid. Whether self-employed or a business owner seeking coverage for employees, group health insurance may be an option. Qualifying businesses can start a group health plan anytime during the year. To learn more about your coverage options, contact your county Farm Bureau office or call 800-229-7779.

Logan’s Greenhouse named AITC Book of the Year

irginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s annual Agriculture Literacy Week will take place March 18-22. Virginia AITC has selected Logan’s Greenhouse by JaNay Brown-Wood as its 2024 Book of the Year. Cheerfully illustrated by Samara Hardy, the book follows Logan, a young boy who uses a wheelchair and accessible gardening tools as he organizes a playdate at his greenhouse for his friends. Throughout the book, readers can learn about the unique characteristics of the fruits and vegetables Logan grows in his greenhouse. “We were looking for an inclusive and interactive story about growing food,” explained Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC executive director. “Everything but one crop featured in the book is grown in Virginia. It’s a good opportunity for students to see and relate to something they may be able to grow here.” Agriculture Literacy Week is AITC’s largest educational event of the year, with thousands of volunteers reading to children across the commonwealth. In its 13th year, the program helps teach youth about the importance of agriculture, farming and the sources of their food. Copies of Logan’s Greenhouse are available for purchase at $14 each from Virginia AITC. A book order form is

located on the Virginia AITC website, virginia. agclassroom.org. In addition to the book, orders will include free supplementary resources to expand learning at school and at home. These include seeds for children to plant after reading, volunteer reading tips, coloring pages and other free activities. Volunteers are encouraged to read Logan’s Greenhouse to children in pre-K through third grade. Virginia AITC also will share highlights on its social media platforms throughout the week. Agriculture Literacy Week participants include county Farm Bureau volunteers, Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers committees; FFA and 4-H members; partners from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other state agencies; and members of other agricultural organizations and businesses. Colonial Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Southern States Cooperative Inc. have been supporters as well.

vafb.com / WINTER 2024