Cultivate Nov 2015

Cultivate NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

Virginia Farm Bureau

Heavy machines, hand work and hustle at harvest time

Cultivate Volume 8, Number 4 November/December 2015 Cultivate (USPS 025051) (ISSN 1946-8121) is published four times a year, February, April, July, November/December (combined issue). It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid in Richmond, VA. The annual subscription rate is $1.48 (included in membership dues).

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“We don’t quit harvesting until

Harvests require heavy equipment, hand work, hustle

No matter what crop is involved, all harvest seasons come down to a shared truth: When it’s time, it’s time.

the first week of November when the

Homegrown by Heroes helps veterans promote farm products

A new branding program by the Farmer Veteran Coalition is helping veterans who farm to promote their products.

Pink Lady apples are ripe.”

New vehicle? Make sure you have the proper insurance

Most insurance contracts provide some limited coverage for newly acquired vehicles. But the day you buy a new vehicle is still a good time to talk with your agent.

— TOMMY BRUGUIERE, owner of Dickie Brothers Orchard in Nelson County

Departments 3

Did You Know?

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For Your Benefit

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Heart of the Home

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A Pie for All Seasons

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Stewards of the Land

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Marketplace

Postmaster: Please send changes of address to, Cultivate, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, P.O. Box 27552, Richmond, VA 23261; fax 804-2901096. Editorial and business offices are located at 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238.

Telephone 804-290-1000, fax 804290-1096. 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 maintains the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaints about services or products. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised.

Member: Virginia Press Association

EDITORIAL TEAM Greg Hicks Vice President, Communications Pam Wiley Managing Editor Kathy Dixon Sr. Staff Writer/ Photographer Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Claire Mills Advertising

VISIT US ONLINE VaFarmBureau.org

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

ON THE COVER

Associate members will receive their next issue of Cultivate in February 2016. The magazine is published four times a year.

Stayman apples are among the 16 varieties grown at Dickie Brothers Orchard in Nelson County (Photo by Pam Wiley).

Did you know?

Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry.

Agriculture contributes $52 billion annually to the commonwealth’s economy and provides nearly 311,000 jobs.

Combine its impact with that of forestry, and the two industries have an economic impact of $70 billion and provide more than 400,000 jobs. Every job in agriculture and forestry supports 1.6 jobs elsewhere in the state.

Production agriculture employs nearly 55,000 farmers and farm workers in Virginia and generates approximately $3.3 billion in total output. In addition, value-added industries—those that depend on farm commodities—employ more than 67,000 people. When the value-added impact of agriculture and forestry are considered together, they make up 8.1 percent of the state’s total gross domestic product.

Those statistics are among findings of a 2012 study by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.

In addition to its tangible benefits such as revenue and jobs, agriculture provides intangible benefits like opportunities for recreation and tourism, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, flood mitigation, improved water quality and soil stabilization.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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• • HBH • •

Farmer Veterans

HOMEGROWN BY HEROES HELPS VETERANS PROMOTE FARM PRODUCTS • Virginia Vegetable Company •

PAUL MEYER PHOTOS AND ARTICLE BY KATHY DIXON

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ctor and activist Christopher Reeve said a hero “is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

And a military veteran turned farmer with no prior farming experience fits that definition.

A new awareness program by the Farmer Veteran Coalition called “Homegrown

By Heroes” is helping veteran farmers promote their agricultural products.

“I don’t think the Homegrown by Heroes program is that well-known yet, but I think if people see the label and know they’re supporting veteran farmers, they will be inclined to buy that product,” said Paul Meyer, one of a half-dozen Virginia farmers participating in the program. He owns and operates the Virginia Vegetable Company in Powhatan County, where he grows everything from basil to heirloom tomatoes.

He offers community-supported agriculture memberships and sells produce at local farmers’ markets and to restaurants. He recently began preserving some of his produce and plans to market those products using the HBH labels.

Other HBH farmers, David and Denise Hudson, sell meat products from their Halifax County Hudson Heritage Farm and promote the fact that they are veterans every chance they get. They said participating in the HBH program gives them a label to support that.

“Consumers want to understand age Farm • • Hudson Herit where their food comes from, D HUDSON DENISE AND DAVI and they like to support certain 4

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things—like veterans—so this is one way they can do both,” David Hudson said.

A similar work ethic Neither Meyer nor the Hudsons had agricultural backgrounds, but they chose to farm. David Hudson said there is a natural affinity between farming and military service.

“Who puts in long hours and hard work? Veterans and farmers. Veterans don’t make a lot of money; neither do farmers. And veterans and farmers both support people.”

The Hudsons both served in the Air Force and the Army Guard. David Hudson remained active with the Air Force Reserve and then the Alaska Army National Guard before retiring in 2012. The couple established their farm in 2009.

Meyer went from self-proclaimed “Virginia Beach surfer boy” to a member of the U.S. Coast Guard before he began his farming operation two years ago. He is currently growing organic vegetables inside a re-purposed chicken house.

The Hudsons had a single goat in 2010 but now have about 80 Boer,

• • HBH • •

VETERAN PROGRAM INCLUDES LABELS AND SIGNAGE TO SELL FARM PRODUCTS

HUDSON HERITAGE FARM sites.google.com/site/hudsonheritagefarms VIRGINIA VEGETABLE COMPANY vafarmer.com

“I think if people see the label and know that they’re supporting veteran farmers, they will be inclined to buy that product,” said Homegrown by Heroes participant Paul Meyer.

Myotonic and Spanish goats, 20 Large Black and Tamworth hogs, Highland cattle, Jersey milk cows and 70 Dorset horned sheep. They also teach classes on how to make butter, cheese and pasta; how to break down a side of beef; and how to can foods, among other traditional food practices.

The couple recently purchased an old country store in the town of Elmo

that was a boys’ academy in 1790.

They are converting it to a farmstead brewery and tasting room called Ruminant Brewery, and they plan to make it a community gathering place and serve farm-to-table dinners.

Meyer also is planning to expand his operation to include farm-to-table dinners. He’s currently building a deck and pergola overlooking a koi pond.

Homegrown by Heroes is a program of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, which was formed in 2007 to promote veteran farmers in every sector of the farming industry.

By 2013, the FVC had entered into agreements with the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Farm Credit Council and the National Farmers Union. That same year the Kentucky Department of Agriculture launched the HBH campaign to give that state’s farmer veterans recognition in the marketplace for their military service.

On Veterans Day 2013, the FVC was given the license to promote and certify HBH in all 50 states.

The Farm Credit Council gave the coalition $250,000 to launch the campaign. Participating farmers receive an HBH sign and product labels.

Find out more at

farmvetco.org/ homegrown-by-heroes.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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County Farm Bureaus ready to help clients with individual health insurance plans

Open enrollment for 2016 marketplace Open enrollment for the 2016 marketplace began Nov. 1 and will run through Jan. 31, 2016.

If you don’t enroll in a 2016 plan

by Jan. 31, 2016, you can’t enroll in a health insurance plan unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. Special enrollment periods include job changes or retirement; turning 26 and no longer being included on a parent’s policy; and the birth of a child.

When the Affordable Care Act went into effect, county Farm Bureaus saw an influx of business—and health insurance questions.

BY SARA OWENS

Purchasing a health insurance plan can be confusing.

To help make the process easier, each county Farm Bureau office in Virginia employs a health insurance specialist to help consumers assess their health insurance options—whether they’re purchasing on the federal healthcare exchange during open enrollment or purchasing Medicare or Part D supplements.

In each county Farm Bureau office, health insurance products are sold through member service specialists or county administrative assistants.

Each MSS and CAA who sells health insurance is required to hold a property and casualty insurance license and life and health insurance license, acquire 24 continuing education credits every two years and hold certifications from America’s Health Insurance Plans and Wellpoint by Anthem.

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into effect, county Farm Bureaus saw an influx of business that surges with each open enrollment period.

“The majority of my clients are really confused with all the information that is out there, whether it is for ACA plans or Medicare supplements or Part D coverage,” said Rina Van Vactor, a CAA for Chesapeake Farm Bureau.

She said her Medicare clients receive an overwhelming amount of health insurance-related mail when they turn 65, and some have found searching for a plan on healthcare.gov confusing.

“I help all of my clients understand the terminology and know their

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Important dates for 2016 enrollment: Nov. 1, 2015 – open enrollment starts Jan. 1, 2016 – first date 2016 coverage can start Jan. 31, 2016 – open enrollment ends

options,” Van Vactor said. “When you look on healthcare.gov, there are a lot of charts with plans, and sometimes clients are not sure what they’re getting, so I help them do the legwork.”

Amber Justice, a CAA at Orange County Farm Bureau, said she fields a variety of questions when reviewing ACA plans with clients. Many are routine, such as “Why do I have to have insurance?” “What is the fine or penalty (for being uninsured)?” and “What exactly is considered ‘routine’?”

Justice said a couple of clients— including a man in his 50s—have asked her why they need maternity coverage.

“When you look on healthcare.gov,

Multiple types of personal, group policies available through Farm Bureau

there are a lot of charts with plans, and sometimes clients are not sure

Virginia Farm Bureau sells individual health insurance products for members and their families, as well as products for small businesses and Medicare Part D coverage through Anthem.

what they’re getting, so I help them do the legwork.”

—RINA VAN VACTOR, county administrative assistant, Chesapeake Farm Bureau

Individual policies are available through: • Anthem

“People have a lot of questions, and we’re here to help them understand the answers,” she said.

Nikki Wilson, senior MSS in Franklin County Farm Bureau’s Rocky Mount office, has sold health insurance for 16 years.

“There is much more follow-up and customer service” today, Wilson said.

VAN VACTOR

“Prior to ACA, we rarely heard from our health clients. Now we constantly hear from them.”

Wilson said she enjoys helping all of her clients understand their policies, especially her Medicare clients. “When

they come into my office, they’re often confused, stressed and nervous about going onto Medicare. It gives me such pride and joy watching (clients) leave my office with an understanding of the products and with less worry—just peace of mind.”

Mark Khatib, executive vice president of Virginia Farm Bureau’s healthcare operations, said the health insurance markets became considerably more complicated with passage of ACA. “Our valued members and customers relied on and turned to our MSS and CAA teams for much-needed assistance, and they did a great job under very difficult circumstances,” he said. “Our team worked diligently to learn large amounts of information and gained the ability to explain complicated rules and regulations so our members could make informed decisions. We take great pride in our work and will continue to learn, grow and adapt to an ever-changing industry.”

• Aetna • CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield • Humana • Innovation Health • Optima Health • United Healthcare Group policies are available through: • Anthem • Aetna • Cigna • CareFirst • Kaiser Permanente • Optima Health • United Healthcare Call your county Farm Bureau office with health insurance-related questions.

Not all carriers are available in every county.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Members have access to competitively priced tires—of all sizes

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BY KATHY DIXON

arm Bureau members from all walks of life have lots to choose from inside the organization’s 153,000-square-foot warehouse in Henrico County.

The warehouse holds an extensive line of auto, truck, farm and other tires, as well a complement of batteries and oil and grease products. There are also goods of specific interest to farmers—baler twine, plow parts and other important parts that keep farm equipment running.

Earlier this year, Virginia Farm Bureau marked the 50th anniversary of its products division, which is one of just three in the country.

“We’re proud to say we’ve survived for 50 years,” said Ron Diamond, vice president of VFBF products and administrative services.

Even after 50 years of operation, “a lot of people don’t realize Farm Bureau sells products,” said warehouse manager J.B. Atkinson.

“I get calls from people who look at their membership card and see that we sell tires and other products, and they say they had no idea we sold those things.”

But sell, they do. Annual sales are close to $6 million. Tractor and farm equipment tires make up the bulk of the sales, Diamond Many members “don’t realize Farm Bureau sells products,” said warehouse manager J.B. Atkinson. said, but nonfarmers take advantage of the savings on car and light truck tires as well.

Farm Bureau members can get significant savings on all manner of tires—auto, truck, equipment, tractor, lawn and garden, all-terrain vehicle—“pretty much any type of tire you want, we either have or can get,” Atkinson said. Last year they sold 5,000 tractor tires and 10,000 auto and truck tires.

Virginia Farm Bureau sells to about 350 dealers in Virginia, Maryland and the northern half of North Carolina. A majority of the dealers—around 300—are in Virginia.

The dealers sell the products at retail outlets. One family-owned dealer in Louisa County, Besley Implements, has been selling Farm Bureau products for the entire 50 years.

Pennsylvania and South Carolina Farm Bureaus also sell tires and batteries to dealers in their respective states.

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“Pretty much any tire you want, we either have or can get,” Atkinson said.

Farm Bureau products are just a phone call away To locate your nearest Farm Bureau products dealer, call your county Farm Bureau office, or call the warehouse directly at 800-476-8473.

You can check product pricing on Farm Bureau’s website at VaFarmBureau. org/MemberPrograms/ MemberBenefits/ ProductsandEquipment.aspx.

Most Farm Bureau members prefer to purchase and pick up products from their local dealers, but some members in Central Virginia choose to pick up tires, batteries and parts directly from the warehouse in Sandston.

Virginia’s Harvest treats make tasty gifts If you need a holiday gift for someone with a discerning palate, consider treating them to the rich flavors of fine Virginia foods.

Farm Bureau members can share tasty, traditional Virginia foods with the Virginia’s Harvest gift collection, available exclusively from the organization’s products division. Choose from country ham or gourmet peanuts—roasted and salted or unsalted, butter-toasted or chocolate-dipped—and peanut brittle.

Additional products include salted jumbo cashews, butter-toasted pecans and an energy mix of almonds, cashews and raisins.

And for your next tailgate party or oyster roast, there are 2-pound bags of

salted peanuts in the shell.

Virginia’s Harvest items can be viewed and ordered at county Farm Bureau offices. For an additional charge, they can be shipped via United Parcel Service with a personalized gift card.

Call or visit your county Farm Bureau today, or call the Virginia Farm Bureau Products Division at 800-476-8473 for more information or to order by phone.

You can access the Virginia’s Harvest product brochure at VaFarmBureau.org/ Portals/Fed/documents/ harvest_brochure.pdf.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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As a Farm Bureau member, you’re a ‘Friend of the Farm’ Farm Bureau members in Virginia have a new way to show their pride.

“Friend of the Farm” decals are turning up on windows and vehicles statewide —a reminder of how Virginia Farm Bureau has, for 90 years, upheld a promise to advocate for agriculture and preserve the things that make Virginia special.

A little over a year ago, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. set out to better share Farm Bureau’s values and purpose with current and potential customers. That work has resulted in a new look for the VFBMIC website, and a pilot advertising campaign was launched earlier this fall, with a television spot and radio and digital ads in the Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and Roanoke areas.

The ads note that when members and prospective members purchase insurance from Farm Bureau they are supporting agriculture, thereby preserving the Virginia way of life.

Farm Bureau Insurance also has begun publishing a series of informative e-books, including An Insider’s Guide to Auto Insurance in Virginia, An Insider’s Guide to Life Insurance in Virginia and An Insider’s Guide to Virginia Winter Safety.

For more information, contact your Farm Bureau agent or your county Farm Bureau office today.

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Insurance issues to consider when purchasing a new vehicle When purchasing that shiny new vehicle, it’s important to make sure you have the proper insurance coverage to protect it—and yourself.

Most insurance contracts provide some limited coverage for newly acquired property, explained Nancy Wilson, underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “The limitations can be in terms of time frame for notifying your insurance company of the purchase, a dollar limitation on coverage, or both,” she said.

For automobile insurance, the insurance company needs to be notified within 30 days of purchasing a vehicle.

“This is important for two reasons,” Wilson said. “For one, you want to ensure you have coverage in the event of an accident. And two, you want to make sure you do not receive a fine from the Department of Motor Vehicles, because insurance is required for all registered or licensed vehicles.”

All-terrain or utility vehicles and golf carts can be insured under an

auto, homeowner or farmowner policy, depending on how they will be used, Wilson said. “There isn’t a simple answer, so it’s best to call your agent.”

The most important takeaway, Wilson said, is not to rely on automobile or equipment dealers to notify your insurance company of your new purchase.

“For your protection and privacy, we can only make changes to a policy at the request of the named insured or their legally authorized representative,” Wilson said.

“Additionally, a dealer may forget to notify your insurance company.

“Always call yourself. Do not reply on a third party when it comes to protecting your most valuable assets.”

GOT QUESTIONS? Your Farm Bureau insurance agent can address concerns about insuring new— or any—vehicles. Call your county Farm Bureau office today.

Don’t rely on a dealership to notify your insurance company when you buy a vehicle.

Watch for deer, and cut your risk of a collision

Virginia drivers’ odds of a collision with a deer are 1 in 97, compared to the national odds of 1 in 169.

Those odds are more in Virginia drivers’ favor than in 2013, when they were 1 in 88.

The white-tailed deer migration and mating season runs from October through December, causing a dramatic increase in movement among Virginia’s deer population and resulting in more collisions on roadways.

Virginia is ranked 10th nationwide for deer collisions. In 2014, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. received 2,415 claims related to collisions with deer out of 101,167 personal, commercial and fleet auto policies. That marks a decrease from 2013, when the company received 2,971 claims related to collisions with deer.

The 2014 claims led to more than $6.36 million in losses, with an average loss of $2,636 per claim.

Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk Drivers should travel slowly and be aware of their surroundings. Deer are most likely to be seen at dusk and dawn near tree-lined roadways or areas that transition from open fields to forest or water. Like other wild animals, they often exhibit unpredictable behaviors when on or near roads.

Always slow down if you see a deer run across the road in front of you; it’s likely

If you see a deer run across the road, there are likely to be more nearby.

there is at least one more behind it.

Deer crossing signs are posted to warn drivers that certain stretches of road are commonly populated with deer.

When driving after dark, use high-beam

headlights to increase your range of vision.

If you see a deer on or near the road, slow down immediately and do not swerve.

Brake firmly, but keep the vehicle headed in a straight line.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Harvests require heavy equipment, hand work and hustle ACROSS THE STATE, varied crop harvests began in late summer and continued into the cooler weeks of fall. Some required heavy equipment, while others called for hand work. All required attention to weather conditions, and conversations with farmers about their harvest seasons all came down to a shared truth: When it’s time, it’s time.

Apple harvest ‘just a very busy time of year’

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BY SARA OWENS

ickie Brothers Orchard in Nelson County grows 100 acres of apples and 16 different varieties.

Owner Tommy Bruguiere said they begin harvesting apples in mid-August when the Galas are ready to be picked.

“We don’t quit harvesting until the first week of November when the Pink Lady apples are ripe,” he said. “We’re harvesting every day during that time period.

We also grow peaches and harvest those in July, along with nectarines and plums, so we stay busy.”

Dickie Brothers utilizes the federal H-2A temporary agricultural worker program to harvest their apples. The program allows U.S. employers or U.S. agents who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs.

“It’s a program that has worked well for us and allows us a guaranteed workforce for harvest season,” Bruguiere said.

Each and every apple on the farm is hand-picked. The apple pickers usually work an eight-hour day with an hour off for lunch. “Sometimes if it’s very busy, we work on the weekends—usually on Saturdays only—because it’s just a very busy time of year,” Bruguiere said.

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Virginia’s apple harvest begins before summer is over and runs into November.

Once the apples are picked, they are put into cold storage, which will keep them fresh for several months. All of the apples are washed and brushed before they are sold to the public, Bruguiere said. “They’re all clean with nothing on them and no blemishes.”

Multiple markets Dickie Brothers sells fruit to a wholesaler in North Carolina and to Cavalier Produce and the Local Food Hub in Charlottesville. Those locally marketed

Fruit at Dickie Brothers Orchard in Nelson County is picked by hand; the farm has trees on 100 acres.

products typically go to area schools and restaurants. Churches also buy apples for fall fundraisers. One church in Suffolk sells six varieties of Dickie Brothers apples at the end of October— usually 1,000 bushels.

Dickie Brothers also opens a pickyour-own operation during harvest season.

Bruguiere said Fuji apples are the most popular among pick-your-own customers. “They are ready to be harvested in mid-October, so for a twoweek span we have a lot of people come to pick them.”

There is a retail store on the farm that sells apples, as well as cider, apple butter and jams and jellies made with Dickie Brothers fruit.

Bruguiere’s brother, John, and his wife operate Blue Ridge Fruit Company, a wayside stand off state Route 151 in Nelson County. “It’s another opportunity for people to buy our apples,” Tommy Bruguiere said. “It’s a small stand, and we’re just hoping to catch people who travel on Route 151 since our farm is a little far away for some people.”

Still work to do in off-season What do the brothers do during the winter months? They prune trees and repair apple bins, and they always have cattle to feed, Bruguiere said. In early March they plant trees and replace those that aren’t doing well.

“There’s always something to do,” Bruguiere said. “It’s a slower time, but there’s still work to be done.”

PHOTOS BY PAM WILEY

Virginia apple production ranked sixth nationwide

Virginia’s commercial orchards yielded about 4.6 million bushels of apples last year, and the state is ranked sixth nationwide for apple production.

About 60 percent of Virginia apples are grown for processing into products like apple juice, and 40 percent are grown for the fresh fruit market.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Harvests Pumpkin operation gets pumped up after Labor Day

Brann & King Pumpkin Farm supplies 25 Walmart stores in Virginia with 300 to 1,000 pumpkins each fall.

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BY KATHY DIXON

etween Labor Day and Halloween, Joan Wolf cuts the stems off 50,000 to 70,000 pumpkins in Montgomery County. During that same time, members of the Alpha Gamma Rho agricultural fraternity at Virginia Tech help load the pumpkins on trucks for delivery to 25 Walmart stores within a 100mile radius.

Partners Dan Brann and Chuck King have grown pumpkins commercially since 1999. For the past 10 years, the pumpkins have been grown on Windy Hills Farm in Montgomery, owned by Bill and Darin Grear.

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Supplying the pumpkins for— and hauling them to—25 stores from Wytheville to Lynchburg and Martinsville to Covington “is about all we can handle,” Brann said. “However, we are very pleased to have one of our Brann & King Pumpkin Farm banners over displays of 300 to 1,000 pumpkins at the stores. Walmart managers have been very supportive of our locally produced and delivered product.”

Brann has been growing pumpkins for sale on a limited basis for 35 years. When a Walmart opened in Christiansburg about 20 years ago, he began soliciting their business. When King joined the operation in 1999, he

and Brann began to expand their production. They currently grow pumpkins on about 30 acres.

Harvest work hours are long During the harvest season, “there’s something to do every day—usually for 12 to 14 hours,” Brann said.

King added that many days “I don’t eat supper until 9 p.m., but we do what it takes to make it work. It’s a whole lot to get done in six weeks, but we manage,” he said with a chuckle.

In addition to Wolf, two full-time employees help transport and unload the pumpkins in September and October. The rest of the year it’s just

PHOTOS BY KATHY DIXON

Employee Joan Wolf cuts between 50,000 and 70,000 pumpkin stems each harvest season.

Harvesting 30 acres of pumpkins is “a whole lot to get done in six weeks,” said grower Chuck King (right), “but we manage.”

Brann and King.

“We relax from November through March,” Brann said. The two plant wheat after the pumpkin harvest, in late October to early November, and then harvest that crop in June and July.

They sell the wheat to Mennel Milling Co. flour mill in Roanoke. Last year they grew barley for the first time and sold it to a Virginia whiskey distiller and a malt house in North Carolina.

Farm supports local economy The partners like to have as much of a local footprint as possible. Wolf started working on the farm 20 years ago and brought her children along to

teach them the value of hard work, she said. Once they left for college, “they stopped, and I just kept on working.”

Wolf finishes cutting the pumpkins around the middle of October. “She’s real tired and happy when she finishes,” Brann said. As she cuts the pumpkin stems, groups of Alpha Gamma Rho members work a couple hours at a time picking up pumpkins out of the field and loading them into trailers. Brothers who live in the Alpha Gamma Rho house are required to work 15 hours on the farm, and the fraternity receives a donation from Brann and King.

They sell the last of the pumpkins by Oct. 28.

“After Oct. 31, they’re a liability,” Brann explained. The partners grow some pie pumpkins and ornamental pumpkins that they sell to fall festivals in Southwest Virginia and eastern North Carolina, but the majority of the pumpkins they grow are for carving into jack-o’-lanterns.

Pumpkins sold as specialty crop in Virginia Pumpkins are an important specialty crop in Virginia, with more than 2,000 acres grown and harvested annually.

Pumpkin farms range from a single acre to several hundred.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Harvests ‘It’s all hands on deck’ during wine grape harvest

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making red wine,” Parker said. “The skin is what gives the red wine its color.”

Consequently, the skins of red grapes are included in fermentation, whereas skins from white grapes are not.

The yeast of choice is added to the grape juice, and the juice goes into primary fermentation to become wine.

Parker selects specific yeasts for fermentation based on what he wants to achieve in the wine.

Red wine is aged about a year. White wines are bottled in the winter or early spring.

“Processing grapes is complex and technical, but it is a lot of fun,” Parker said. “There’s so much involved, from agriculture to soil chemistry to microbiology—it’s really a fun product.”

BY SARA OWENS

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Planting grapes ‘when the jury was still out’

Red wine grapes at Willowcroft Farm in Loudoun County are processed in a crusher/ stemmer machine and fermented with their skins. Owner and winemaker Lew Parker said processing his harvest is “complex and technical” but also enjoyable.

Lew Parker was living in the Washington suburbs, when his two young daughters joined 4-H and wanted to start raising animals. So he bought a 30-acre farm in Loudoun County.

He planted the first grapes on Willowcroft Farm in 1981 and began making wine in 1984. He started with four varieties of grapes and today grows 13.

“When I started planting grapes the USDA did not acknowledge that grapes were a good crop for Virginia,” Parker said. “I was planting grapes when the jury was still out.”

Willowcroft wines have won more than 300 awards, including multiple national medals, Best of Show at the State Fair of Virginia and the Jefferson Cup. To be labeled a “Virginia wine” the wine must contain at least 75 percent Virginia fruit. Virginia currently ranks fifth nationwide for number of wineries, with more than 255, and for wine grape production.

PHOTOS BY PAM WILEY

n a particularly busy morning in the middle of wine grape harvest season, Lew Parker, owner and winemaker at Willowcoft Farm in Loudoun County, was anticipating a grape harvest of 6,000 to 7,000 pounds of grapes.

“There’s no question that it’s the busiest time of year,” Parker said. “It’s all hands on deck. When the grapes are ready, we have to schedule available harvesters and keep one eye over our shoulder for rain.”

Rain absorbed through grapevines can cause sugar levels in ripe grapes to decrease. “Grapes don’t like the rain.

It tends to give the wine a less intense character,” Parker explained.

The grapes are harvested once they pass field sample tests of pH, sugar and acidity levels.

“If all three things line up, we try to harvest as quickly as possible,” Parker said. That can mean 12-hour days.

Parker said he uses a crew to handpick the grapes, including a group of volunteers.

“All harvesting is done by hand,” he said, explaining that the harvester “is the last quality control for the vineyard.

The harvester can see if a grape is rotten or not quite ripe. If you use a machine, you harvest all of the grapes, even the rotten ones. Machinery used to harvest grapes also is quite expensive.”

This year Willowcroft’s grape harvest began Aug. 23, and the last variety was harvested in mid-to-late October.

Grapes were harvested for 20 days during that time period, and in between harvesting the fruit was processed to make wine.

Harvested grapes are cooled overnight. They next day they are put into a crusher/stemmer machine.

“Everything but the stem goes into

Willowcroft general manager Dean Triplett oversaw processing of red wine grapes in the crusher/stemmer equipment. The crushed grapes and juice were collected in a bin below the machine.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Two students win Rural Health Essay Scholarship Contest They’ll pursue careers in physical therapy, osteopathic medicine

BY VERONICA ROBERTSON

Marjorie Grumbine of Botetourt County and Ian Edward Vest of Floyd County will receive $1,000 each for their winning entries in the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation 2015 Rural Health Essay Scholarship Contest.

Second place winners Amanda Miller Akers of Rockingham County and Courtney Wade of Amelia County will receive $500 each.

The contest was sponsored by the VFBF Rural Health Advisory Committee and funded by the Farm Bureau Health Care Consultants Department to help benefit young people’s career interests in rural health care. High school and college students from Farm Bureau member families submitted essays on “My Future Career in Rural Health in Virginia.”

Grumbine, daughter of Randall and Catherine Grumbine of

Fincastle, attends Virginia Commonwealth University and studies exercise science with plans to continue her education at VCU’s School of Physical Therapy.

After college, she noted, “I feel like working in rural Virginia would allow me to connect well with my patients by sharing the same culture, past experiences, and background.”

Vest, son of Daniel B. and Kirsten M. Vest of Check, attends Floyd County High School. He plans to attend Bridgewater College and study biology in the school’s pre-medicine program and eventually enroll in Campbell University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine.

“After residency and establishing myself,” he wrote, “I plan to move back to Floyd, Virginia, and open my own family practice.”

Call your county Farm Bureau for help understanding the new health care laws.

HealthMarketPlaceVA.com 18

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Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

For Your Benefit

Many county Farm Bureaus award local scholarships

BY VERONICA ROBERTSON

Each year students across Virginia pursue goals in higher education with the help of county Farm Bureaus and other Virginia Farm Bureau Federation affiliates.

Farm Bureaus in 64 counties collectively awarded more than $171,000 in scholarship money in 2014.

“This is one way that county Farm Bureaus invest—literally—in their communities and in the future of agriculture and other key industries,” said VFBF President Wayne F. Pryor.

The importance of education, especially in the agricultural sector, “is such an integral part of Farm Bureau that we want to support it as much as possible,” said Leigh Pemberton, president of Hanover County Farm Bureau and a member of the VFBF board of directors. “We also use the scholarships as a marketing tool for memberships.”

Hanover Farm Bureau awarded $12,000 in scholarship funds last year.

An annual process Bruce Stanger, president of Montgomery County Farm Bureau, said that organization sends scholarship applications to local high schools each spring. Completed applications are reviewed by the county Farm Bureau scholarship committee, “and after making a decision the committee presents its top choices to the county board for final approval,” Stanger said.

Montgomery Farm Bureau awarded $4,000 in scholarships last year.

Other county Farm Bureaus use a similar process; some place emphasis on supporting students who plan agriculture-related fields of study.

Chesterfield Farm Bureau uses membership and community involvement as criteria for its scholarships. Students from member families submit essays on “How I Can Serve My Community” with their applications for the Mrs. Mary Stratton Scholarship. In 2014, the

county Farm Bureau awarded $4,000 in scholarships.

“I believe it’s important to help these young people pursue higher education and to remember the importance of giving back to your community,” said Lucy Clark-Nester, who chairs the Chesterfield Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.

In addition to county Farm Bureau scholarships, the VFBF Rural Health Advisory Committee sponsors the annual Rural Health Essay Scholarship Contest for youth who want to pursue health-related careers in rural Virginia.

The contest awards up to $3,000 and is

funded by the Farm Bureau Health Care Consultants Department.

State Fair scholarships The State Fair of Virginia also encourages students to pursue higher education and in 2014 awarded nearly $60,000 in scholarship money. The fair awards scholarship funds to winners in 4-H, FFA and vocational competitions and specific equine, fine arts and horticulture competitions.

Participants in the Miss State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Program, an affiliate of the Miss Virginia program, compete for scholarship funds as well.

County Farm Bureaus that awarded scholarships in 2014 • Albemarle County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Amelia County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Amherst County Farm Bureau, $6,500 • Appomattox County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Augusta County Farm Bureau, $2,444.70 • Bedford County Farm Bureau, $6,900 • Botetourt County Farm Bureau, $3,000 • Brunswick County Farm Bureau, $500 • Caroline County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Carroll County Farm Bureau, $3,000 •C harles City-James City-New Kent-York Farm Bureau, $13,670 • Chesterfield Farm Bureau, $4,000 • Craig County Farm Bureau, $500 •C ulpeper County Farm Bureau Federation, $1,000 • Cumberland County Farm Bureau, $2,000 • Dinwiddie County Farm Bureau, $1,500 • Essex County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Fauquier County Farm Bureau, $6,250 • Floyd County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Fluvanna County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Franklin County Farm Bureau, $4,000 • Frederick/Clarke County Farm Bureau, $2,000 • Giles County Farm Bureau, $400 • Gloucester-Mathews Farm Bureau, $5,000 • Goochland County Farm Bureau, $4,500 • Grayson County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Greene County Farm Bureau, $3,000 • Halifax Farm Bureau, $2,000 • Hanover County Farm Bureau, $12,000 • Henrico Farm Bureau, $8,250 • Henry County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Highland-Bath County Farm Bureau, $500

• Isle of Wight County Farm Bureau, $750 • King and Queen County Farm Bureau, $1,500 • King George Farm Bureau, $500 • King William County Farm Bureau, $3,500 • Lee County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Loudoun County Farm Bureau, $3,000 • Madison County Farm Bureau, $3,000 • Mecklenburg County Farm Bureau, $500 • Middlesex County Farm Bureau, $3,500 • Montgomery County Farm Bureau, $4,000 • Nelson County Farm Bureau, $2,000 • Northumberland-Lancaster County Farm Bureau, $1,250 • Orange County Farm Bureau, $750 • Page County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Patrick County Farm Bureau, $500 • Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Powhatan County Farm Bureau, $1,500 • Prince William-Fairfax Farm Bureau, $500 • Pulaski County Farm Bureau, $1,500 • Richmond County Farm Bureau, $4,000 • Roanoke County Farm Bureau, $6,500 • Rockbridge County Farm Bureau, $6,250 • Rockingham Farm Bureau Association, $3,500 • Russell County Farm Bureau, $665 • Scott County Farm Bureau, $3,000 • Smyth County Farm Bureau, $2,500 • Spotsylvania Farm Bureau, $2,000 • Stafford County Farm Bureau, $4,000 • Surry County Farm Bureau, $1,000 • Tazewell County Farm Bureau, $4,000 • Washington County Farm Bureau, $300 • Wise-Dickenson County Farm Bureau, $325

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Need a gift for your favorite gardener?

Make your favorite gardener’s holidays a little brighter this year with presents that will come in handy this spring or can be enjoyed indoors during the winter months.

Cultivate asked members of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Ornamental Horticulture Advisory Committee about their favorite gift ideas for gardeners.

Special plants, quality tools André Viette of Viette Nurseries in Augusta County recommended going to a full-service garden center to pick out something special to plant in the spring.

“People remember a special tree or shrub that you give them,” he said.

He also recommended a nice set of shears, noting that A.M. Leonard’s, Bahco or Felco shears will last a long time and make good, clean cuts.

Gardeners appreciate high-quality tools, Viette said, and sometimes giftgivers have a hard time discerning wellcrafted items. “European, imported tools from England or France are better, though they are more expensive,” he said.

Steer clear of stamped metal tools, he added. Forged tools are better, but steel is the best quality.

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Potted bulbs like an amaryllis or paperwhites (background) bring color and cheer to the gardener who’s stuck indoors for the winter.

A quality trowel set would make a nice gift, he said, or “go for an English, stainless steel shovel or spade.”

He also recommend buying a large cement container that can be used for outdoor or indoor plants and flowers.

Indoor cheer—to plant outdoors later Becky Heath of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs in Gloucester County said many people buy trowels, gloves and gardening books as gifts for gardeners. Other gifts include items that gardeners can enjoy when they can’t work outdoors.

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs offers midwinter living flower arrangements in warm or cool colors on their website at brentandbeckysbulbs.com. The arrangements are filled with pre-cooled and rooted bulbs that will emerge and bloom indoors during the winter.

“Once the danger of hard freeze in the

spring is over, the bulbs can be transferred to the garden to bloom the following year,” Heath said.

She said paperwhites or an amaryllis also make great gifts of indoor cheer.

For the gardener who has everything and loves fresh flowers, consider gifting a monthly floral delivery. Several national companies offer the service, as does Brent and Becky’s Bulbs.

Want more gift ideas?

Charles House of Virginia-based WayCoolTools.com offers more gift ideas for gardeners on Virginia Farm Bureau’s YouTube Channel.

Visit YouTube.com/user/ VirginiaFarmBureau to watch the video on the “From the Ground Up” playlist today!

Make the holidays last longer— plant your Christmas tree!

You can enjoy your Christmas tree year-round when you buy it live and plant it in your garden or landscape.

Live Christmas trees are those with the root ball still attached to the tree.

Live Christmas trees that do well outdoors as well as indoors in Virginia are green spruce, blue spruce, concolor or white fir, white pine and Fraser fir, according to Augusta County horticulturalist and holiday décor enthusiast André Viette.

Taking good care of the tree while it is indoors helps ensure that it does well outdoors.

While displaying the tree in your home, it’s best to keep it in a large galva-

nized tub that doesn’t leak, Viette said.

“Line the tub with plastic to ensure extra protection from water leaking.

And make sure the tree isn’t near a radiator where heat will hit it.”

Too much water in the tub can cause the root ball to break.

After the holidays, plant directly in the ground. In colder Virginia climates, it’s best to pre-plan, Viette said. Dig a hole, and add amended soil. “Use compost, peat and Plant-tone (an organic plant food) where the tree will be planted,” he said. Then cover the hole with straw until ready to plant.

A sunny or bright and shaded location is best for planting a live Christmas

tree. Keep in mind that the tree has been inside where it is warm. There are tips for ensuring a smooth transition at Viette.com.

Live, fresh-cut trees are a renewable resource Live and fresh-cut Christmas trees are a crop, albeit a slowgrowing one.

It takes about seven years for a Christmas tree to reach market size, and growers replant after cutting or digging trees, starting the production cycle over again.

With some special care and planning, a live Christmas tree can become part of the home garden or landscape after the holidays.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Heart of the Home

Pork packs a powerful protein punch For many families, the holidays mean rushing around and figuring out what to fix for dinner.

“The other white meat” offers some healthy, easy options for meals.

The National Pork Board said consumers have returned to eating pork because of renewed interest in the role that protein plays in human diets and how meat can provide that protein.

According to a recent Purdue University study, researchers found that including

protein from lean pork in your diet can help you lose weight while maintaining more lean tissue, including muscle. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture says pork tenderloin contains the same amount of fat and slightly less calories than the same serving of skinless chicken breast.

The same analysis found there are six cuts of pork that are considered either extra-lean or lean by labeling standards.

Those include cuts from the loin like pork chops and pork roast, as well as pork

steaks or roasts from the leg.

The vast majority of U.S. pork is produced in the upper Midwest or Corn Belt states, but Virginia is ranked 20th nationwide for number of hogs raised in the state, according to a 2013 National Agricultural Statistics Service report.

The National Pork Board provided the following recipes for easy everyday cooking.

NATIONAL PORK BOARD

Perfect Day Pork and Black Bean Nachos

INGREDIENTS 12 ounces ground pork

4 scallions, sliced

1 teaspoon chili powder

½ cup sour cream

salt to taste

1 can of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, minced

8 cups unsalted tortilla chips 8 ounces Mexican four-cheese blend, shredded 15-ounce can black beans, drained

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½ cup salsa, plus more for serving

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°.

In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the pork, stirring and breaking it up into bite-sized pieces, until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat, add chili powder and salt to taste, then set aside.

Arrange ¼ of the chips on a large ovenproof platter or a 2- to 3-quart baking dish, then use a slotted spoon to arrange ¼ of the pork on top. Top with ¼ of cheese, ¼ of beans, and ¼ of the scallions. Repeat three times, making four layers. Bake until the cheese is melted and the nachos are heated through; about 30 minutes (If the top gets too brown, cover it loosely with foil).

While the nachos are baking, in a small bowl, combine sour cream and chipotle peppers. Add more chipotles to taste, and set aside.

Top the nachos with the sour cream mixture and salsa. Serve hot, with additional salsa on the side. Serves 6.

Heart of the Home

Is there a holiday ham in your future?

Virginia ham was among the first agricultural products exported from North America, according to a Virginia Cooperative Extension publication titled Dry Curing Virginia-Style Ham (pubs.ext. vt.edu/458/458-223/458-223.html).

More than three centuries later, Virginia ham is a desirable product in many parts of the world. But preparing a ham can still be a mystery to some.

The report offers the following tips: 1. W ash the ham with a stiff-bristled brush, removing as much of the mold and salt as possible.

2. Place the ham in a large container,

cover with cold water and allow it to stand 10 to 12 hours or overnight.

3. L ift the ham from the water, and place it skin-side-up in a deep kettle.

Cover with fresh, cold water. Cover the kettle, and heat to a boil but reduce the heat as soon as the water boils. Simmer 20-25 minutes per pound.

4. Lift the ham from the kettle, and remove the skin.

5. Heat the oven to 375째.

6. Sprinkle ham with brown sugar, and brown lightly in the oven.

Alternate method

1. Soak and scrub the ham 2. Preheat oven to 325째.

3. Place ham fat-side-up in a covered roaster. Pour 2" of water into the roaster, and place it in oven. Roast about 20-25 minutes per pound, basting frequently, until it reaches an internal temperature of 155째 as indicated on a meat thermometer placed in the thickest part of the ham.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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A Pie for All Seasons

Go nuts and make pies for the holidays Fresh fruit dessert options dwindle in the fall, but nuts pick up the slack Nothing is nuttier than a November without some sort of nut pie. After all, pie is one of the staples of a Thanksgiving dinner. And since November is past prime growing season for most of Virginia’s fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts are the perfect ingredient for pies.

The state is ranked eighth nationwide for acres of peanuts harvested, so there

are plenty to go around (You already knew that peanuts are really legumes, not nuts, so we don’t have to go there).

And if your holiday wouldn’t be complete without a pecan pie, there is no shortage of pecans grown elsewhere.

Here is a traditional peanut pie recipe from Feridies peanut shop in Southampton County:

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup dark corn syrup ¼ cup butter, melted ¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1½ cups chopped, roasted peanuts 9-inch unbaked deep-dish pastry shell

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Carol’s Pecan Pie INGREDIENTS

2 cups light corn syrup

Southern Peanut Pie

Fall is a great time to serve traditional peanut pie for dessert.

This pecan pie from Cooking Virginia Style with Farm Bureau Women was contributed by Carol Boyer of Shenandoah County.

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375°.

Beat eggs until they’re foamy. Add sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt and vanilla, and continue to beat until thoroughly blended. Stir in the peanuts.

Pour mixture into pastry shell. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

May be garnished with whipped topping or ice cream. Makes 6 servings.

2 cups granulated sugar 5 eggs 2 tablespoons butter 4 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon butter flavoring 2 cups chopped pecans 2 unbaked pie shells DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°.

Mix the corn syrup and sugar together.

Add the eggs, and beat until foamy. Add butter and flour. Mix well. Add vanilla and butter flavoring, and mix together.

Divide the pecans into the two unbaked pie shells. Pour the syrup mixture into the pie shells. Bake on a cookie sheet on the lower oven rack for about 45 minutes or until the pie is almost set in the center.

Few desserts say “Thanksgiving” quite like a pecan pie.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Stewards of the Land

Meet the Flory Family Hillside Farm, Pulaski County PHOTOS AND ARTICLE BY KATHY DIXON

The farm: Laura and Scott Flory farm with Scott’s parents, Dale and Janet Flory, who started the dairy herd in 1980. The dairy is located on land that Janet’s family has farmed for 200 years, and Scott is the eighth generation of his family to work that land. Today the Florys milk 200 cows and grow alfalfa, corn for silage, soybeans and wheat on about 800 acres.

The family: Laura and Scott both hold degrees in dairy science from Virginia Tech. They joined the family business after graduating in 2009.

Dale and Janet have been farming full time since 1979.

Community involvement: Laura and Scott are members of the Pulaski County Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee, and Laura serves as the committee’s chairman. They also are involved with the Dairy Farmers of America Young Cooperators program, and Laura serves on the New River Valley Fair board.

Stewardship practice: Rather than repair their former barns and milking parlor, the Flory family decided to double the size of their herd, build a new barn and refurbish their heifer and dry cow facilities. Planning started in 2012, and in 2013 they began construction of a free-stall barn with a robotic milking system that utilizes a closed-loop flush system, a new calving barn and the infrastructure they needed for the flushing system.

Inside the free-stall barn, the dairy cows lie on sand beds, and water is flushed through three alleyways on a rotating schedule. Each alley is flushed every four hours. The alleys carry water, waste and extra sand to underground channels that move everything downhill to a storage area.

The sand settles in a concrete lane, the solid waste is screened out and the remaining liquid is mixed with rainwater and used to re-flush the barn.

Any excess wastewater is stored in a lagoon pit for use as liquid fertilizer.

Wet sand is scooped out daily and left to dry before it’s re-used in the barn.

The Florys allow the manure to dry before fertilizing crop fields with it.

This system, which works with gravity, reduces the farm’s amount of needed machinery, provides a higher concentration of nutrients to the fields and keeps the animals and the barn clean. And because the sand is inorganic, it won’t grow bacteria as long as the waste is removed from it.

Biggest source of pride: “We are proud of how we’re taking care of our animals and also doing things that are better for the environment,” Laura Flory said. “We’re enjoying our dairy career more now than ever before.”

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Laura and Scott Flory of Pulaski County are proud of the modern dairy farm they operate with Scott’s parents, Dale and Janet Flory.

Stewards of the Land

When cows feel the urge to be milked (top photo) they walk into the robotic milking parlor stalls. A laser beam detects GPS coordinates of a cow’s teats (center left) before applying suction cups; transponders on the cows’ collars relay information to a computer system monitored by the farm owners (center right). Cows relax (bottom left) on sand that gets filtered to remove waste products; (bottom right) an employee spreads recycled sand in the free-stall barn.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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For Your Benefit

NEW MEMBER BENEFIT!

Farm Bureau, Caterpillar Inc. announce partnership A new agreement between Farm Bureau and Caterpillar Inc. entitles members to savings of up to $2,000 on qualifying new Cat machines from participating dealers: • small wheel loaders – $2,000

• compact track loaders – $500-$1,000 • multi terrain loaders – $500-$1,000 • skid steer loaders – $500-$1,000 • telehandlers – $500-$1,000 • mini hydraulic excavators – $250-$500

• compact wheel loaders – $1,000

Visit FBAdvantage.com/Deals/Cat to obtain a membership verification certificate to present to your dealer at the time

• small dozers – $1,000 • backhoe loaders – $500-$1,000

of purchase or lease quote. Your discount can be combined with any current retail discounts, promotions, rebates or offers available through Caterpillar or Cat dealers, with the exception of other membership purchase incentives. Discounts cannot be applied to past purchases.

Find a Cat dealer near you at cat.com.

Got an equipment wish list?

Save $500 on purchase or lease of selected GM vehicles

Case IH offers incentive discounts to members

Farm Bureau members in Virginia can receive a $500 incentive toward the purchase or lease of qualifying Chevrolet, GMC or Buick vehicles at participating dealerships.

The Farm Bureau GM $500 Vehicle Discount Program is available for members who are at least 18 and have been Farm Bureau members for at least 30 days. The offer can be combined with most other incentives.

To use this member benefit, visit FBAdvantage.com/Deals/GM to print out a Farm Bureau Membership Verification Certificate to take to your GM dealership. Members without Internet access can get assistance in acquiring a certificate from their county Farm Bureau offices.

The $500 incentive must be processed at the time of delivery; GM will not accept certificates on vehicles that already have been delivered.

See participating GM dealers for full details.

Farm Bureau members in Virginia are eligible for a manufacturer's incentive discount of $300 to $500 on qualifying Case IH products and equipment from participating dealerships. That includes $300 off purchase of the popular Case IH Scout utility vehicle.

Visit FBAdvantage/com/Deals/Case to obtain a membership verification certificate to present to your Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery. The discount is stackable, so it can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership. Find a dealership near you at caseih.com.

Get at least 10 percent off Grainger purchases; online orders ship free Farm Bureau members in Virginia can use the Farm Bureau Member Grainger Savings Discount to order supplies and products at savings of at least 10 percent plus free shipping on online orders shipped via ground transportation.

Millions of businesses and institutions worldwide rely on Grainger for products like safety gloves, ladders, motors and janitorial supplies. More than 4,500 key manufacturers supply Grainger with 1.4 million products.

Members nationwide who have shopped Grainger have saved an average of 26.65 percent off catalog prices*. Sameday shipping is available for the majority of in-stock items.

To receive your member savings, make your purchase using Virginia Farm Bureau’s unique account number, available from your county Farm Bureau. When shopping online, create an account with the “Register Now” link at grainger.com.

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After you create a user ID and password, you can view exclusive Farm Bureau pricing. Before you start shopping, click the “My Account” link, then the “Shipping Address” link to change the pre-filled address (Virginia Farm Bureau) to your personal shipping address.

To ensure your membership discount is applied, always reference the Virginia Farm Bureau account number when visiting a local Grainger store or ordering at 800-GRAINGER (800-472-4642).

If you need additional help, call Grainger’s special Farm Bureau Member Support line at 708-396-1900. *Average of actual discounts received by Farm Bureau members during the period of December 2012 to February 2013. Rates of discount are not guaranteed and may be different from those shown.

HAPPY HOLI-DEALS Get up to 30/40/50% Seasonal Savings with Member Deals Plus.

Questions? Visit VaFarmBureau.org, and click on the Member Deals Plus icon.

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 M10582 Nov-Dec VAFB Ad Vert.indd 1

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Marketplace

2016 magazine classified ad schedule and policies for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets.

Ads with more than 30 words and ads from nonmembers will not be accepted.

Use the form on Page 31 or the online form at VaFarmBureau.org/ marketplace to place your ad. No ads or cancellations will be taken by phone.

Ads will be accepted only from members whose membership is current.

Magazine classified ads can be placed in the following five categories only: • Crops; • Farm Equipment; • Hay/Straw;

Members of Virginia Farm Bureau are eligible to place one free 15-word classified ad per membership per year in Cultivate, which is mailed to associate members, or in Virginia Farm Bureau News, which is mailed to producer members.

Ads of 16 to 30 words must be accompanied by payment of $20.

Any additional ads placed by members in the same calendar year must be accompanied by payment of $10 for 15 words or fewer, or $20 for 16 to 30 words. Ads submitted without payment will be returned. We do not invoice

• Livestock; and • Livestock equipment.

Classified ads will be published in the following issues: • April Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only); • May Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); • August Cultivate (mailed to associate members only); and • September Virginia Farm Bureau News (mailed to producer members only).

Tender turkeys and historic hogs, on Real Virginia Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • The evolution of the Thanksgiving turkey • Reducing food waste helps feed everyone • A heritage breed of swine returns to an early Virginia settlement Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV. It airs weekly on WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, as well as on cable systems across the state.

It’s available online at VaFarmBureau.org.

Real Virginia

To view Real Virginia, visit VaFarmBureau.org.

Notice of Annual Meeting

Notice of Annual Meeting

Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company The annual meeting of policyholders of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company will be held at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, December 3, 2015, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, Norfolk, Virginia, for the following purposes: 1. To receive and act upon the reports of the officers of the Company.

2. To elect a Board of Directors, each to serve for the term of one year.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Dated this 1st day of October, 2015.

Jonathan S. Shouse, Secretary

Virginia Farm Bureau Marketing Association The annual meeting of members of the Virginia Farm Bureau Marketing Association will be held at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, December 3, 2015, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, Norfolk, Virginia, for the following purposes: 1. To receive and act upon the reports of the officers of the Association.

2. To elect a Board of Directors, each to serve for the term of one year.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Dated this 1st day of October, 2015.

Jonathan S. Shouse, Secretary

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Marketplace

How to place your classified ad STEP 1 Use the form below to provide contact information and the text for your ad.

• Ads will be accepted from Farm Bureau members only.

• Classified ads are not transferable.

• Please type or print.

• Classified ads will not be accepted or cancelled over the phone.

STEP 2 Indicate the issues in which you want your ad to run.

STEP 3

Select the category in which you want your ad to run (Pick one only).

STEP 4

Your first ad of 15 words or less is free with your membership.

Pricing for additional ads: 1–15 words $10/ad 16–30 words $20/ad Additional ads must be accompanied by a check (no cash) for each issue in which the ad is to appear.

• Make check payable to: Virginia Farm Bureau.

• Ads longer than 30 words will not be accepted.

• We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets.

• Ads submitted without payment will be returned.

STEP 5

Mail your ad (and payment) to: Virginia Farm Bureau News/Cultivate Classifieds P.O. Box 27552 Richmond, VA 23261-7552 Or place it via the Virginia Farm Bureau website at VaFarmBureau.org/.

Deadlines Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: ISSUE DEADLINE Mailed to producer members April March 4 September August 5

Mailed to associate members May April 5 August July 5

Important: We are not responsible for typographical errors or errors due to illegible handwriting (No refunds available). Classified ads carried in Cultivate and Virginia Farm Bureau News do not constitute an endorsement by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and its affiliated companies and organizations.

We reserve the right to edit or reject ads, including ads that represent a business in competition with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company or any of our affiliated or affinity partners. We reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement that makes reference to any particular political party or group, religious belief or denomination, race, creed, color or national origin.

Moving? If your address or phone number has changed—or is about to—don’t forget to contact your county Farm Bureau office to ensure that your membership and subscription information stays current!

One free 15-word ad per membership per year; dues must be paid before placing ad.

NAME:___________________________________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NO.:______________________________________________________________________________________ COUNTY:_________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY: __________________________________________

STATE:________________________

ZIP:______________

DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER: __________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS: ________________________ Ads will not be accepted without the information above

ADVERTISEMENT (one word per space; please type or print):

Category in which ad should run (select only one): q Crops q Farm Equipment q Hay/Straw q Livestock q Livestock Equipment No other categories available

1.________________________ 2.______________________ 3._________________________ 4.________________________ 5. _____________________________ 6._______________________ 7.______________________ 8._________________________ 9.________________________ 10.______________________________ ( ) 11._______________________ 12._____________________ 13.________________________ 14._______________________ 15. _____________________________ phone number

ISSUE IN WHICH AD SHOULD RUN:* q April (mailed to producer members) qM ay (mailed to associate members) q August (mailed to associate members) q S eptember (mailed to producer members)

q This is my one free 15-word ad for 2016 q Payment enclosed: $ _____________ q Please place my ad in The Delmarva Farmer for 4 weeks at no additional cost to me.

Your ad will automatically be included in the online VFB Marketplace for free (Ads expire with membership).

* Ad placement available for these issues only

VaFarmBureau.org / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

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Helping Virginia agriculture grow stronger each year Virginia agriculture and forestry are year-round industries—and Virginia Farm Bureau’s commitment to farmers is year-round as well.

In the past year your Farm Bureau membership has supported local educational and safety events and provided assistance for farmers developing new or more strategic business plans. Additionally, it has helped farmers engage in important dialogues with their communities and elected officials.

As a Farm Bureau Member, you’re a Friend of the Farm—a supporter of agriculture and the Virginia way of life. We hope you will encourage family and friends to become Friends of the Farm as well.

Because the work never completely stops. It just changes with the seasons.

VaFarmBureau.org