Cultivate SPRING 2019
Virginia Farm Bureau
Let it grow!
Cultivate Volume 12, Number 2 Spring 2019 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 $1.31 (included in membership dues).
24
Features 24
Spring is here: Let it grow!
Hanging baskets can be purchased from many sources. But you also can design your own!
10
Bedford farmer applies her knowledge in Africa
16
Joy Powers fell in love with Malawi while on a mission trip. Now she’s helping African farmers grow economic stability. Don’t wait! Prepare for severe storms now
You can’t stop a hurricane or tornado, but you can take steps to ensure your safety and lessen the risk of property damage.
“Be sure to group plants together depending on their needs and where you plan to hang your basket.” — MARK VIETTE, Viette’s Nursery, Augusta County
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 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 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 Assistant Editor Sara Owens Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Claire Mills Staff Writer/Advertising Coordinator VISIT US ONLINE vafb.com
Departments 3
Did You Know?
8
For Your Benefit
28
Heart of the Home
30
Marketplace
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 August. The magazine is published quarterly, and back issues can be viewed at issuu.com/virginiafarmbureau.
ON THE COVER Plant choices for hanging basket arrangements are abundant.
Did you know? Virginia strawberries typically are ready for picking at the end of April, and the season can last well into June. • Strawberries are members of the rose family, and they are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. • Ninety-four percent of U.S. households consume strawberries in some form, and Americans eat 4.85 pounds of fresh and frozen strawberries per capita each year. To find local strawberries and pick-yourown venues, visit virginiagrown.com.
Save the Date!
State Fair countdown TM
As of May 1, there are exactly 150 days until the 2019 State Fair of Virginia opens on Sept. 27.
Fair fact:
The 2018 State Fair drew more than 3,700 entries in livestock and equine events. If you can’t visit a farm, the State Fair brings the farm to you! See a host of livestock and equine exhibitors and competitions featuring beef and dairy cattle, goats, pigs, lambs and poultry. You also can watch dairy calf births and milking demonstrations, and try your hand at milking a dairy cow yourself. The iconic Young MacDonald’s Farm exhibit in Harvest Landing is a perennial kid favorite with its baby duck slide, chicken egg incubator and Goat Mountain. For fair details, visit StateFairVa.org.
Financing Country Living Since 1916 The Experts in Rural Finance Homes • Land • Construction • Livestock Barns • Outbuildings • Equipment
800-919-FARM (3276) 4
CULTIVATE
FarmCredit.com
Save the Date!
WATCH US! > VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU WEEKLY TV PROGRAM
This month on Real Virginia: Gambling on commercial hemp’s future, and boosting interest in beekeeping Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Virginia’s farmers are weighing the merits of growing commercial hemp. • A Powhatan County honey producer is working with youth to generate a beekeeping buzz. • Preliminary findings from the 2017 Census of Agriculture are out, offering the most recent snapshot of Virginia agriculture. See what’s happening on Powhatan farms as spring hits its stride. 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 WVPT Harrisonburg, WBRA Roanoke, WCVE Richmond, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk. Watch Real Virginia anytime online at vafb.com.
HURRICANES
15
Number of named storms in the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season; eight were hurricanes, and two of those were a category 3, 4 or 5. See Page 19 to learn storm preparation steps you can take now, in advance of the 2019 season’s start on June 1.
vafb.com / SPRING 2019
5
Farm Bureau supported production of safety video A new video created to help reduce traffic accidents involving slowmoving vehicles will be incorporated into driver education training across the commonwealth. The video was conceptualized and produced by Drive Smart Virginia with support from Virginia Farm Bureau and the Virginia Department of Transportation, and funded with a Department of Motor Vehicles safety grant. “We recognize the need to deliver traffic safety programs to rural Virginia and appreciate the Virginia Farm Bureau’s partnership in our efforts to reach those communities,” said Janet Brooking, Drive Smart Virginia’s executive director. “We
expect this video to reach thousands of Virginians.” Vanessa Wigand, coordinator for driver education for the Virginia Department of Education, added that “creating this instructional tool will help Virginia’s driver educators address essential skills needed to safely interact with slow-moving vehicles.” Farmer and Farm Bureau member Wallick Harding of Amelia County is featured in the video, recounting a 2018 tractor accident that came close to ending his life. Harding said moving equipment on public roads has become more dangerous for farmers. While slowmoving vehicle awareness is part of
Virginia’s Standards of Learning for driver education, he’s not convinced students are getting the message. “And everybody’s distracted and in a hurry.” The National Safety Council reports that approximately 15,000 farm vehicles are involved in highway crashes annually. Studies show that 90 percent of collisions between slow moving vehicles and motor vehicles occur on dry roads during daylight hours, and two-thirds are rear-end collisions. When a fatality occurs, the victim is usually the tractor operator. The video is accessible online at bit.ly/VA_smv_19, or search YouTube.com for “Drive Smart Virginia.”
Best-In-Class* Capability for Work or Play. The Ford F-150
makes tough tasks look easy, whether you’re working on the job or heading out on a weekend of recreation. F-150 outperforms every other truck in its class when hauling cargo in the bed or towing a trailer.**
500
Farm Bureau members receive
$
BONUS CASH ***
Don’t miss out on this offer. Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com today!
*Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs. GVWR based on Ford segmentation. **Max payload on F-150 XL Regular Cab, 8’ box, 5.0L V8 4x2, Heavy-Duty Payload Package and 18” heavy-duty wheels (not shown). Max towing on F-150 XL SuperCrew®, 6.5’ box, 3.5L EcoBoost® 4x2, and Max Trailer Tow Package (not shown). ***Farm Bureau Bonus Cash is exclusively for active Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. This incentive is not available on Shelby GT350®, Shelby® GT350R, Mustang BULLITT, Ford GT, Focus RS and F-150 Raptor. This offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase and take new retail delivery from dealer by January 2, 2020. Visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com or see your authorized Ford Dealer for qualifications and complete details.
6
CULTIVATE
COURTESY OF VIRGINIA CAPITOL FOUNDATION
This artist’s depiction represents the completed monument in Capitol Square.
Farm Bureau to honor ag entrepreneur in Va. Women’s Monument
V
irginia Farm Bureau Federation has made a significant donation to honor an agricultural entrepreneur in the Virginia Women’s Monument. Farm Bureau donated $100,000 to the Virginia Capitol Foundation in February to support installation of a statue of Laura Lu Scherer Copenhaver of Smyth County. About a fifth of the donation came from county Farm Bureaus. The monument, titled Voices from the Garden, is being installed in stages at Capitol Square in Richmond and is the first of its kind nationwide. It recognizes a wide range of women’s achievements with a dozen life-size bronze statues in a landscaped plaza. Copenhaver, who died in 1940 at age 72, was an early member of the Farm Bureau federation and served as its director of information. A proponent
of cooperative marketing strategies, she coordinated the production of textiles out of her home, Rosemont, and hired women to craft home goods such as coverlets and rugs using local wool. Rosemont’s textiles, which were sold through a mail-order catalog, attracted customers throughout the U.S. and in Asia, Europe and South America. After Copenhaver’s death, the business was incorporated as Laura Copenhaver Industries. It operated until 2012. Copenhaver carried on a family tradition of service to the Lutheran Church, and her advocacy inspired the Women’s Missionary Society of the United Lutheran Church in America to found the Konnarock Training School to provide elementary-level education for children in Smyth County who did not have access to other public schools. Other women to be honored with statues in the monument are
Jamestown colonist Anne Burras Laydon; Pamunkey chief Cockacoeske; frontierswoman Mary Draper Ingles; first lady Martha Washington; Colonial printer Clementina Rind; seamstress and author Elizabeth Keckly; Civil War hospital administrator Sally L. Tompkins; entrepreneur and civil rights leader Maggie L. Walker; physician Sarah G. Jones; educator Virginia E. Randolph; and suffragist and artist Adele Clark. Some, but not all, of the statues will be in place when the monument is dedicated in October. The names of Copenhaver’s mother and daughter are included on a glass wall at the monument that currently honors more than 230 Virginia women for their accomplishments. Information about the monument is available at womensmonumentcom. virginia.gov. vafb.com / SPRING 2019
7
For Your Benefit
Got vacation on your mind? Your membership can save you money on hotel stays
Save wherever you go, with Member Deals Plus®
Your Farm Bureau membership gives you access to two programs offering significant savings at thousands of hotels and resort condo rental properties. Reservations are required, and blackout dates may apply.
Virginia Farm Bureau’s exclusive Member Deals Plus® benefit uses the nation’s largest private discount network to save you money on meals, clothing, vehicle care, and other goods and services. It uses “show your phone” mobile deals that can be accessed anywhere and redeemed from a smartphone at the point of sale, or from a home computer. Members can enjoy Member Deals Plus savings at more than 100,000 locations nationwide.
Choice Hotels International The Choice Hotels International program offers a 20% discount off “best available rates” for Farm Bureau members at more than 5,000 locations. Choice is proud to help you find hotels that make it possible for you to connect with the people who matter most. To access this discount rate, call 800-258-2847 or visit choicehotels.com. Use the Virginia Farm Bureau identification number, available at vafb.com/benefits and from your county Farm Bureau, when making a reservation, and present your membership card when you check in.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Whether you’re looking for an upscale hotel, an all-inclusive resort or something more cost-effective, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has the right hotel for you! As a Virginia Farm Bureau member, you will save up to 20% off the Best Available Rate at over 8,000 participating hotels worldwide. Wyndham’s vast portfolio of hotels and resorts offer a variety of accommodations to meet your travel needs. Wherever people go, Wyndham will be there to welcome them. To take advantage of this discount rate, call 877-670-7088 or visit wyndhamhotels.com/farm-bureau. Use the Virginia Farm Bureau identification number, available at vafb.com/benefits and from your county Farm Bureau, when making a reservation, and present your membership card when you check in.
TripBeatSM If you’re planning a travel adventure, start at tripbeat.com/vafb. TripBeat makes it easy, convenient and affordable to search and book resort vacations by providing access to thousands of resort condo rental properties in the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and beyond. Once you register on the TripBeat website, you’ll find details on $399 Weekly Getaways—seven-night vacation rentals at only $57 per night. There is no limit on how many $399 Weekly Getaways Farm Bureau members in Virginia can book. Farm Bureau members also save 25 percent on Preferred Weekly and Short Stays. To book by phone, call 844-367-6433, and mention that you are a Virginia Farm Bureau member. SM
Destinations and travel times are subject to availability and confirmed on a first come, first served basis. Price includes only accommodations and specifically excludes travel costs and other expenses that may be incurred. Price does not include tax. References to nightly prices presumes completion of full duration of applicable stay. Promotional discounts may not apply to all resort condo rentals. Offer may not be combined with any other promotion, discount, or coupon. To book travel, you must register and create an account at TripBeat.com. Free Membership is based on eligibility. Other restrictions may apply. Offer void where prohibited by law. All prices are based in U.S. dollars (USD). Comparison prices are available at www.endlessvacationrentals.com. Comparison prices may be subject to periodic sales and other variations. TripBeatSM and related marks are registered trademarks and/or service marks in the United States and internationally. ©2017 Resort Rental, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
8
CULTIVATE
How to get started
To register as a Member Deals Plus user, visit vafb.com/benefits, and click the Member Deals Plus link near the top of the page. Then, on the Member Deals Plus website, 1. Click “Register” in the top right corner, and use your Farm Bureau membership number. 2. Once you’re registered, you can start saving immediately. Then, to save with a mobile device, 1. Download the “Member Deals Plus” app from the AppStore or Google Play. 2. Sign in with your email address and password you created on the website. For assistance, contact Member Deals Plus customer service at 888-275-9136. Member Deals plus and Member Deals Plus are registered trademarks of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
Sweepstakes winner will receive 2-year lease on a new Ford Farm Bureau members have until Sept. 30 to enter the Built Ford Proud Sweepstakes for a chance to win a two-year lease on a new Ford vehicle. To enter, visit FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com or text the word “SWEEPS” to 46786. Limit one entry per person or email address.
Virginia’s clam aquaculture activity mostly takes place on the Eastern Shore.
Seafood enthusiasts reap the rewards of clam aquaculture BY CLAIRE MILLS
For seafood lovers who dig clams, Virginia offers an abundance.
V
irginia is the nation’s third-largest seafood producer but leads in hard shell clam production. In 2017, Virginia shellfish farmers reported planting 307 million clams at a value of $37.5 million, according to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The VIMS report doesn’t focus on traditional clamming but on the industry’s extensive aquaculture. Clam aquaculture is practiced primarily in the salty waters around the Eastern Shore. Clams get their food by pumping water through their systems, constantly filtering the water as they eat.
Clam Facts • Clams are high in protein, potassium, iron and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, but low in fat and calories. • The flavor of clams reflects the area in which they are grown. • The size of hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria, determines their commercial grade: Chowders — 4–6 inches Cherrystones — 3–4 inches Top necks — 2½–3 inches Middle necks — 2–2½ inches Little necks — 1½–2 inches • Generally, the larger the clam, the chewier it is. Cherrystones are popular in clambakes and steamed. The smallest little necks are served raw, in sauces or steamed on the half shell.
Impossibly Easy Gourmet Clams Ingredients 3 tablespoons butter 2 cups, or 8 ounces, chopped leeks, white part only 40 small Virginia clams—about 4 pounds—rinsed and scrubbed under cold water 1 cup dry white wine ¼ cup chopped fresh tarragon OR 1½ tablespoons dried freshly ground black pepper to taste Directions Over medium heat, using a large, high-sided sauté pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add leeks, and cook for 3-4 minutes, until soft. Stir in clams and wine, cover and simmer for 4 minutes or until clams have opened. Stir in remaining butter, sprinkle with tarragon, season with pepper and serve immediately. Serves 4 The Virginia Marine Products Board, which shares this and other recipes at virginiaseafood.org, recommends serving the clams with crusty country bread.
Source: virginiaseafood.org
vafb.com / SPRING 2019
9
Bedford County farmer helps ‘Restore the Harvest’ BY SARA OWENS
Restore the Harvest works with families in Malawi, in southeastern Africa, to grow crops and help their community thrive
MALAWI
10
CULTIVATE
J
oy Powers fell in love with Malawi in 2014. “I travelled to the area during a mission trip and fell in love with the people there,” the 27-year-old Bedford County farmer said. When she returned to Virginia, Powers learned via email that the area she’d visited had been devastated by a flood. “Families had to watch their loved ones float away, children were clinging to trees at night. It was devastating,” she recalled. More than 250,000 people lost their homes, possessions and livelihoods, and 200 people died. “Even before the floods, the people already faced a malnourishment epidemic, and now they were quickly facing starvation.”
Powers, who grew up on her family’s beef cattle farm, decided she could help by applying her knowledge to rebuild agriculture businesses in Malawi, to “provide economic stability and hope.”
Restoring the harvest She established the nonprofit Restore the Harvest in 2017. “We are dedicated to not just feeding the hungry, but helping communities develop a long-term solution to escaping poverty,” she explained. “We try to assist the people of developing nations by providing tools for them to gain an education and develop leadership skills and opportunities in the agricultural industry.” Powers said there is a lot of agriculture inefficiency in Africa, as
Joy Powers said one goal of Restore the Harvest is to promote efficient use of land and livestock, ultimately benefitting whole communities.
well as in other parts of the world. “Particularly in southeast Africa we see a lot of land deprivation and livestock that isn’t being used to the full potential,” she explained. “We try to show the people who live there how to properly care for their animals and land.” One of the biggest problems in Malawi, Powers said, was that people burned their land every couple of years to clear it. “They had been planting the same crops for the past 75 years, in the same fields, which depleted all soil quality and nutrients.” The communities that Restore the Harvest works with are dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. “When you deplete agriculture in communities like this, you end up actually taking their food source
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOY POWERS
Powers (second from right in right photo below) and her brother, Josh (below), worked with Mtembe farmers earlier this year on strategies to improve a village’s goat herd.
away, and the money they’d use for education and health care.” Restore the Harvest partners with farmers around the world to provide those in need with handson agricultural aid and guidance. Powers said the organization looks for individuals with a passion for agriculture to travel on mission trips and teach. There also are opportunities to financially sponsor specific projects. In one instance, a Virginia family purchased a farm in Malawi that now employs 30 to 40 people who previously didn’t have a source of income.
January trip and continued flooding In January, Powers’ younger brother, Josh, an FFA and 4-H member, went with her to the Mtembe village to focus on improving the village’s goat herd. “The goats were all a local variety and free-grazing through the area,” Powers explained. “We took supplies down, and taught and assisted the village in castrating the goats. The goal of the program is to control breeding so that Saneen and Boer genetics can be introduced.” She said they also developed an animal identification program in
which all goats were tagged, and they worked with local government veterinarians to develop a vaccination protocol. “Josh was excited to use the skills he developed in FFA and 4-H to help in Malawi,” Powers said. “He was a huge asset in teaching and encouraging the youth in the villages. In the future we hope to continue to work with 4-H and FFA members.” As of March 15, Powers said southern Malawi was experiencing devastating floods, and the rest of the country was experiencing flash flooding and heavy rains. “One of the biggest challenges the country faces is unpredictable and extreme weather. That is partially the reason we’re trying to improve livestock systems, because one bad storm can destroy an entire crop for a year, but livestock tends to be more resistant.” sara.owens@vafb.com
Want to know more? For more information about the projects completed in Malawi, visit restoretheharvest.org.
vafb.com / SPRING 2019
11
12
CULTIVATE
Virginia’s largest barn quilt trail runs through GREENE COUNTY
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PATRICIA TEMPLES
W
ith 70 quilt images on display countywide, the Blue Ridge Barn Quilt Trail in Greene County is Virginia’s largest barn quilt trail and one of the largest in the U.S., according to the Greene County Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Launched in 2017, the trail is a collaboration between The Art Guild of Greene County and the county’s tourism program. Barn quilts are squares of wood painted to look like a quilt block and displayed on the exterior of a barn, house, garage or business. They emerged as a grassroots public art movement in Ohio and have spread to 48 states and Canada. For trail participants, “it shows they care about their property and helps draw attention to agriculture,” said Greene County Farm Bureau President Joanne Burkholder. Workshops have been held in Greene and Madison counties for individuals who want to create their own barn quilt squares. Greene County’s next goal is to have 100 quilts on display. A trail map is available at the Greene County Visitors’ Center in Ruckersville, and a downloadable self-guided tour can be found at exploregreene.com/explore/barn-quilt-trail.
vafb.com / SPRING 2019
13
LEE COUNTY
REGIONAL VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE WAS AT HEART OF SCHOOL’S FOUNDING
L
ocal farmers were among participants in a tour of Lincoln Memorial University’s College of Veterinary Medicine last fall. They likely saw where their next livestock vets are training. The Harrogate, Tenn.-based university opened its veterinary school across the state line in Virginia—in Lee County’s Ewing community—in 2014. Its first class of veterinarians graduated last spring, and each graduate immediately had job offers, said Autry O.V. “Pete” DeBusk, chairman of the LMU board of trustees.
“We decided that would be our specialty” According to a report released in December 2015, 75% of the rural counties within the Appalachian footprint reported a shortage of veterinarians. 14
CULTIVATE
Appalachian students made up 25 percent of the inaugural LMU veterinary class, and 33 percent of the graduates are practicing in Tennessee, Kentucky or Virginia. Thirty-four percent are in large-animal or mixed-animal practices. Four of those graduates went to work in Southwest Virginia. “We’re out in a rural area; we’re not in a city where you are going to have a lot of cats and dogs and smaller animals,” DeBusk noted. “And one of the things we knew is missing today in veterinary medicine is a more intense, thorough course in large animal medicine. So we decided that would be our specialty.” DeBusk, a native of Lee County, donated farmland for the veterinary facility. Late last year Virginia Farm Bureau Federation honored him with its 2018 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LMU
Tennessee-based Lincoln Memorial University built its DeBusk Veterinary Teaching Center just across the state line in Virginia’s Lee County.
Students (top) spend their fourth year of study interning in veterinary practices. Local farmers (above) toured the college last fall. Rising third-year student Morgan Stacy (top right) plans to practice in Southwest Virginia after earning her degree.
“They did a great job” Emily Fisher Edmondson, a Virginia Farm Bureau Federation board member who farms in Tazewell County, was delighted to see LMU veterinary graduates start their careers in her community. “Two of them have been to my farm and pregnancy-checked my cattle. They did a great job,” she said. Edmondson called the college “the jewel of Lee County—and one of the precious jewels of Southwest Virginia. … It’s a very agricultural area, and now we have a vet school that’s producing these veterinarians that we need in the livestock industry.” LMU veterinary students take academic courses on the university’s Tennessee campus but spend most of their study time at the veterinary school, about 15 minutes’ drive from the Cumberland Gap.
LMU was founded in 1897 with the mission of helping Appalachian residents build better lives. A focus on learning about the types of animals owned by Appalachian farmers was a natural fit, explained Dr. Randall Thompson, medical director of the DeBusk Veterinary Teaching Center. Each student spends his or her fourth year interning in a veterinary practice. While pursuing their degrees, “they have exposure to all the typical hightech tools,” Thompson noted. “We have endoscopy, we have ultrasound, we have an extensive dental training program for both large and small animals. We do have students who have gone on to a traditional track of doing an internship, followed by a residency. But the preponderance of our students are those who want to go right into practice.”
On Real Virginia Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program, visited Lincoln Memorial University’s Virginia-based veterinary college last fall. See it for yourself at bit.ly/rv18lmucvm.
“It just feels so natural” Morgan Stacy, a rising third-year veterinary student, said the college’s location was a key factor in her decision to attend. “I’m from Russell County, so it feels like home to me; it feels like a community. The second thing I love is, of course, interacting with the animals and the opportunity to work with them hands-on from Day One. … It’s been an amazing experience to have that handson clinical time with animals.” Stacy said she plans to practice in Southwest Virginia upon graduating. She recalled her first visit to the veterinary school as “such an amazing experience driving through the farmland. It just feels so natural. There’s fresh air—it’s not only good for the animals, it’s good for the students, too.” pam.wiley@vafb.com vafb.com / SPRING 2019
15
RICH TAYLOR
SARA OWENS
Robert and Margaret Quinn (center), with Farm Bureau insurance agent Rich Taylor (right) and now-retired claims adjuster Art Wright, in front of porch windows a tornado blew out in 2016.
STORM SURVIVORS know impact first hand Powerful storms such as tornadoes and hurricanes can cause extensive damage and leave a lasting mark on both homes and people.
“
BY SARA OWENS
16
CULTIVATE
t was Feb. 24, 2016. The tornado started at the edge of dark in King William County and followed Route 360 down to Tappahannock.” That’s how Virginia Farm Bureau insurance agent Rich Taylor, who works in Westmoreland County, described a tornado that ripped through his area, causing horrific damage. The storm missed Taylor’s home in Richmond County, but “it destroyed a little riverfront community called Naylor’s Beach.” From there, it zig-zagged and entered Westmoreland, home of Farm Bureau members Robert and Margaret Quinn. The Quinns lost hundreds of trees in the tornado, including one that damaged a large commercial building
they own that is next to their house in Montross. The storm also blew out the windows across their front porch. “We own a cottage and another rental property, and trees were just everywhere and caused damage to all of our properties. All the buildings needed new roofs,” Robert Quinn explained. He and his wife rode out the storm in their basement. “We’ve always practiced emergency plans as a family,” Quinn said, “and had a plan in place, so when something happens you aren’t wondering what to do—you know what to do.”
Tornadoes follow hurricanes Tornadoes can occur as part of a thunderstorm and often happen after a hurricane. Farm Bureau members Russ and
A tornado-downed tree did substantial damage to a commercial building the Quinns own next to their Westmoreland County home.
Ann Tate of Henrico County saw that phenomenon on Sept. 17, 2018, when multiple tornadoes swept across the Richmond area following Hurricane Florence. One of them went through the Tate’s cul-de-sac. The storm knocked many trees down in their yard, with one crashing through their roof. They experienced water damage to their attic, an upstairs bedroom and closet, their kitchen and their garage. “It ended up causing 21 trusses on the roof to break and made so many holes,” Ann Tate recalled. “So much water got into our house.” Insurance agent Bart Mitchell was sheltering in back of his office with other Henrico County Farm Bureau staff when he received a call from the Tates.
One of his first actions was to try to prevent further water damage to their home. He referred the Tates to a contractor whose crew arrived at their house within 90 minutes. “They tried to get a tarp on the house quickly, but it was raining so hard and it was so slippery on the roof,” Mitchell said. The Tates learned quickly how badly water could damage a home. They recommend having a strong roof like the one they had installed on their river home when it had to be replaced following a bad storm. They also suggested having security cameras. In that instance, “Russ got an alert on his phone from the camera and could see a branch hanging down. He felt like maybe something was wrong and came home and discovered the tree,” Ann Tate said. “Detecting it sooner allowed
us to examine the damage and start fixing the situation faster.”
How do hurricanes create tornadoes? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, tropical cyclones, or hurricanes, spawn tornadoes when certain instability and vertical shear criteria are met, in a manner similar to other tornadoproducing systems. Almost all tropical cyclones making landfall in the United States spawn at least one tornado, provided enough of their circulation moves over land. This implies that Gulf Coast land-falling tropical cyclones are more likely to produce tornadoes than Atlantic coast tropical cyclones that sideswipe the coastline. vafb.com / SPRING 2019
17
BART MITCHELL COURTESY OF RUSS AND ANN TATE
“It ended up causing 21 trusses on the roof to break and made so many holes. So much water got into our house.” — ANN TATE
A tornado did significant roof damage to the Henrico County home of Ann and Russ Tate last fall, resulting in water damage to the interior. 18
CULTIVATE
SARA OWENS
The Tates (center) with Farm Bureau insurance agent Bart Mitchell (left) and senior field claims representative Dwayne Clarke
STORM SURVIVORS Tropical cyclones may spawn tornadoes from a day or two prior to landfall to up to three days after landfall. Statistics show that most of the tornadoes occur on the day of landfall, or the next day. The most likely time for these tornadoes is during daylight hours. For more information on how to prepare for a tornado, visit weather. gov/safety/tornado-prepare.
Prepare now for hurricane season The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety shares hurricane preparation steps that can be taken now for both homes and businesses.
Home prep Shutters: Install the hardware needed to put up shutters or pre-cut plywood to protect windows and doors now. This will allow for easier installation if your area is threatened by a storm. Trees: Now is a good time to cut weak branches, along with branches that are positioned over structures and could cause property damage if they break in high winds. Seals: Check the caulk around windows and doors, ensuring that it is not cracked, broken or missing. Fill any holes or gaps around pipes or wires that enter the building. Roof: Inspect the roof and overhang to look for signs of wear or damage. Have the roof inspected to make sure the roof sheathing is well-connected. Attached structures: Inspect porches, carports, entryway canopies and storage sheds to ensure they are firmly attached and in sound structural condition. Sump pumps and drains: Inspect sump pumps and drains to ensure proper operation. If the sump pump has a battery backup, make sure the batteries are fresh or replaced.
Generators: Prepare and test your generator well before a storm strikes.
Business prep • Have your building inspected, and complete any maintenance needed to ensure the building can withstand severe weather. • Designate an employee to monitor weather reports and alert your team to potential severe weather. • Review and update your business continuity plan, along with employee contact information. • Remind employees of key elements of the plan, including post-event communication procedures and work/payroll procedures. Review emergency shutdown and startup procedures, such as electrical systems, with appropriate personnel, including alternates. • Test backup power options, such as a generator, and establish proper contracts with fuel suppliers for emergency fuel deliveries. • Inspect and replenish your inventory of emergency supplies. • Test all life safety equipment. • Conduct training exercises for both business continuity and emergency preparedness/response plans. During a hurricane, the failure of any opening can allow wind and water to enter a building and cause extensive damage. That’s why all windows and glass in doors should be protected well in advance. The only effective window protection is one that is used, so remember to activate shutters, panels and plywood, and completely close all windows and doors.
After a storm
• Protect yourself: Use caution when entering a damaged building. If there is serious structural damage, contact local officials before entering. Report downed power lines or gas leaks. Keep electricity turned off if the building has been flooded. • Protect your property: Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage. This can include boarding up windows and salvaging undamaged items. Consult your insurance company for more information. • Report losses as soon as possible: Notify your insurance agent or insurer as soon as possible. Provide a general description of the damage, and have your policy number handy if possible. • Prepare a list: Keep damaged items or portions of them until the claims adjuster has visited. Consider photographing or videotaping damage to document your claim. Make a list of damaged or lost items. • Keep receipts: If you need to relocate, keep records and receipts for additional expenses. • Return claim forms: Fill out and return claims forms as soon as possible. If you have questions, talk with your insurance agent. • Clean up safely: When starting the cleanup process, be careful, and use protective eyewear and gloves if available. Adjusters may recommend business owners hire a professional cleaning service. More information is available at disastersafety.org/hurricane. sara.owens@vafb.com
IBHS has compiled the following recommendations for after a severe storm: vafb.com / SPRING 2019
19
Upgraded businessowner policy offers more coverage
V
irginia Farm Bureau insurance can help business owners simplify, save and get back to business.
A Businessowner Policy offers packaged business insurance coverage without the need for multiple policies. Businessowner Policies or BOPs, combine property coverage, liability and business income into one flexible package that can be customized for small to mid-size businesses.
Mutual Insurance Co. “The new policy is much more robust. It’s a really customizable new product and allows us to be able to compete in the marketplace for pricing and coverages.”
Plans include:
BOPs can provide coverage for hospitality, community nonprofit, offices, corner markets, personal services, retail, or specialty contractor businesses.
• General liability: This helps cover legal expenses, medical costs and other financial obligations if you are responsible for bodily injury or property damage to a third party.
The total cost of a BOP is often lower than having individual policies.
“BOPs provide extensive coverage for today’s business needs,” Whitus added. “It’s really a comprehensive, flexible product.”
“The new Businessowner Policy rolled out Jan. 1 and replaced the old (product), which was over 25 years old,” explained Lisa Whitus, personal and commercial lines underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau
The new BOP can accommodate general business upgrades and offers installment plans and may include multiple discounts, including claimsfree, loyalty and multiple policy discounts.
• Business property: Protect your business inside and out, including inventory, furniture, landscaping and outdoor signs.
• Loss of income: Recover quickly if your business can’t operate normally due to a covered disaster. Additional coverages, offered in partnership with Hartford Steam Boiler, include: • Commercial equipment breakdown: Helps cover | BUSINESSOWNER cont'd on page 30 »
Save On John Deere With DID YOU KNOW? Farm Bureau members are eligible* for a free Platinum 2 John Deere Rewards membership! Platinum 2 Rewards members earn discounts, special low-rate financing, and so much more!
It’s easy to become a Rewards member too! Farm Bureau members** can go to www.JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau to register now! *A valid email address is required for eligibility. *Must be a valid member of Farm Bureau for 30 days.
20
CULTIVATE
BIG SAVINGS Platinum 2 Rewards members are eligible for the following discounts: · $350 - $3,200 off Commercial Mowing · $100 - $250 off Residential Mowing · $200 - $350 off Tractors · $500 - $3,700 off Golf & Sports Turf
Plus, combine Rewards savings with national offers, receive special parts savings, get 10% off home & workshop products and 10% off apparel and accessories online.
WHY FARM BUREAU? For nearly a century, Farm Bureau members have joined together from coast to coast and become the Voice of Agriculture. Join Farm Bureau today to add your voice, while also gaining access to exclusive discounts on national brands, plus valued member benefits!
Roadside assistance offers peace of mind
W Drowsiness can affect a driver’s reaction times, awareness of hazards and ability to pay attention.
Driving while sleepy can have nightmare consequences Drowsy driving is impaired driving and, according to the National Safety Council, can be comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol. Drivers’ reaction times, awareness of hazards and ability to sustain attention all worsen when they’re tired. The NSC reports that driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is equal to driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 percent—the U.S. legal limit. Every year about 100,000 policereported crashes involve drowsy driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that 328,000 drowsy driving crashes occur annually—more than three times the police-reported number. Drivers under the age of 25 make up an estimated 50 percent or more of drowsy driving crashes. Each November the National Sleep Foundation conducts Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. Find out more at drowsydriving.org.
hen you’re stuck on the side of the road, knowing help is on the way is a relief. For Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. customers who have towing and labor coverage on their auto policies, Roadside Assistance is included at no additional cost. Towing and labor coverage provides the reimbursement of expenses incurred for automobile disablements such as towing, tire changes, jump starts, lockouts, fuel deliveries and extractions. “In the past, when a disablement occurred, the customer had to secure the appropriate assistance, and then send any eligible receipts to Farm Bureau for reimbursement, up to the applicable limit on the vehicle,” said Barry Light, VFBMIC product development manager. “Customers are still covered for all the same disablements; however, with Roadside Assistance, the customer no longer has to coordinate the help.”
“Easy and pleasant” Robert Fleet of Amelia County used Roadside Assistance last year. “A family member was driving one of our vehicles and experienced a mechanical issue,” he explained. “I had never used Farm Bureau’s roadside provider before, so I decided to give it a try. I called the phone number, and the entire experience was easy and pleasant.” Fleet said he has used a different roadside provider in the past and felt the Farm Bureau experience was superior. “It’s an excellent coverage and helps save money, and may allow customers to discontinue other roadside providers that they currently pay extra to use.” Anne Baskette of Henrico County was grateful to have roadside assistance when her son’s vehicle was disabled. “The customer service representative that he spoke with was very pleasant and eager to assist him,” she recounted.
The rep found his policy information right away and used GPS and other points of reference that Baskette’s son provided to determine his exact location. “The service provider who came out was wonderful and towed the vehicle to a shop nearby that my son picked out,” Baskette said. “My son did not have to pay anything out of pocket since the shop was so close.” The service was a comfort to her, she said, because shortly after the incident her son moved to Arizona for college. “I knew if he broke down out there, so far away from home, he knew he had this service and how to go about using it.”
How to get help To use Roadside Assistance, customers can call the Farm Bureau claims number on their Auto I.D. Cards and select the Roadside Assistance option. “They will bring the help to you wherever you are with no out-of-pocket costs to you, as long as the expense is within the limit on your covered vehicle,” Light explained. If you do not have this coverage on your vehicles, or would like to select a higher benefit limit, contact your Farm Bureau insurance agent or county Farm Bureau office.
Roadside Assistance is included when you have towing and labor coverage on your Farm Bureau auto insurance policy. vafb.com / SPRING 2019
21
Group health insurance policies available Saving money on employee benefits while still attracting and retaining the best workers is important in today’s economy. Virginia Farm Bureau’s health insurance agency, Experient Health, can help with group insurance policies.
“We make it easy and straightforward.” Denton said Experient Health can help companies with as few as one employee and as many as 150.
Experient Health offers many group insurance plans, including vision, dental, life and disability. The company, a subsidiary of Virginia Farm Bureau, has staff in its Richmond office and throughout the commonwealth who work to help businesses find the best insurance plans for their employees.
Under the Affordable Care Act, companies with 50 or more full-time employees or equivalents are required to offer group health insurance to their employees or pay a penalty, Denton said. “This is commonly referred to as the employer mandate or ‘pay or play.’”
“We do the legwork for companies, making it easier for them to put together a good insurance plan for their employees,” explained Brett Denton, vice president of Experient Health.
Experient Health sells Aetna, Anthem, Optima Health, Piedmont Community Health Plan and United Healthcare products for businesses, as well as various dental, vision and life products. “We also offer ‘self-funded’ plans for employer groups of two to 50 employees,” Denton added. “These
plans are medically underwritten and have the potential savings of 18 to 25 percent over fully insured group health plans.”
Want to know more? For more information on group health insurance available through Experient Health, call 800-229-7779, or visit experienthealth.com or vafb.com/quote.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Have questions about Medicare Supplements? Call today!
Virginia Farm Bureau 1-800-229-7779 An authorized licensed insurance agent for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, license number: 109534
This policy has exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For more information on benefits, please contact your agent or the health plan. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program. The purpose of this communication is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by an insurance agent or insurance company. 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. AADVOTH006M(15)-VA 55681VASENABS 22
CULTIVATE
Free Medicare seminars being offered statewide Have questions about Medicare? Attend an educational seminar sponsored by your county Farm Bureau.
I
f you’re on or soon to be on disability, nearing retirement age, or age 65 and still working, Medicare may be on your mind. If you have questions about Medicare and want more information, whether you are currently enrolled or nearing enrollment, there may be a local Medicare Seminar available, sponsored by your county Farm Bureau. The following seminars have been scheduled, and will be held at the county Farm Bureau office unless otherwise noted. Medicare information is available—at no cost—at a location Each seminar is available at no near you. cost. To register, call your county Farm Bureau office, even if the seminar is • June 5, Page County Farm Bureau at held at an alternate location. Massanutten Regional Library • May 8, Madison County Farm Bureau
• June 11, Halifax Farm Bureau
• May 8, Orange County Farm Bureau
• June 11, Henry County Farm Bureau
• May 9, Culpeper County Farm Bureau at Culpeper County Library
• June 12, Pittsylvania County Farm Bureau at Olde Dominion Ag Complex
• May 9, Rappahannock County Farm Bureau
• June 13, Franklin County Farm Bureau at Farm Credit-Franklin County
• May 14, Chesterfield Farm Bureau at The Cove at Magnolia Lakes
• June 25, Nelson County Farm Bureau
• May 21, Floyd County Farm Bureau • May 22, Bland County Farm Bureau at Bland County Library
• June 27, Greene County Farm Bureau
• May 22, Wythe County Farm Bureau
• July 9, Powhatan County Farm Bureau
• May 23, Giles County Farm Bureau
• July 10, Prince Edward County Farm Bureau
• May 23, Montgomery County Farm Bureau • May 29, Surry County Farm Bureau ·M ay 30, Henrico Farm Bureau at Sandston Library • June 4, Clarke and Frederick County Farm Bureaus at Farm CreditFrederick County • June 5, Farm Bureau of Shenandoah County
• June 26, Albemarle County Farm Bureau at Northside Library • July 9, Louisa County Farm Bureau
• July 11, Buckingham and Cumberland County Farm Bureaus at Buckingham County Farm Bureau • July 24, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach Farm Bureaus at Virginia Beach Farm Bureau (Providence Square Shopping Center) • July 30, Amelia County Farm Bureau • July 31, Charlotte County Farm Bureau • Aug. 1, Brunswick County Farm Bureau
• Aug. 7, Botetourt County Farm Bureau • Aug. 7, Roanoke County Farm Bureau at Hidden Valley Country Club • Aug. 8, Craig County Farm Bureau • Aug. 13, Prince George County Farm Bureau • Aug. 13, Sussex County Farm Bureau • Aug. 27, Accomack County Farm Bureau • Aug. 27, Northampton County Farm Bureau · Sept. 9, CC/JC/NK/Y Farm Bureau at Heritage Public Library • Sept. 10, Westmoreland County Farm Bureau at Montross Library • Sept. 11, Hanover County Farm Bureau (Ashland)
New this year The following seminars will be hosted by Virginia Farm Bureau Health Care Consultants at locations across the commonwealth. To register for an HCC-hosted seminar, contact Angela Windett, 804-290-1118 or angela.windett@vafb.com. • May 16, for Central Virginia, at Retail Merchants Association in Richmond (near Willow Lawn) • June 19, Greene County at Grace Health and Rehab Center of Greene County • July 16, for Central Virginia, at Retail Merchants Association in Richmond (near Willow Lawn) • Sept. 5, for Central Virginia, at Retail Merchants Association in Richmond (near Willow Lawn) • Sept. 16, Greene County at Grace Health and Rehab Center of Greene County vafb.com / SPRING 2019
23
Spring is here: Let it grow!
BY SARA OWENS
Pre-planted hanging baskets can be purchased at home improvement and garden centers, but you also can design your own!
24
CULTIVATE
H
anging baskets filled with beautiful greenery and bright, bold colors can add cheer to any home or landscape. Whether hanging from a shepherd’s hook near a walkway or accenting a front or back porch, they serve as a welcoming “pop” of color.
Hanging basket recipe The recipe for a healthy hanging basket starts with an appropriate container, potting soil, the right amount of water and appropriate light, said horticulturalist Mark Viette of Augusta County. Viette has been assembling a variety of container plantings for years.
1. Start with a sturdy basket Viette recommends selecting a quality hanging basket that can hold the weight of soil and plants well. It should have ample drainage so that, when the plants are watered, there’s an avenue for the water to escape. “Moss baskets are especially beautiful and easy to create,” he said. Line a basket with a preformed moss insert, or create your own liner using long-fiber sphagnum moss. “Wetting the moss first works the best.”
combined with good-quality compost makes an excellent container mix that will hold moisture and nutrients well. Viette recommends using a slowrelease or organic fertilizer.
3. Gentle stream of water Water is the single-most important need of your plants, Viette said. “If plants are kept outdoors, the sun and wind will constantly dry out your basket.” When watering, soak the basket thoroughly, until excess water begins to run out of the bottom. “Don’t water with something you use to wash your car. A gentle stream of water that doesn’t damage or hurt the plants is key.” Depending on soil and weather conditions, the plants may need to be watered daily or every five days.
4. Let there be light! Your plants may require full sun, partial sun, partial shade or a combination. “Be sure to read the labels of the plants before deciding what to put in your hanging basket,” Viette said. “Be sure to group plants together depending on their needs and where you plan to hang your basket.”
Tips and tricks of the trade • Use a variety of color in your hanging basket. Repeat colors, and have some similarity throughout. • Don’t overfill the basket; give plants some room to breathe. • Intersperse greenery or grasses with colorful plants. Use plants that will cascade down the side of the basket. Keep in mind the height of fully grown plants. • Using a basket from a previous planting? It’s OK to reuse some soil from previous years, but make sure the upper few inches are a fresh potting mix. • Want to attract butterflies? “Better than a butterfly bush is salvia Black and Blue! It will attract more butterflies and hummingbirds than any other plant,” Viette noted. • Carefully cut back the plants to force more roots to grow in an outward manner. “This will help your basket last a lot longer.”
sara.owens@vafb.com
2. A dash of potting soil “A quality potting mix must be used in your containers,” Viette emphasized. “Soil dug from the ground should not be used, because these soil particles are normally very small and can cause the soil to become compacted in the container when it is watered.” For good plant growth, the soil must remain porous so it can hold both air and water. A quality potting mix A sturdy container with good drainage, and quality potting soil are key to the success of hanging arrangements.
Hanging plants are available for a variety of light conditions and personal tastes. vafb.com / SPRING 2019
25
Plenty of plant choices!
• Bacopa
A variety of plants can be used to create an eye-catching hanging basket. Some of these include:
• Fuchsia • Geranium: Ivy geranium and Zonal geraniums
• Salvia Black and Blue (and other colors)
• Scaevola New Wonder • Strobilanthes • Sweet potato vine • Sweet alyssum
• Begonia and specialty begonias Charisma, Illumination, Panorama, Pin-Up and Spectrum • Impatiens, double impatiens and New Guinea impatiens
• Caladium
• Lantana • Nemesia Blue Bird or Compact Innocence • Ornamental grasses (dwarf types only) • Pansy
• Thunbergia, or black-eyed Susan vine
• Calibrachoa
• Torenia Summer Wave Blue • Variegated vinca
• Petunia Million Bells, petunia Wave series
• Coleus • Cuphea
• Portulaca • Verbena
26
CULTIVATE
Hanging basket arrangements make thoughtful, colorful Mother’s Day gifts.
Easy Wave Plum Pudding Mix petunias – trailing Hawaiian Lua Red calibrachoa
petunias are a summer basket classic!
– these like full sun to partial shade
Sweet potato vine –
vigorous grower with leaves that add interesting shapes
Ivy – available in many colors and leaf sizes
vafb.com / SPRING 2019
27
Heart of the Home
Stuffed egg variations are devilishly delicious While many home cooks still use mayonnaise, there are a plethora of variations on the deviled egg, including the following from the American Egg Board and the Virginia Egg Council.
Sister Mary’s Heavenly Deviled Eggs INGREDIENTS
14 large, hard-boiled eggs ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup sour cream
E
AMERICAN EGG BOARD
1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
Sister Mary’s Heavenly Deviled Eggs are a dressed-up version of the timeless recipe.
ggs—a symbol of both spring and Easter—have been important for many centuries and in some cultures have symbolized a springtime return to life following the winter. Eggs also are one of nature’s most nutrient-rich foods, delivering high levels protein and vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as key minerals. The celebrated deviled egg can be traced to ancient Rome, where boiled eggs were seasoned with spicy sauces and served as the starter of a fancy meal, according to the North Carolina Egg Association. Stuffed eggs were served in Spain in the 13th century, 28
CULTIVATE
when boiled egg yolks were mashed and mixed with cilantro, pepper, coriander and onion juice. The mixture was then stuffed into hollowed-out egg whites. Over the next two centuries their popularity spread across Europe. By the late 1700s, the word “devil” appeared as a culinary term in Great Britain, referring to heavily spiced, hot, fried or broiled dishes, and it came to describe the process of making food spicy. In 1896 Fannie Farmer’s Boston Cooking-School Cookbook suggested adding mayonnaise to deviled egg filling to hold ingredients together. By the 1940s the use of that condiment had become popular in deviled egg recipes.
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice ¼ teaspoon ground pepper ⅓ cup crumbled cooked bacon ¼ cup finely shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives paprika to taste DIRECTIONS Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks, and place in a medium bowl. Reserve 24 white halves. Finely chop remaining four white halves, and set aside. Use a fork to mash yolks. Add mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lemon juice and pepper; mix well. Add chopped egg whites, bacon, cheese and chives; mix well again. Spoon one heaping tablespoon of the yolk mixture into each egg white half. Refrigerate, covered, to blend flavors. Sprinkle with paprika just before serving. Source: American Egg Board
Heart of the Home
Shrimply Deviled Eggs
Spoon mixture into the egg white halves. Place one shrimp on top of each, and sprinkle with paprika. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
INGREDIENTS
6 large eggs, hard-boiled and peeled
Source: Virginia Egg Council; first-place winner in 2012 Tasty Little Devils Recipe Contest, submitted by Carrie Rodgers of Fauquier County
AMERICAN EGG BOARD
12 ounces beer
Eve’s Guac Deviled Eggs put a Tex-Mex spin on a classic.
Eve’s Guac Deviled Eggs INGREDIENTS
12 large, hard-boiled eggs flesh of 1 ripe avocado ¼ cup sour cream 1 teaspoon salt dash of hot sauce, such as Tabasco ½ cup salsa, for garnish 12 tortilla chips, for garnish DIRECTIONS Cut hard-boiled eggs in half lengthwise. Spoon out yolks, and place into a re-sealable bag. Set egg white halves aside. To the yolks in the bag, add avocado, sour cream, salt and hot sauce. Seal bag, and mash contents together with your hands until completely mixed.
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay
Quinoa & Greek Yogurt Deviled Eggs
12 large shrimp, plus enough shrimp to equal 1 cup, chopped 3 - 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon pesto
4 large eggs
2 tablespoons capers with juice
½ cup quinoa, cooked and cooled
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon plain Greek-style yogurt
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1½ tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic salt and Dijon mustard to taste
⅓ cup crumbled cooked bacon ¼ cup finely shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
paprika for garnish
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
DIRECTIONS
⅛ teaspoon sea salt
While eggs are cooking, place beer in a saucepan with Old Bay and 2 cups water, and bring to a boil. Put the whole shrimp and the shrimp for chopping in the boiling water; bring to a second boil, and turn off heat. Leave shrimp in hot water for 5 minutes or until pink. Drain and peel. Set aside 12 whole shrimp, and chop the rest.
⅛ teaspoon pepper DIRECTIONS Place eggs in a saucepan, and add enough cold water to cover the eggs by 1”. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove pan from heat, cover and let stand for 13 minutes. Drain, and transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water. Let stand until cool.
Slice eggs in half lengthwise. Scoop yolks out, and place in a mixing bowl. Mash yolks, and add the chopped shrimp, mayonnaise, pesto, capers, onion, parsley, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic salt and mustard. Mix thoroughly.
VIRGINIA EGG COUNCIL
With scissors, snip off one corner of the bag, and pipe yolk mixture into the egg white halves, creating a small mound in each. Garnish each mound with half a tortilla chip and a dab of salsa before serving.
Peel eggs, and cut in half lengthwise. Transfer the yolks to a bowl, and mash with a fork until smooth. Stir in quinoa, yogurt, cilantro, bacon, cheese and chives, and season with salt and pepper.
Source: American Egg Board
Spoon yolk mixture into the egg white halves, cover and refrigerate until set, at least 15 minutes or up to 24 hours before serving. Source: American Egg Board
Shrimply Deviled Eggs won a 2012 Virginia Egg Council recipe contest.
vafb.com / SPRING 2019
29
2019 magazine classified ad schedule and policies 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.
• Crops;
Ads of 16 to 30 words must be accompanied by payment of $20.
• Livestock equipment.
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 for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets. Ads with more than 30 words and ads from nonmembers will not be accepted. Use the online form at vafb.com/membership-at-work/ membership/benefits/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:
• Farm equipment; • Hay/Straw; • Livestock; and 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).
Finding your member number When placing your ad, be sure to include your Farm Bureau member number, which can be found on your membership card and above your name on the mailing label of your copy of Cultivate. All member numbers will be verified.
| BUSINESSOWNER cont'd from page 20 »
Marketplace
replacement or repair of critical machinery and electronics for your business, including HVAC equipment and sensitive electrical systems and components.
CROPS DEER AND RABBIT REPELLENT-$14.95-$21.90, makes 10 gallons. Safe, effective, long lasting, guaranteed. 540-4641969.
FARM EQUIPMENT FEEDTRAIN FEEDING SYSTEMS-Feedbunks, bulk bins, creep feeders, UTV/ATV feeders. feedtrain.com. Virginia dealer. 540-679-6567.
LIVESTOCK DONKEYS-For sale, old biblical color with stripe, spotted, good-nature. More details, call 540-875-7519.
LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT BREAKING CART AND HARNESS-For sale, $200. 434-7244514.
CULTIVATE
Farm Bureau needs your updated contact information, including email address
• Cyber Suite: Includes a full list of services and resources if your business or customer data is stolen or lost. It includes public relations fees, data recovery and identity monitoring costs after a breach.
If you’ve moved, acquired a new telephone number, or changed your name or email address, it’s important that your new information is reflected in your membership and insurance records.
• Employment Practices Liability: Equal Employment Laws prohibit discrimination or harassment of protected groups. EPL helps provide liability coverage if an owner or employee is accused of discrimination or harassment.
Email addresses and cell phone numbers are especially important; they help your Farm Bureau agent reach you in instances where prompt communication is essential.
For more information, contact a county Farm Bureau office near you, and visit vafb.com/insurance/ business-owners.
30
Are your membership records current?
If you need to update your records, email your current contact information to membership@vafb.com, and our staff will handle the update. You’re also welcome to call or visit your county Farm Bureau office to update your records.
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.
Important: We are not responsible
• We do not invoice for classified ads or provide proofs or tearsheets. • Ads submitted without payment will be returned.
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.
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 vafb.com.
Deadlines Ads and cancellations must be received (not mailed) by the following deadlines: ISSUE DEADLINE Mailed to producer members September August 2
Moving? If your address or phone
Mailed to associate members August July 3
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 This is my one free 15-word ad for 2019 q August (mailed to associate members) q Payment enclosed: $ _____________ q S eptember (mailed to producer members) 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
*
vafb.com / SPRING 2019
31