Cultivate WINTER 2021
Virginia Farm Bureau
Farm Fleece Natural fibers are in fashionable demand
Cultivate Volume 14, Number 1 Winter 2021 Cultivate (USPS 025051) (ISSN 19468121) is published four times a year. February, May, August, October. It is published by Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238. Periodicals postage rate is paid at Richmond, VA and additional mailing offices. The annual Subscription Rate is $1.13 (included in membership dues).
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Features 9 Soft, natural wool fibers are making a fashion comeback
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Shoppers’ desire for sustainable fibers has led to an uptick in demand for yarn and clothing made with alpaca and sheep wool.
“Wool is an amazing product.” — DOUG KITTRELL, Double 8 Alpaca Ranch, Loudoun County
Despite the adjustments city dwellers make when they marry farmers, these couples say it was all worthwhile.
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Seed catalogs evoke images of springtime
When the weather outside is frightful, it’s delightful to pore over seed catalogs and start planning for spring blooms and summer produce.
Kathy Dixon Managing Editor Nicole Zema Staff Writer/Photographer Adam Culler Staff Writer/Photographer Patricia Hooten Graphic Designer Maria La Lima Graphic Designer Alice Kemp Staff Writer/Advertising Coordinator
Departments 6
For Your Benefit
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Save the Date
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Heart of the Home
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MEMBERS — Address change? If your address or phone number has changed, or is about to change, contact your county Farm Bureau. They will update your membership and subscription information.
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
Associate members will receive their next issue of Cultivate in May. The magazine is published quarterly, and back issues can be viewed at issuu. com/virginiafarmbureau.
Member: Virginia Press Association
EDITORIAL TEAM
Farm work is year-round work, and many Virginia farmers start making winter plans while still wearing T-shirts.
All advertising is accepted subject to the publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume liability for the content of their advertising. The publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised. The publisher maintains the right to cancel advertising for non-payment or reader complaints about services or products.
Pam Wiley Director, Communications
Farmers shift from production to planning and preparation during the winter
City slickers learn to adapt when they marry farmers
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.
ON THE COVER Alpacas are providing fibers that have joined sheep wool in popularity. (Photo by Nicole Zema)
Did you know? National ChocolateCovered Peanuts Day is Feb. 25. You don’t have to wait for the official day to celebrate with these sweet and salty treats made from a Virginia farm staple. Chocolatecovered peanuts would make an excellent Valentine’s Day gift this month, or provide snacks for watching basketball tournament games next month. Whenever you eat them, peanuts are packed with protein, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, niacin and vitamin E. The legumes contain unsaturated fats and are low in carbohydrates. Virginia is known for its gourmet peanuts, and farmers in the southeastern part of the state produce millions of pounds each year. Virginia peanuts are one of four peanut varieties—the other three are Runner, Spanish and Valencia. Virginia peanuts also are grown in North and South Carolina and Texas. They are the largest of the varieties and have a characteristic crunch. They also are the peanut variety sold at baseball stadiums across the country. Virginia peanut farmers grow 15% of the annual total of peanuts grown in the U.S. Most of the 25,000 acres of peanuts planted on 178 farms in the state are Virginia peanuts; about 1,000 acres are Runner peanuts.
vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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Find It and Win!
WATCH US
Cultivate magazine is offering a new contest for its readers. In each issue, search for a farming icon, and enter to win. This month’s icon is
This month on Real Virginia:
Farmers rebound after a rainy year
a peanut. Contest rules are as follows: Find the peanut inside this publication. Once you’ve located it, send an email to membershipbenefits@vafb.com with the subject line “Found It.” The body of the email must contain the following: • Your name • Your mailing address
Featured this month on Real Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau’s weekly television program: • Virginia hemp growers are contending with falling prices and regulatory uncertainty. • Farmers are preparing for the upcoming planting season after enduring a year of excess rain. • Heritage livestock breeds are being raised and conserved on Virginia farmland.
• The membership benefit advertisement located nearest the image The first 15 members who submit correct entries will win a 20-ounce stainless steel Virginia Farm Bureau logo tumbler. Readers are eligible to win only one tumbler during the contest period, January through December 2021. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. Winners will be notified by email. *Virginia Farm Bureau and Countryway employees are not eligible to win.
• Highland County is the state’s least-populous county but is one of Virginia’s top turkey producers, and is featured in this month’s County Agriculture Close-up. Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV, and on selected cable outlets around the state. It airs weekly on WBRA Roanoke, WHRO Norfolk, WVVA Bluefield and WTKR Norfolk, and on the first and second weekends of each month on WVIR Charlottesville and WRLH Richmond. Watch Real Virginia anytime online at youtube.com/user/ VirginiaFarmBureau.
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VINTAGE SEED CATALOGS
200,000 That’s how many vintage seed catalogs can be viewed online in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Library at bit.ly/USDAlibrary. Read more on page 20.
20-OZ. STAINLESS STEEL VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU LOGO TUMBLER!
Farm dog Dasher named to Top 10 for 2021 Farm Dog of the Year Award BY ALICE KEMP
Dasher
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true rags-to-riches story, farm dog Dasher evolved from a hard-to-place rescue to a working farm dog, agility champion and a finalist in American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2021 Farm Dog of the Year contest. Despite a rocky start in life, owner Sandy Riepe said the border collie has found his place, and “he’s a happy dog.” Still energetic at 11 years old, “farm life is just perfect for him.” Dasher helps herd cattle on Riepe’s farm in Charlotte Court House. Even without any formal herding training, his strong instincts help get cattle where they need to go. “What he does is natural. There have been times when the calves got out and were in a briar patch,” Riepe said. “He and the other border collie went in, got the calves out and brought them back through the gate and back into the pasture.” When he’s not working, Dasher competes in agility trials and has won multiple awards. He’s also helped train Riepe’s 1-year-old border collie puppy. “He’s kind of teaching her things—helping her get familiar with the farm animals—he’s sort of the puppy’s mentor,” she said. “He likes to be around other dogs, and he has a lot of fun.” In its third year, the AFBF competition celebrates farm dogs that work alongside farmers and ranchers to produce food for families and pets across America. Winners were announced during the AFBF Virtual Convention in January. Bindi, an Australian shepherd owned by New York Farm Bureau member Sonja Galley, was named the 2021 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year. Runner-up Sawyer, owned by Massachusetts Farm Bureau member Elizabeth Smith, was voted People’s Choice Pup in a social media competition in which Dasher also was a contender.
County Farm Bureau operations continue with member safety in mind BY ADAM CULLER
Most county Farm Bureau offices in Virginia are open to visitors, and the health and safety of members and staff are being prioritized as they continue to conduct business. Customers may visit most county offices to meet with insurance agents in person, though it is advisable to call ahead for an appointment. To limit physical contact, office entrances may be locked to limit lobby capacity to members of one family at a time. Members also are encouraged to utilize Farm Bureau’s phone and online resources to conduct business. When visiting, guests are being asked to take the following steps: • Do not come inside if you are experiencing fever, coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing. • Wear a face covering while inside the office. • No more than one customer at a time is allowed in the lobby area. • Use provided hand sanitizer upon entry and before leaving. • Maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals. If an office must temporarily close in the interest of public health, members will be notified as soon as possible. “We are thankful for the continued opportunity to offer in-person services to our customers, and county offices are keeping up with COVID-19 safety guidelines to offer the safest experience possible,” said Gerald Gardner, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. sales director. “We look forward to meeting our members’ needs, whether they’re meeting with agents face-to-face or through virtual means.”
Helpful Contacts: • To file a claim, call 800-452-7714 • To make a payment, call 888-236-7716 • To make a policy change, call 888-236-7716 Members may visit vafb.com to do any of the following: • Make a payment (VFB insurance policies or membership only) • Request a policy change • File an auto insurance claim • View/print insurance policy documents • View/print auto insurance policy ID cards * Note: Members must create an online account using their membership number if they have not done so already. vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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For Your Benefit
Improve your financial and physical health with discounts and services
Healthy Living
Travel Services
Members save on prescription drugs Virginia Farm Bureau’s free Prescription Drug Discount and Savings Program affords members discounts at more than 67,000 pharmacies nationwide, on all FDA-approved brand and generic drugs. Members pay no fee to use the program, which is designed for individuals with no insurance coverage for prescription drugs. The program works via what’s known as a “consumer care” or “point of sale card” that can be used by your entire household. There are no medical exams, no waiting periods, no claim forms to file and no exclusions for preexisting conditions. Your county Farm Bureau can provide starter card information and details on how to locate participating pharmacies near you. Farm Bureau representatives also can help you compare potential savings on generic and name-brand drugs. For more information, visit vafb.com/benefits. You will need to register and log in as a member.
Farm Bureau members get a discount on Avis, Budget Save up to 30% off Avis base rates with Virginia Farm Bureau’s Avis Worldwide Discount number. In addition, enjoy extra offers like dollars off, a complimentary upgrade or a free weekend day. Call 800-331-1212 or visit avis.com/vafb to make a reservation. Save up to 30% off Budget base rates with Virginia Farm Bureau’s Budget Customer Discount number. Plus get other great offers like dollars off, a free upgrade or a free weekend day. Call 800-527-0700 or visit budget.com/vafb to make a reservation. Your Virginia Farm Bureau Avis Worldwide Discount number and Budget Customer Discount number are available from your county Farm Bureau and in the “Membership at Work” section of vafb.com (Register as a member on the site, and log in first).
Life Line Screenings take the guesswork out of health risks Members can save on four non-invasive vascular health screenings—for carotid artery, abdominal aneurysm, atrial fibrillation and peripheral arterial disease—and have a free osteoporosis screening and bone density test to assess risk for stroke, heart attack and bone fractures. Life Line Screenings, the national leading provider of preventive screenings, offers this collection of procedures to Farm Bureau members for $135. Watch for mailings about scheduled screenings in your area, visit vafb.com/benefits and register and log in as a member, or contact your county Farm Bureau.
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Home/Business Savings
Ford offers Bonus Cash toward vehicle purchase or lease In the market for a new truck? Farm Bureau members in Virginia are eligible for $500 in Bonus Cash toward the purchase or lease of a new Ford Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty®.* The offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. You must be a Farm Bureau member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase. Visit FordSpecialOffer.com/FarmBureau to generate a certificate you can take to your local Ford dealer. * Farm Bureau Bonus Cash is exclusively for active Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. This incentive is not available on F-150 Raptor, F-600, F-650 and F-750 Super Duty®.
For Your Benefit
John Deere offers substantial savings for members Current Virginia Farm Bureau members* are eligible for a complimentary John Deere Rewards upgrade to Platinum 1 status, which unlocks extra discounts on equipment, parts and merchandise. You can save on the following equipment: • $150 to $250 off tractors • $550 to $1,400 off compact construction equipment • $100 to $250 off utility vehicles • $200 to $1,700 off commercial mowers • $50 to $150 off residential mowers Visit JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau, and have your membership number handy. *Must be a member for at least 30 days to qualify.
Save on Xerox printers and supplies Farm Bureau members interested in purchasing printers and supplies like cartridges, toner and ink will receive preferred pricing on the latest Xerox technology and services, including up to 50% off home and office products and production printers. To learn more, visit Xerox.com/FarmBureau, or contact a Xerox representative at 800-ASK-XEROX (800-275-9376), ext. 232. Users must present their Farm Bureau membership card or member number at the time of sale.
Virginia horticulture census yields mixed results BY ALICE KEMP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service recently released the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties report, and Virginia’s results are mixed. According to the census, Virginia sold $271 million in floriculture, nursery and specialty products in 2019, down 16% from 2014. Additionally, the number of horticulture operations decreased to 465—17% less than in 2014. “The number of horticultural production operations is definitely trending lower in Virginia,” said Tony Banks, senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “Shifts in wholesale and consumer demand, vertical integration and increasing imports are having an effect on the number of horticultural operations in Virginia and nationwide.” Robert Saunders, part owner of Saunders Brothers Wholesale Nursery in Nelson County, said he’s noticed a general slowdown in the nursery industry over the past 10 to 15 years, and some growers went out of business or exited the industry. “We did not see the growth from 2014 to 2019 that we would have liked to
Potted flowering plant sales increased 63% in 2019.
have seen,” he said. “We saw it leveling out much more than we had seen if you were to go back to the early to mid2000s. Everybody in our industry is seeing margins tightening.” Despite the overall decrease in sales, the report found nursery stock and potted flowering plant sales increased. Nursery stock was up 8% and potted flowering plants were up 63%. “Nursery is tied to home starts, and home building has been strong,” explained David Knopf, regional director of the NASS Eastern Mountain Regional Field Office. In addition, interest in potted plants is growing as more people are cultivating plants inside their homes. Saunders said he’s also noticed the
perennial market has been robust. The horticulture census found potted herbaceous perennials were up 2%, and food crops grown under protection were down 23%. A 38% dip in sales was reported for sod, sprigs and plugs, and annual bedding and garden plants were down 42%. The number of Christmas tree growers decreased by 36%, but sales increased 15%. Saunders added that despite the turmoil during the COVID-19 pandemic, his business had a good 2020 as more people took an interest in gardening, and suppliers transitioned to meet local demand. “It’ll be interesting to see how many people will remain gardeners after this,” he said. “We are cautiously optimistic.” vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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Save the Date!
Agriculture Literacy Week celebrated in March Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom will hold its annual Agriculture Literacy Week March 15-19. Volunteers will present the 2021 Book of the Year, How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? by Chris Butterworth, to school and community libraries and participate in virtual readings. For Agriculture Literacy Week details or to order books, visit AgInTheClass.org (See related article on Page 23).
Virginia Farm Festival to be held in May
The Meadow Event Park in FARM FESTIVAL Caroline County is planning to debut the Virginia Farm Festival May 1 and 2. The event will be filled with familyfriendly agricultural activities, music, Virginia crops and farm animals to celebrate Virginia agriculture. For more information, visit MeadowEventPark.com. VIRGINIA
Agriculture in the Classroom golf tournament planned for May The 25th Annual Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Golf Tournament is planned for May 3 at The Dominion Club in Henrico County. The event benefits AITC, and teams of four can register to play. Lunch and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be provided, and there will be a brief awards ceremony and reception following play. For more information, visit AgInTheClass.org. 8
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BACK to BASICS
Shear comfort Producers of Virginia-grown alpaca fleece and sheep wool are challenging fashion trends with goods derived from natural fibers.
ARTICLE BY ADAM CULLER PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA
Francis Chester does everything but scour and wash his sheep's wool. He picks, cards and spins his own wool yarn.
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plethora of plush wool yarns neatly line the shelves of the Cestari Sheep & Wool Company store, encouraging a gentle touch from interested shoppers. Soft, cozy and natural, wool is making a comeback as a preferred fiber in the fashion world thanks to its sustainable properties. That fact isn’t lost on Augusta County farmer Francis Chester. He raises Columbia, Targhee and Rambouillet sheep for wool at Chester-Cestari Farms, on land located directly behind the store in Augusta Springs. “There isn’t anything that equals wool, and people are recognizing that more and more over time,” Chester said. “Sustainability is really big in today’s market, and wool is exactly that. It’s a natural protein, which means it will eventually break down in nature. “The oil companies can try as desperately as they want to replicate wool with synthetic materials, but they’ll never be able to do it. God’s got the patent on wool, and he’s not sharing it with anyone.” Chester has raised sheep for 74 years and has an intimate understanding of consumer demands when it comes to wool. Aside from outsourcing the scouring and washing that clean raw wool and remove lanolin content, Chester picks, cards and spins his own wool yarn at his mill in Churchville. The end result is a carefully curated selection of textures that include pure wool and wool blends containing linen, silk and Virginia-grown cotton. “We see people who want to get wool, but we also have blends which work out well for our customers who want something else,” Chester said. “I’m using natural fibers to provide that experience for them, but I’m trying to keep the wool aspect included. I’m really a multi-fiber operation with an emphasis on wool.” vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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A variety of wool garments and yarn skeins are sold at the Cestari Sheep & Wool Company store in Augusta Springs, right on the sheep farm where Columbia, Targhee and Rambouillet sheep are raised. Double 8 Alpaca Ranch co-owner, Bonnie Kittrell, spreads the fleece on a Suri alpaca to show its silky appearance.
Spooled wool strands are fed into a spinning machine to create yarn at the Cestari Sheep & Wool Company mill in Churchville. At left, garments made from alpaca yarn feel like cashmere. Doug and Bonnie Kittrell inspect the fleece of a Huacaya alpaca at Double 8 Alpaca Ranch. 10
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BACK to BASICS
On their 32-acre Double 8 Alpaca Ranch in Loudoun County, alpacas follow Bonnie Kittrell in hopes of receiving a carrot stick treat.
Alpaca – a unique fleece
Doug Kittrell, who raises alpacas at Double 8 Alpaca Ranch in Loudoun County, suggested wool is experiencing a resurgence not only because of its sustainability, but also for its durability and versatility. In an era of fast fashion, synthetic fibers have replaced natural fibers, which causes some garments to fall apart after just a few wears. Some modern clothing incorporates a percentage of wool content. But Kittrell said once synthetic fibers are introduced, customers miss out on the authentic wool experience. “You’ve got to feel wool to know what it really is and to understand that it’s not the same stuff you’d feel at stores,” he explained. “Wool is an amazing product, and natural fibers are incredible. They have the ability to keep you warm when it’s cold out, and they help you stay cool in warmer temperatures. It’s like magic.” Kittrell began raising alpacas for fiber in 2010, and he and his wife, Bonnie,
“When I see people’s faces, they’re looking at the animals and it makes them feel more connected to the world they live in or a world they wished they lived in.” — DOUG KITTRELL Double 8 Alpaca Ranch Loudoun County
raise about 50. They use the alpaca fleece to produce yarn and socks that are sold in their farm store, and they also send some to co-ops to contribute to other alpaca farmers’ endeavors. The alpaca fleece is processed similarly to sheep wool, though it doesn’t contain lanolin, eliminating the need for it to be scoured. The absence of lanolin makes alpaca fiber hypoallergenic, and it is lighter and warmer than sheep wool, although typically more expensive. Alpaca wool occupies a niche market, and Kittrell said customers appreciate the high quality of a handmade, natural product. “When I see people’s faces, they’re looking at the animals and it makes them feel more connected to the world they live in or a world they wished they lived in,” he said. “To have something made from those animals, it just makes people feel good—they’ve got a product that feels good and feels good emotionally.” vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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THE JOY of GREENERY Pawpaw’s tropical in American Houseplants can enhance livingflavors spaces rooted and boost wintertimelandscape moods | BY ALICE KEMP
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esthetically pleasing, houseplants can add a little nature to indoor living spaces and help make the cold, dreary months more bearable. “They brighten the mood,” said Chris Mullins, a Virginia Cooperative Extension horticulturist. “They make people feel better.”
Plants add humidity to dry interiors
Humidity is low during wintertime. Dry skin, chapped lips and static electricity on certain surfaces in the home are all symptoms of dry, winter air. “Houseplants can help alleviate that a little bit, and to some degree, give you a little more moisture in the air,” Mullins said. Plants emit moisture as a product of photosynthesis, he explained, acting as natural humidifiers.
Relax with a green hobby
While plants filter out dust and toxins and release oxygen, recent studies have shown that “other than increasing humidity indoors, the effect on air quality is actually quite small,” explained Dr. Josh Kardos, a horticulture instructor at
Christmas Cactus
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Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. “A single indoor plant in a room has essentially no impact,” he said. Kardos explained that people would need many plants to see any kind of measurable effect on indoor air quality. Instead, the real benefits are subjective—harder to measure, but still important. They can have a calming, relaxing effect and provide a hobby, Kardos said. “Plants can help with mental health by giving people something to care for and providing a sense of purpose and accomplishment.” Kardos' introductory class on indoor plants is always at capacity, with more students on a waiting list. He said he witnesses that enthusiasm when students email him pictures of their plant collections, illustrating their joy for growing plants. “My students are so proud of the fact that they’re not only keeping their plants alive, but the plants are growing and even thriving.”
Plants aren’t fussy
Several indoor plant varieties are low-maintenance and forgiving when it comes to their growing
Rubber Tree
Phothos
requirements, Mullins said. Even those without a green thumb can have success cultivating these plants. “There’s something for everybody,” he said. Christmas cactuses have beautiful blooms that add pops of color to an environment, Mullins said. Like their name suggests, they bloom during winter months and “are one of those kinds of plants that probably will do best if you just leave them alone.” Peace lilies are another flowering option and grow well in low to bright light and some humidity. Pothos, a trailing vine with heartshaped, variegated leaves can add dimension and drama. The ZZ plant, with its wide, dark green leaves, is hardy and tolerates low light. Other recommendations include spider plants with long, grassy leaves that thrive under a variety of conditions, and rubber trees and snake plants that can add visual interest and height to any space. “If you don’t believe me, just try it,” Kardos encouraged. “Buy one or more of the easy-to-grow indoor plants and see if you don’t feel more relaxed and find more enjoyment with them in your environment.”
Peace Lily
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No days off: Grain farmers don’t stop working in winter ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY ADAM CULLER
The Broadduses Spring Hill Farms, Caroline County
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eering out his living room window on a snowy December morning, Johnny Broaddus determined the weather was harsh enough to forgo his farming duties for the day. But that didn’t mean he got the day off. Instead, he decided to stay inside and conquer a stack of accumulated bills and tax forms. A generation ago, a similar day at Spring Hill Farms in Caroline County would’ve called for relaxation. Broaddus and his brother, Lynwood, recalled their late father, Woodford, hunting with neighbors in the winter. Today, winter farm operations are decidedly different for Johnny, Lynwood and Lynwood’s son, Bates, who together raise corn, soybeans and small grains in Milford. It’s a yearround job. Days interrupted by wintry weather aren’t spent idle, and the
Clockwise from top, Johnny Broaddus monitors soybeans moving onto an auger for shipment; Lynwood Broaddus checks the oil levels of the operation’s sprayer; and Bates Broaddus performs maintenance on one of Spring Hill Farms’ tractors.
weeks following crop harvests are as busy as the weeks preceding them. Though the date varies each year, Bates noted the farm’s off-season typically starts around New Year’s Day. He asserted there’s no downtime during winter, and each year the “offseason” seems to grow shorter. “The fact is, we’re busy all year,” Lynwood shared. “You really need the winter to get everything fixed, everything fertilized and to make sure your paperwork gets taken care of. You might get some horrible days when you really don’t want to mess with the weather, but then that gives you a chance to catch up on some other things indoors.”
Keep on cultivating Winter chores are split at Spring Hill Farms—Lynwood handles
spraying crops and fertilizing the operation’s 1,400 acres, and manages the hay supply that feeds the farm’s small cattle herd. Johnny runs the combine during harvests in early summer and late winter, manages the operation’s finances and coordinates grain sales. Bates has a hand in a little bit of everything, though he primarily plants crops and maintains farm equipment. The goal of winter work, the Broadduses said, is to keep the farm running smoothly for spring. Crop planning for the next growing season begins in October, and fertilizer is spread as early as January. Before production starts in the spring, the trio protect the soil with a rotation of winter cover crops, including 200 acres each of winter wheat and rye, and 50 acres of barley. vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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‘Preparing for winter starts in the summer’
At right, CJ checks on his hogs during a drizzly morning at Keenbell Farm in Hanover County.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY NICOLE ZEMA
CJ Isbell Keenbell Farm, Hanover County
Promoting Virginia agriculture
“We spread our cover crops over the course of winter so there’s always something green growing in the ground,” Bates said. “That way, the crops are holding the nutrients instead of them being leached away, and once those crops decompose, it provides organic matter.” Once spring arrives, the farm’s focus shifts to its regular three-year rotation of corn and soybeans. Most of the harvested soybean and corn crops are sold for use as feed for chickens and hogs. While erratic weather and volatile market pricing can quickly change plans for a given growing season, Lynwood said the farm is well-equipped to handle the unpredictability. He affectionately described the family’s trick of adapting to every scenario as “winging it.” 14
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In addition to farming, Lynwood keeps busy serving as Caroline County Farm Bureau’s president. His late mother, Jean, convinced him to serve on the county Farm Bureau’s board of directors right after college graduation. He joined the board in 1981 and never left. Now Bates serves as vice president. As president, Lynwood meets with members and represents their interests at Farm Bureau meetings and legislative events, many of which are held between December and April. With farmers facing an increasing number of regulatory hurdles, advocating for farming is an important part of keeping Virginia’s agricultural heritage intact. “The reason I represent Farm Bureau is because I want my grandchildren to have the opportunity to farm, and the only way they’re going to have that opportunity is if we speak up now for agriculture.”
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t’s still T-shirt weather when CJ Isbell is thinking about wintertime and its related farm tasks. Winter is a fluid concept at Keenbell Farm in western Hanover County, where farm work is determined by a thermometer, and not designated days on a calendar. Farm operator CJ Isbell said if farmers didn’t have the weather to talk about, “We wouldn’t have much to say.” The third-generation farmer manages the 175-acre farm, producing grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, free-range chickens and turkeys, eggs and non-GMO grains. While days are shorter in the winter, coldweather farm tasks are anything but abbreviated. “’Winter all depends on the weather,” Isbell explained.
WINTER
Shifting seasons and forage fluctuation He said seasons have shifted, and his winter chores have shifted with them. “Normally on Oct. 15 you’re preparing for first frost, through April 15, the last frost date,” Isbell said. “But everything’s shifted back two months than when I was growing up, taking longer to warm up in the spring. So, we shifted our corn planting.” While corn is traditionally planted in March and April, he recalled a hard frost early last May that destroyed crop fields statewide. So now he errs on the side of caution. “We’re not putting anything in ground until after Mother’s Day.” Isbell’s weather-wise responsiveness keeps him in-step on managing forage, the plant material eaten by grazing livestock. Forage crops improve soil quality and reduce the need to feed supplemental hay in the winter, which can be costly. “Planning and preparing for the winter starts in the summer,” Isbell said. That’s when he plants warmseason vegetation and stockpiles grasses on which the animals will graze through the winter. Coldweather forages offer cattle a quality diet and enhance soil sustainability. “Utilizing annual cool-season and warm-season forages elongates the green-grazing season, allowing the pastures to rest and grow.”
with straw to prevent the ground from eroding. A complex system of pipes carrying artesian well water to Keenbell’s watering systems must be fortified against frost, which requires daily maintenance. “When the temperature drops, we go around and winterize everything,” Isbell said. “But no matter the temperature, there will always be water in the tanks.” Water flows underground to tanks that cows and pigs use to access water by pushing on a ball or lever. When they’re done drinking, the water drains back into the ground. When overnight temperatures are predicted in the 20s, Isbell quickly gets in gear. “We go out there and open up all the water lines. We have an air compressor on our Bobcat to blow
all the lines out every night so they don’t freeze.”
Tune-up and tinker Once the animals’ water source is secure and they are protected from the elements, it’s time for other wintertime chores. Isbell repairs faulty parts on farm equipment and machinery that were identified during busy planting and harvesting months. “We’ll notice this bearing is getting ready to go, or this part is broken, but not broken enough to stop,” Isbell said. “We’ll finish the field first, and go back for preventive maintenance on bad-weather days, so there’s more uptime when it’s critical.” In the winter, he seizes the opportunity to repair items that get neglected in the heat of things “when you’re go-go-go.”
Till Keenbell freezes over As the seasons change, “we are a system dependent on movement,” Isbell said. If the forecast indicates a longduration weather event like heavy snowfall, extreme low temperatures or extended rainfall, it determines the workload. “We’ll bring out some hay bales to make windbreaks in a severe winter storm, which gives cattle refuge from blowing winds and snow.” He also moves chickens into areas he covers
Farm staff control the cycle of inventory with yearly, monthly and weekly planning. A schedule in the farm’s poultry-processing facility outlines when poultry is due to be processed. vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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PHOTO BY NICOLE ZEMA
Lindy and Matt Fimon met at a marathon in Roanoke, became pen pals, and married a year later. He moved from Minneapolis to rural Southside Virginia, where he helps on the family farm.
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Matt and Lindy Fimon Brunswick County via Minneapolis Married April 2018 Beef cattle and hay operation “This is how an NCIS episode starts,” Matt Fimon realized. He was 1,000 miles from home, his phone was dead, and he was in the back seat of a car driven up Mill Mountain by two women he’d just met in Roanoke. They kept him out dancing until 2 a.m. Four months later he was engaged to one of them. Born and raised in Crystal, Minnesota, Matt’s education and subsequent career in human resources kept him rooted in busy downtown Minneapolis. In 2017, the urban bachelor was ready for adventure. He set a goal to run a half- or full marathon in all 50 states. Lindy Tucker happened to be visiting her friend in Roanoke the weekend of his first race—the Blue Ridge Marathon. He noticed Lindy, and considered the best approach. “I came up with two goofy ways to pronounce ‘Roanoke,’ so I could go up and ask her how to pronounce it,” Matt said. But he hesitated with every attempt. “I’m fully deaf in my right ear,” he explained. “A band was playing and it was way too loud, so I knew I wouldn’t hear anything. Lindy and her friend sat there laughing. They said, ‘You’re not from around here, are you?’” Two hours later, he was in the back of their car on a dark mountain road. “Eh, he looked harmless,” Lindy joked. “After that night, I thought I wouldn’t see them again,” Matt said. “But they were both there at the race, supporting me, holding signs that said ‘Run, Minnesota, Run!’”
CITY meets
COUNTRY and learns to adjust
Virginia farm couples aren’t exactly emulating the city couple who moved to a rural farm in the 1960s sitcom Green Acres. But the spouses who move from the city to marry a farmer encounter just as many adventures. BY NICOLE ZEMA
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FIMONS
‘A pretty good detour’
The Fimons married in April 2018.
More than pen pals Matt and Lindy became pen pals, and arranged to rendezvous at another race in South Dakota. “We were engaged four months later,
and married a year later, on the date we met,” he said. “And she made it clear she wasn’t leaving Virginia.” The Tucker family’s agricultural roots run deep in Southside Virginia. In addition to working the family farm, Rome Farm in Brunswick County, Lindy serves as a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Lunenburg County, and as chairman of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Committee. “My own agriculture background was watching John Wayne movies with my dad and grandpa, fantasizing to someday own a horse,” Matt said. “I still want a horse, but Lindy hasn’t gotten me one. Cows are close enough.”
City boy bucks the odds Matt’s family and friends thought he couldn’t hack it on a cattle farm. “They think I’m nuts,” he said. But Matt’s watch-and-learn approach working in human resources serves him well on the farm. “I just help where I can, moving hay, working the cows and calves,” he said. “And the great thing about cows, compared to the HR field—cows don’t talk back.” Cows communicate in other ways, Matt learned. He recalled one pooping on his favorite hat. “I don’t think I’ve ever worn that thing again. I couldn’t be mad at that cow. That’s life.”
Southside assimilation Matt’s broad social network in Minneapolis meant many people knew his name. But in Virginia he is often referred to as “Lindy’s husband,” or “Lewis Tucker’s son-inlaw.” Southside Virginia people are great, Matt explained, “but they’re going to vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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CITY meets
judge you off your family and people you’re connected to. I’m judged on the Tuckers and their history.” Though more than 1,000 miles separate the two regions, the Fimons said there are similarities between Southern hospitality and “Minnesota Nice” cultural stereotypes. But the differences are perceptible too. “There are not a lot of other Irish Catholics around here,” Matt said. “Do I fit in as a Southside farm person? No. But can I mesh and get along? Yeah. I’m part of the community now.” If Matt hadn’t met Lindy, maybe he’d still be running marathons. But he’s thriving as a supportive husband and father to their 1-year-old, Mattie. “In certain seasons in life, we have to support one another, and right now it’s a priority in Lindy’s season,” Matt said. “She has all these blessings going for her, and later on, we can focus on mine.” Lindy said it’s been hard sometimes, but fun. “I’m excited for his turn, when we can focus on Matt’s goals.” Matt said, “When you find the person you want to be with the rest of your life, you want to make sacrifices. Life is on a detour right now, and it’s a pretty good one.”
‘Wouldn’t change a thing’
COUNTRY
In an ode to his dairy roots, Jeff Henderson toasted his new wife, Karen, with champagne glasses of milk.
Karen and Jeff Henderson Botetourt County via D.C. Metro Married April 1993 Dairy, corn and hay operation Karen Heberlein Henderson thought a bush hog was a breed of swine, “Over Yonder” was the name of a town, and sugar didn’t belong in tea. The newlywed was still adjusting to rural life at Cave Hill Farm after moving to Botetourt County from Annandale in Fairfax County. “I had fire under my tires in Northern Virginia,” Karen said. Some of her friends, and even her motherin-law, weren’t sure she could handle the transition to a slower pace when she married Jeff, a low-key, fifth-
generation farmer. “In Northern Virginia, I’m fast-moving, fast-talking, fast-driving. But they’re busy in a different way down here.” The Hendersons had been introduced through a mutual friend, and engaged eight weeks later. Despite being opposites, premarital personality tests revealed the couple’s undeniable compatibility. “All the qualities I wanted, he had,” Karen said. “It was just a matter of lifestyle change. I’m extroverted, he’s introverted. I’m an emotional thinker, he’s a logical thinker. But boy, has he helped me grow.”
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Worlds apart Her first night visiting Botetourt, Karen was invited to stay at Jeff’s parents’ house, and attend a dance at the women’s club. He picked her up at Radford University, where she was an English and technical writing major. “There were no streetlights,” Karen recalled, as they rode in darkness down state Route 779. “I was thinking of everything my mom and dad told me— don’t go with a guy to a place you don’t know. Four miles on that road felt like 30 miles; I was scared.” But a wonderful farm family, and a new way of life, welcomed her on Henderson Lane. She was surprised to see that Jeff’s family kept milk in a Tupperware container, fresh from cows milked that morning. “I said, ‘Mrs. Henderson, there’s something floating on the top of this milk. I think it’s curdled.’” She replied, “That’s cream, honey.” About 175 people attended their Annandale wedding on April 24, which is Karen’s grandmother’s birthday and also a busy time of year for farmers. “It was the first time, and to-date the only time, that all of us were away from the farm overnight at once,” Jeff said. The newlywed couple is beaming in a wedding photo, sitting in a car smeared with shaving cream. “This is me in my $300 white dress to depart the wedding,” Karen said. “And here is Jeff in his jeans—not new ones—and cowboy boots and regular button-up shirt. That said it all: City meets country. We toasted with milk. He had a red velvet cow-shaped groom’s cake.” When they returned from their honeymoon, “I sat my bag down, got dressed, got a corn planter and didn’t come home until dark for two weeks,” Jeff recalled.
Expectation meets reality Karen would learn the hard way that farm demands take precedence over daily comforts. Cooking was an
expression of love in her Polish family; and growing up, her dad was always home for dinner by 5 p.m. “I was making these Southern Living meals, ready on the table at 6:30 p.m., with Jeff rolling in at 8,” Karen said. “I would get mad. I wanted to run home to daddy.” One night, she almost did, but Jeff’s grandfather stopped her at the door. “’Even if you think Jeff doesn’t need you, I know I do,’” she recalled him pleading. “That was the turning point in our marriage.” Jeff’s grandparents’ health began to decline, and they moved into the Hendersons’ home.
Gratitude is a function of perspective
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE HENDERSONS
Karen Henderson moved from the greater Washington, D.C. area to rural Botetourt County when she married Jeff Henderson, a dairy farmer.
“When they moved in, it got my mind off the little things that upset me about being here,” Karen said. “Those things dissolve when you have someone in your house who is dying. Caregiving was the best thing that happened to our marriage. My friends were complaining about their husbands leaving pants on the floor, and we were trying to figure out how to help his grandfather with the more intimate aspects of his care, and still keep his pride about him.” The Hendersons went on to have three children. Their daughter Courtney is now the sixth generation working on the family dairy farm with her dad and grandfather. A lot has changed since Karen was a college student reading Shakespeare next to Jeff in the tractor. She’s helped care for his grandparents, raised children, kept house, worked off-farm jobs, and suffered her own chronic pain and illness. “And I wouldn’t change a thing.”
The Hendersons are pictured here departing their 1993 wedding—Karen in her posh afterparty dress and matching hat, and Jeff in his favorite button-up and old blue jeans. vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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Seed catalogs evoke images, flavors of springtime BY NICOLE ZEMA PHOTOS BY JEANNE GRUNERT CATALOG PHOTOS COURTESY OF U.S. Department of Agriculture
J
ust as travel magazines can transport us to verdant coastlines or tropical locales on dreary winter days, seed catalogs can evoke sights and smells of springtime for Virginia’s home gardeners. Seed catalogs have sown inspiration in Virginia’s gardens and fields for more than a century—many published
for them. They used original drawings and paintings—really beautiful art.” Online exhibits of more than 200,000 vintage seed catalogs can be viewed in the USDA’s National Agriculture Library here: bit.ly/USDAcatalog. Colorfully worded descriptions complement the glossy images of plants and produce in modern seed catalogs.
“There’s something magical about seeing beautiful photographs of colorful flowers, juicy fresh-picked vegetables, and all types of plants when the weather outside is gloomy and cold,” — JEANNE GRUNERT
Seeds for pink zinnias, heirloom tomatoes and unique lettuce varieties are among flower, herb and vegetable seeds that can be purchased through seed catalogs. Jeanne Grunert writes about seed catalogs and more on her blog homegardenjoy.com.
in Virginia, like W. Grossman & Son from the Petersburg Seed House, Wood’s Seeds from T.W. Wood & Sons in Richmond, and Slate’s Guide to Gardening from W.C. Slate Field and Garden Seeds in South Boston. In 2021, gardeners can still expect to find vegetable, herb and flower seeds, ranging from familiar heirlooms to newly developed varieties, in catalogs often delivered to mailboxes throughout the winter. “There’s something magical about seeing beautiful photographs of colorful flowers, juicy fresh-picked vegetables, and all types of plants when the weather outside is gloomy and cold,” said Jeanne Grunert of Seven Oaks Farm in Prince Edward County. A Virginia master gardener, author and garden blogger, Grunert grew up in a Long Island town called Floral Park. The town was founded in 1874 by a horticulturist named John Lewis Childs, who is credited with starting the first mail-order seed catalog business in the U.S. “So, I love old seed catalogs,” Grunert said. “There’s even a collectible market
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“They’ll usually have information you need to grow it, like light and soil requirements, but with nice adjectives to describe the color and type,” Grunert said. “Most do a good job of engaging you and appealing to your imagination, while offering the facts to decide whether the plant is right for your garden.” While Grunert is methodical in the garden, perusing seed catalogs is an exercise in relaxation. “I make a list of what I plan to grow, but I’ll also look for unusual varieties,” she said. “Or I may be looking for a particular herb variety or color of marigolds that you can’t get in a garden center. ‘Window shopping’ from the myriad seed catalogs and websites is one of winter’s great gardening pleasures.” Most seed catalogs can be found in a simple web search, viewed online, or mailed at no cost to the recipient. Historic Virginia-based seed catalogs have been mailed to landowners for more than a century— many published in Virginia, like W. Grossman & Son from the Petersburg Seed House, Wood’s Seeds from T.W. Wood & Sons in Richmond, and Slate’s Guide to Gardening from W.C. Slate Field and Garden Seeds in South Boston.
vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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HENRY G. GILBERT NURSERY AND SEED TRADE CATALOG COLLECTION, USDA NATIONAL AGRICULTURE LIBRARY
Heads up: Cellphone use while driving is now illegal in Virginia
A
BY ADAM CULLER
new Virginia law banning the use of cellphones while driving is in effect, and Drive Smart Virginia is reminding motorists of the consequences of distracted driving. The mandate was signed by Gov. Ralph Northam on July 8, 2020, and went into effect Jan. 1., making Virginia the 22nd state to ban the use of handheld devices while driving. The law now prohibits drivers from holding any personal communication devices while driving a moving vehicle on the state’s roadways. According to Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles 2019 crash statistics, distracted driving caused 23,246 accidents and 120 fatal crashes. Those figures represent 18.1% of all crashes and 14.5% of all fatalities on Virginia roadways.
Virginia DMV statistics from 2018 revealed that the jurisdictions with the most distracted driving crashes were Fairfax County, Prince William County, Virginia Beach, Hampton and Newport News. The counties with the most fatalities were Prince William, Fairfax, Fauquier, Hanover and Spotsylvania. “Thousands of Virginians are involved in crashes every year, and distracted driving is a factor in many of those crashes,” said David Tenembaum, Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. actuarial manager and treasurer of Drive Smart Virginia. “Manipulating a cellphone while driving increases your crash risk by 2,300% because it involves all three kinds of distractions—manual, visual and cognitive. Help us save lives by putting your phone down.”
Drivers who violate the new law will be subject to a $125 fine for the first offense and $250 for each subsequent offense. Violations that occur in highway work zones also will carry a $250 fine. It still is permissible to use handsfree technology to make or receive phone calls while driving—the ban only prohibits drivers from directly handling their devices. If drivers must use their phones while traveling, they must be lawfully parked or stopped to do so. Drivers using a hand-held device to report an emergency are exempt, as are the operators of emergency vehicles who are engaged in their official duties. Motorists also may handle amateur or citizens band radios. For more information, visit phonedown.org.
Financing Country Living Since 1916 The Experts in Rural Finance Homes • Land • Construction • Livestock Barns • Outbuildings • Equipment
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National Ag Day celebrates agriculture’s everyday contributions
N
ational Ag Day 2021 will be celebrated on March 23 during National Ag Week, March 21-27. The annual observances are organized by the Agriculture Council of America, a nonprofit organization with the mission to increase the public’s awareness of agriculture’s vital role in today’s society. The National Ag Day initiative began in 1973, and since then farmers, agricultural associations, businesses, universities, government agencies and others have banded together to promote and educate consumers on the importance of agriculture in a person’s daily life, from what they eat to the clothes they wear and products they use. According to the ACA, farming and
Students learn about agriculture through hands-on activities like field trips to local farms.
related industries employ 21.6 million people—11% of total U.S. employment. In addition, each American farmer feeds more than 165 people, and as
the population increases, so does the demand for food and fiber produced in the nation.
How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? named AITC Book of the Year
V
irginia’s Agriculture in the Classroom program has selected How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? by Chris Butterworth as its 2021 AITC Book of the Year. Volunteers will present books to schools and participate in virtual readings during the annual Agriculture Literacy Week, planned for March 15-19. “This book takes a unique peek inside a student’s lunchbox and shares the true farm-to-table journey,” said Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC programs director. “Readers can visit farms around the country to learn the source of some of our favorite foods—from fruits and vegetables, to sandwiches and desserts.” Virginia AITC began celebrating Agriculture Literacy Week in 2011. It is the program’s largest educational event, with approximately 2,000 volunteers reading to 60,000 children
statewide. The week provides students with an opportunity to learn about agriculture, farming and the sources of their food. The How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? bundle is available for
purchase at $10 each and includes a copy of the book, an educator’s guide and a poster. An order form is located on the AITC website. Volunteers are encouraged to share agriculture’s story by presenting a book to a class or library and virtually reading the book to children in prekindergarten through third grade. Agriculture Literacy Week volunteers include county Farm Bureau leaders, Farm Bureau Women’s Program and Young Farmers Program participants, FFA and 4-H participants, partners from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other state agencies, and members of other agricultural organizations and businesses. Colonial Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Southern States Cooperative Inc. have been major supporters as well. For details or to order books, visit AgInTheClass.org. vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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Missed open enrollment? Here’s what to do BY ADAM CULLER
W
hether you’re opting into employer-offered insurance benefits or purchasing health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, open enrollment periods typically are the only time to obtain health insurance in a calendar year. While dates for businesses’ open enrollment periods may vary, the ACA open enrollment period to purchase individual health insurance runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 each year. The period to purchase coverage for 2021 concluded Dec. 15, 2020. If you missed your open enrollment period, there still are options to secure some form of health coverage. Through certain life events you may qualify for a special enrollment period, which allows a person to sign up for health insurance outside of
conventional open enrollment periods. According to Healthcare.gov, qualifying events include getting married; having a child; changing residences; or losing health insurance due to the death of the primary policyholder, divorce, job loss or loss of group coverage. Generally, these events will trigger a 60-day period in which a person can purchase health coverage, and sometimes dental and vision coverage, through the health insurance marketplace. Also, employer-based plans are required to provide a special enrollment period of at least 30 days. However, if you don’t sign up for coverage during a special enrollment period, you must wait until the next open enrollment period or explore other options.
If you don’t qualify for a special enrollment period, short-term health insurance plans can be purchased at any time to provide temporary coverage. Though these plans do not meet ACA requirements for minimum coverage, they offer basic protection against catastrophic medical expenses. There is no open enrollment period for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and those who qualify for coverage may enroll at any time. CHIP offers low-cost health and dental coverage to children whose families make too much income to qualify for Medicaid. Additionally, sole proprietors can purchase group coverage at any time if the business owner has filed the proper forms and schedules on their tax returns within the last tax year. To learn more about your coverage options, contact your county Farm Bureau office.
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Commercial property and casualty policies require buildings to be occupied and utilized. Vacant or underutilized buildings can be protected with vacant building coverage.
Protect empty buildings from losses with vacant building insurance
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ommercial building vacancies are on the rise, and could cause potential insurance problems for business owners and commercial property owners who’ve shifted operations to remote settings. Under most commercial property and casualty insurance policies, buildings are subject to coverage restrictions if they become vacant, or if less than 30% of the space is being used by an owner or lessee for normal business operations. Once a building has been vacant for 30 consecutive days, most policies will restrict coverage on losses involving theft, vandalism and water damage. To ensure an empty building is properly covered, policyholders should consider purchasing vacant building coverage to protect them from substantial financial losses.
“If your building is vacant, and will continue to be for an extended period of time, you need to look into vacant building coverage,” said Lisa Whitus, personal and commercial lines underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. “Your commercial property and casualty policy requires a building to be occupied and utilized. After 60 consecutive days of being vacant, you’ll lose all coverage except for fire and lightning, as well as suffer a reduced payment amount,” she added. “Vacant building policies recognize that a building is vacant, and the insured will be charged accordingly for coverage.” Residential property also can be covered through similar policies, though coverage exclusions on theft, vandalism and water damage can begin as soon as 30 days after the property
was vacated, depending on the policy. To best protect dormant property from unanticipated damage, Whitus encouraged policyholders to contact their agent as soon as a home or building is vacated. “The most important thing is to contact your agent so you’re aware of the coverages you are losing when a building becomes vacant,” Whitus said. “At that point, you can begin to seek coverage alternatives through available vacant building endorsements or placement of a separate vacant building policy.” Vacant building policies are available through third-party brokers only, so contact your local Farm Bureau insurance agent to inquire about purchasing coverage.
vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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EXPERT ADVICE: Reasons to call your insurance agent
I
t’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of monumental life events like purchasing a new home, starting or expanding a business, or watching your family grow. Considering your insurance needs during these events usually is of least concern in the moment, but it’s important to notify your Farm Bureau agent when they occur. Here are just a few good reasons to call your Farm Bureau insurance agents, courtesy of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. experts:
“Whenever there’s an auto accident or any type of loss that involves damage or an injury, those incidents should be reported to your agent right away.” – Laurie Gannon, Vice President of Claims
“Anytime you buy or sell a vehicle, or anytime you have a new driver in your household, it’s important to call your agent to make sure your policy is up-to-date, and that you have adequate coverage for every driver and vehicle.” – Anne Baskette, Director of Claims Administration
“One of the best reasons to reach out to your insurance agent is to ensure they are current with any life changes that have occurred to the lives of your family. Having insurance protections to meet the growing needs of your family can
BY ADAM CULLER
help save everyone from heartache down the road.” – Barry Light, Senior Product Development Manager “If you’re a business owner, and you’re moving from a business being tied to an individual to establishing a corporation or limited partnership, it’s important to contact your agent to discuss coverage options for your business.” – Sam Rooks, Vice President of Underwriting and Policy Services
“When a customer experiences any change to their homeowner policies, such as purchasing a new home or property or remodeling existing property, their first call should be to their agent to ensure these coverage changes are addressed.” – Gerald Gardner, Director of Sales
“Policyholders should contact their agent at least once a year to schedule a full coverage review. For business owners, a review will address any potential gaps in coverage as your business operations expand.” – Lisa Whitus, Personal and Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager
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Agriculture touches your life every day! Meet the
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Virginia farmers who raise products for your table and your community. Learn how to prepare delicious Virginia foods and cultivate a lush landscape and edible garden. Real Virginia airs nationwide at 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV, and on many cable outlets—check local listings. Watch anytime at vafb.com, and weekly on • WBRA Roanoke • WHRO Norfolk
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Watch the first and second weekends of each month on • WRLH Richmond
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• WVIR Charlottesville
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Earthquakes can cause devastating damage to homes — even in Virginia.
Avoid the financial shock of earthquake damage with proper coverage BY ADAM CULLER
E
arthquakes can cause devastating damage to homes and, as some Virginians discovered after a quake rocked Central Virginia in 2011, an unendorsed homeowner policy won’t cover the costs. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the 5.8 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Louisa County, was the 10th costliest in U.S. history. The event caused $150 million in losses, mostly in Central Virginia and the Washington metro area, with insured losses at $50 million—a mere third of the total. Lisa Whitus, personal and commercial lines underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co., explained that
unendorsed standard homeowner policies provide no coverage for earthquake damage. Earthquake coverage also is excluded on unendorsed business owner and farmowner policies. Following the 2011 earthquake, Jeff Feagans, a Louisa County Farm Bureau insurance agent, said the county’s office was overwhelmed with calls from customers inquiring if they had coverage. Nearly all of them did not. “Inevitably, we had to tell customers that they didn’t have the endorsement and that [earthquake coverage] is one of the only exclusions on most people’s homeowner policies,” Feagans said, noting that county agents rarely addressed coverage when conducting
policy reviews in the past. “That probably was the darkest period of my 32-plus years with Farm Bureau, because most of my clients are my friends,” he shared. “And having to tell them they didn’t have coverage— I’m just glad it’s over and done.” Homeowners typically can purchase earthquake coverage for their homes if there hasn’t been a seismic event within the last 30 days. Basic earthquake coverage insures the structure of the home itself, though policyholders can purchase additional coverage for personal property inside their homes and other structures like detached garages and sheds. Through VFBMIC policies, the cost of coverage for framed dwellings is 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, and any other type of construction is 80 cents per $1,000. Policyholders’ deductibles are 2% of their home’s assessed value. Therefore, the annual premium to insure a framed dwelling with an assessed value of $300,000 would be $150, and $240 for other construction types. The deductible would be $6,000 for each. Despite the added expense and the infrequency of earthquakes in Virginia, Whitus said purchasing earthquake insurance can be a worthy investment to help protect your home from the unexpected. “Even though it had been over 100 years between major earthquakes in Virginia, imagine being a homeowner when the Louisa County earthquake hit,” Whitus said. “It would have caught you by surprise, and that isn’t the time to find out that you don’t have coverage. “Your insurance policies should be in place to protect you from these catastrophic events—fires that can burn your house down, hurricanes that can blow your house over, and earthquakes that can demolish your home. Coverage should be purchased for the big events, and earthquakes are exactly that.”
vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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Heart of the Home
Hand pies: Scrumptious treats held Savory or sweet, hand pies are tiny packages of flavor
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken A mixture of sweet and savory ingredients contribute to the unique flavor of these Moroccan hand pies.
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium chicken broth
COURTESY OF HOME BAKING ASSOCIATION / ARDENT MILLS
DIRECTIONS
T
he exact origin of hand pies is ambiguous, and nearly every culture has its own version. Some of the more well-known hand pies include Australian meat pies, Cornish pasties, empanadas, Jamaican patties, samosas and spanakopita. In America, hand pies are considered a Southern staple of convenient snacking. While there are no limits on shape or filling, hand pies all have a few common characteristics—they’re small enough to hold in your hand, and the filling is encased in pastry or dough. They can be fried or baked. Made to be convenient for eating on the go, these miniature pies can even be made ahead of time and frozen for a quick meal later.
Moroccan Chicken and Apricot Hand Pies
Filling:
INGREDIENTS
1 clove garlic, minced
Pastry:
½ cup diced red pepper
2½ cups pastry flour
¼ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon oregano
1 cup butter, cubed
¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper
2 eggs, divided
pinch of cinnamon, optional
2 teaspoons white vinegar
¼ cup diced, dried apricots
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1 tablespoon unsalted butter
¼ cup chopped onion
Pastry: In a food processor, pulse together pastry flour and salt. Add butter and pulse 3-4 times or until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger pieces. In a measuring cup, whisk 1 egg with vinegar, and add enough ice water to make ½ cup. Pour over the flour mixture, and pulse just until the dough starts to clump together. Transfer to a lightly floured surface, and knead a few times or until dough comes together. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 45 minutes. Filling: Heat oven to 375°. In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and sauté the onion and garlic for about 3 minutes or until softened. Add red pepper, and cook for 5-6 minutes or until tender. Add cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cinnamon, if using. Add apricots, chicken and broth to the skillet. Simmer for 3-5 minutes or until chicken is moistened. Let cool. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to ¼” thickness. Cut into 4” rounds, re-rolling scraps once, to make 18 rounds. Transfer rounds to a parchment paperlined baking sheet, spacing them about 1” apart. Place a heaping tablespoonful of filling onto one half of each round, leaving a border all around. Whisk the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush the edges of
in your palm the rounds with some of the egg wash. Fold the pastry over, and seal the edges with a fork. Brush the tops with egg wash.
incorporated. Stir in oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve empanadas with chimichurri.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden and crisp. COURTESY OF AMERICAN LAMB BOARD
—American Lamb Board
—Home Baking Association and Ardent Mills
Lamb Empanadas with Red Chimichurri INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, diced 3 garlic cloves, minced 5 pounds ground lamb 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon cayenne 1 cup sliced green onions 1 cup golden raisins kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste 50 frozen empanada-prepared dough discs, thawed 2 eggs, whisked 1 quart red chimichurri Chimichurri ingredients 1 bunch fresh cilantro 1 bunch fresh parsley 16 ounces roasted red peppers, drained 1 cup piquillo peppers, drained 1 shallot, minced 3 garlic cloves ¼ cup red wine vinegar
These lamb empanadas get an extra kick from a rich, spicy red chimichurri dipping sauce.
3-ingredient Caramel Apple Hand Pies INGREDIENTS 14-ounce box puff pastry, thawed 1 large apple, chopped into ¼” pieces ⅓ cup caramel sauce DIRECTIONS
1 tablespoon smoked paprika ½ cup olive oil salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Heat a skillet to medium-high heat. Add oil and sauté onion and garlic until translucent, about 6 minutes. Add lamb, paprika, oregano, cumin and cayenne, and sauté until lamb is browned and fully cooked. Add onion and raisins. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool. Heat oven to 375°. Arrange empanada discs on a flat work surface. Fill with 2 tablespoons of lamb filling, and then brush edges with whisked eggs. Fold half of the round over the filled half, and pinch edges together to seal. Crimp the edges using a fork. Arrange the finished empanadas on a parchment-lined sheet tray, and brush with eggs. Bake until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. While empanadas are baking, make the chimichurri. In a food processor, pulse cilantro, parsley, peppers, shallot, garlic, vinegar and paprika until fully
Heat oven to 425°, and place a rack in the center. Unroll or unfold pastry onto a flat work surface. Using a 3” circular cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out as many rounds as possible—at least 18. Place half of the rounds on a parchmentlined, rimmed baking sheet. Spoon one heaping tablespoon of apples into the center of each round, leaving a ½” border. Top apples with one heaping teaspoon of caramel sauce. Brush pastry border with a pastry brush dipped in water, and top each filled round with a second pastry round. Using a fork, crimp edges together, sealing each pie well to avoid leakage. With a sharp knife, cut a few small slits in the top of each pie to allow steam to escape. Bake pies, rotating the sheet halfway through, until golden brown and puffed, about 15 minutes. Serve warm. —Recipe adapted from New York Apple Association
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Pandemic’s end unlikely to change consumers’ habits
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ood consumption trends created by COVID-19 will continue long after the pandemic has passed, according to a Jan. 11 panel at the 2021 American Farm Bureau Federation Virtual Convention. “As of February 2020, only 5% of households were buying groceries online, and in March that jumped up to 30%,” said Roxi Beck, consumer engagement director for The Center for Food Integrity. She moderated the panel, which was titled “The Post-COVID Consumer: What’s Top of Mind for Them.” “So even if half of those consumers go back, that’s still a three-time increase in terms of online shopping that took place in a matter of weeks,” Beck explained. One Virginia agricultural expert agreed with her assessment. “While that volume may decline in a post-COVID economy, online grocery shopping is here to stay,” said Tony Banks, senior assistant director of agriculture, development and innovation for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “We’ll likely continue to see grocers focus staffing on stocking and picking orders as opposed to cashier services. Some less-popular food items or package sizes may be very slow to return, if ever.” Beck also noted an increase in consumer skepticism
regarding food choices, but noted that isn’t necessarily bad for agricultural producers. “When people have skepticism, that means they’re paying attention, and that means they’re open to conversation,” about how and where their food is produced. The increasingly widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines for essential workers, including food and agricultural producers, is forcing industry leaders to consider the impact this will have on farmers and food retailers. Martha Hilton, vice president of produce and floral for Wegmans Food Markets, said consumers have figured out how to be more self-sufficient, and that may mean only celebratory-type events will see an immediate economic rebound. “I think you’ll see certainly people ready to have some entertaining and some partying that they haven’t been able to do, but I don’t know that you’ll see everything that’s happened during this time period change. People have learned how to cook at home.”
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Peanut butter is among food banks’ most-requested protein sources, and was collected along with other nonperishable food items by county Farm Bureau women’s committees in 2020.
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CULTIVATE
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he numbers are in! County Farm Bureau women’s committees collected a cumulative 4,306 pounds of food and $3,367 in monetary donations. Throughout the summer and fall of 2020, the committees organized food drives to help the hungry in their communities with a classic lunchtime staple—peanut butter and jelly. Sponsored by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Leadership Committee, the food drives collected peanut butter, jelly and other nonperishable food items to help support regional food banks, local food pantries and Virginia families. The PB&J theme was chosen in honor of Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s 2020 Book of the Year, PB&J Hooray! by Janet Nolan. Peanut butter also is among food banks’ most-requested sources of protein.
11/13/20 4:40 PM
Keep uninvited guests from hogging the birdseed BY ALICE KEMP
T
Spice things up
erry Lautzenheiser laughs when she thinks about the extreme lengths to which she and her husband, John, have gone to keep squirrels away from their bird feeder. They tried hanging it high off their elevated screened porch, which was inconvenient to squirrels, but the Lautzenheisers couldn’t access it without dragging out a big ladder. So, John Lautzenheiser devised a workaround. “He cut a window within the screen itself that he can open and shut,” explained Terry Lautzenheiser, the horticulture technician for Virginia Cooperative Extension in Henrico County. Opening the custom window, he reaches out with a specially-made hanger to take the feeder down for refilling. “He’s an engineer,” she chuckled. “It’s been funny.”
“You can get birdseed already premixed with hot pepper,” Viette said. “Squirrels can’t stand it.” Birds don’t have the same taste receptors as mammals so spicy seed doesn’t bother them. Homeowners can purchase it premixed or mix their own birdseed with hot pepper. However, some don’t like to use it because they claim it can irritate squirrels’ eyes, Viette noted.
Other tips:
Squirrels can jump far!
Outsmart the squirrels
From elaborate obstacle courses to spinning bungee-jumping apparatuses, people have invented hilariously ingenious ways to keep squirrels out of bird feeders. Backyard birders get frustrated when their feathered friends are pushed away by squirrels. Additionally, purchasing pricey, specialty birdseed only to have squirrels dominate the feeder is money down the drain. Some bird feeders are made specifically to keep squirrels out. Lautzenheiser said she bought her feeder for its weight-sensitive closing mechanism—birds are light enough to perch, but a squirrel’s heavier weight triggers the seed ports to close. “That’s what’s worked best for us,” she said. Horticulturalist Mark Viette went a different route and customized his bird feeder using plastic-coated chicken wire he purchased from a hardware store. “You can make a box and put it over
• Keep bird feeders up high, in an open area and away from branches or anything a squirrel could use as a jumping point to get access to the feeder. Weight-sensitive bird feeders, like this one hanging at Terry and John Lautzenheiser’s home, are effective at keeping squirrels out of the birdseed.
the feeder,” he explained. The holes are just large enough for birds to get into, but too small for squirrels. Viette also added a separate feeder just for squirrels that he placed 100 to 200 feet away from the others. “Squirrel feed tends to be inexpensive and is based more with a mixture of sunflower, corn and other foods,” he said. “Some people like the squirrels, but you can feed them away from your other feeders.” Round, slick metal baffles are another option. Attaching underneath or above a feeder, they can block a ravenous rodent from climbing on.
• Consider your seed choice; birds love Nyjer and safflower seed, but squirrels will avoid it.
Don’t forget the water Just as important as the birdseed, is making sure birds have a source of water like a birdbath, especially in communities where there’s no natural water source. For wintertime, there are heated birdbaths available, or you can use a birdbath warmer (Some are solar-powered) to keep the water from freezing.
vafb.com / WINTER 2021
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