Have you been keeping up with the VALOR Program? The Virginia Agricultural Leaders Obtaining Results Program has already graduated two classes. The program started with the Inaugural Class in 2012 the program has expanded the world for two great classes of cohorts that not only traveled the Commonwealth learning about our industry, but traveled to various regions of the United States as well as Argentina (Class I) and Vietnam (Class II). The program is two years in length with the class meeting approximately every other month. Class III started their journey in September of this year.  You can follow along with their program on their blog here.

The current class members are:

Class III Fellows

 Kristin Beery of Mt. Sidney, Agricultural Education Instructor, Augusta County Public Schools

Kimley Blanks of South Boston, Agriculture Marketing Director, County of Halifax

William Hatcher of Amelia Courthouse, Virginia Department of Corrections, Quality Assurance, State Farm Agribusiness

Frank Johnson III of Warsaw, Chief Leadership Officer, Hope for Family & Business Prosperity

Greta Liskey, of Harrisonburg, Owner, Liskey Custom Work

Paula Martin of Mount Crawford, AVP/Ag Credit Analyst, First Bank and Trust Company

Christopher Mullins of South Chesterfield, Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist, VSU

Michelle Olgers of Sutherland, Director of Marketing and Communication, VSU

Jennifer Shaver of Abingdon, Attorney, Shaver Law Office

Michael Smetak of New Market, Regional Director, Shenandoah Growers

Linsday Smith of Washington DC,  Coordinator, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, USDA Food LINC

Nathan Walsh of Purcellville, Owner/Winemaker-Vineyard Manager, Walsh Winegrowing  LLC/Sunset Hills Vineyard

Elizabeth “E.B.” Watson  of Bedford, Assistant Farm Manager/District Manager-Conservation Specialist, Dawn Dairy/Peaks of Otter SWCD