This entry was posted on Sunday, December 28th, 2008 at 8:07pm and is filed under Media and information, Produce, Agriculture, Economics, Food Production. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Among a basketball coach, pro-golfer and military doctors, ABC World News has named a vegetable farmer as one of their “extraordinary people who make a difference“.
Bob Blair, whose original story aired in June, runs Volunteer Farm in Woodstock, Virginia. The farm, with volunteer labor, produces fresh vegetables for those in need. Since June, they have produced and distributed 35 tons of vegetables with the help of 3,100 volunteers.
Blair started the farm 5 years ago, originally intending it to be a Christmas tree farm. But, Blair had an epiphany to grow nutritious food for those who need it. Now, with the help of his volunteers, he provides good, healthy and nutritious food to a local food bank.
In an era of increasing obesity AND food insecurity, I applaud Bob and the army of volunteers that support him. It’s a humbling reminder that any of us can make a real difference, to at least a few people. Bob, you’ve inspired me to see what we can with production from our own Wild Type Ranch this winter, to help feed those in need.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:49am
Sorry to be a grump, but did you read the job description for the farm manager? Can you imagine dealing with 3,500 volunteers, most under 18? The farmers I knew growing up didn’t have great interpersonal skills. Nor did they need them. I guess everything has changed.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:52pm
Bill, I won’t disagree with your grump! I have enough challenge with two boys under the age of 13
I think one of the characteristics of the “new ag” movement, which more directly relates to the consumer is that the people who are successful have better people skills.
I don’t know many ranchers who could run the direct-to-consumer beef operation we do, mainly because most lack either the desire to work that closely with consumers or the ability to present a public persona and effectively market their product.
I suspect we will see a changing face of at least some significant minority of the agricultural community in the next 10-20 years.