News for Loudoun Producers: Rural Strategy, Healthy Waters and Where's Warren

Loudoun Producer December 2012

Loudoun Economic Development's
Rural Team

Businesses in need of assistance are always welcome to contact the Rural Team for assistance and referrals:

Kellie Boles: As the agricultural development officer, she manages the rural team and leads rural business development efforts.

Gary Hornbaker: Currently serves as the Rural Resources Coordinator, and is very involved in agriculture production.

Coco Lyons: As the rural marketing coordinator, Coco manages the marketing efforts of the team as well as rural economic development special events.

Terri Smithson: Terri serves and the agricultural and forestal district manager, managing the program's application and renewal process.

New Strategy for Loudoun's Rural Economy

According to Loudoun County Department of Economic Development's Agricultural Development Officer, Kellie Boles, "Loudoun should be recognized as a leader among all Virginia counties in many rural industries."

"Loudoun has a very active and innovative network of rural entrepreneurs; they have access to profitable market opportunities, and many of their businesses are thriving. At the same time, the sustained success and future growth of rural business overall will depend on greater public and private support, additional innovations, and better tracking data." Find out more.

Where's Warren?

Loudoun ranks second in the entire state for Christmas tree production, with 38 farms producing trees on more than 700 acres. This month we sent Warren Howell, owner of Allder School Berries in Purcellville, to an undisclosed Loudoun tree farm location.

Tell us where he is via email to LoudounBiz@Loudoun.gov by December 30 and be entered to win a bottle of exquisitely tasty pecan syrup from Great Country Farms. Here's a clue: This farm is celebrating 32 years of growing fir and spruce trees on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Route 7. Visitors can pick from 40,000 trees currently in production.

Upcoming Training and Events

Private Pesticide Recertification

The Loudoun County Extension Office will be offering a Private Pesticide Applicators Recertification training opportunity. These sessions will provide recertification credit for all private pesticide applicators in categories 90 (Food, Fiber, Forestry, Crops and Commodity Production) and 91 (Ornamental Production.)

Date: January 15, 2013

Time: 6 to 9 p.m.

Place: Loudoun County Extension Conference Room

Please contact the Loudoun County Extension Office to 703-777-0373 to register.

Farming for Profit and Stewardship Conference

The 14th Annual Future Harvest Conference will host two days of workshops and panel discussions on local food communities, beginning farmers, the business of farming and other topics. The event is highlighted by a local foods celebration and silent auction. Early registration was just extended to December 31, so take advantage of this great opportunity before it's too late.

Date: January 18 - 19, 2013

Time: 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday;

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

Place: National Conference Center, Lansdowne

Cost: $98 to $148 for both days; details are online

Healthy Waters Initiative Announced

It began in 2011 with a news-making headline: Trump National Golf Club in Loudoun had removed 500 trees along the scenic water's edge of the Potomac River. The controversy that followed led to last week, when the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District announced the new Healthy Waters Foundation, supported in part by the Trump Organization. The goal for the nonprofit is to set a model for riparian buffer enhancement. Read how here.