Our Agricultural Heritage

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Business Article

Culpeper Star Exponent

March 16, 2015

I want to milk a cow.  Not sure why really, it is just one of the items on my bucket list. Maybe it has something to do with all the 'farm' related nursery rhymes of my childhood or watching too many episodes of Green Acres.  I've shared this desire with a few of my agribusiness contacts hoping they would know a cow or two in need of milking, but have been told that I have an overly romanticized view of farm life!  You know the one--red barns, idyllic pastures, and quaint farmhouses with large porches for sitting, guitar strumming or banjo pickin’.  The more I learn of agribusiness, the more I realize that farm life is rewarding, but chock full of hard work and long days.

With more than 111,000 acres of Culpeper County devoted to raising livestock, growing and cultivating various crops, and greenhouse operations, the economic impact of agribusiness can not be overlooked.   Interestingly, Culpeper’s census data indicates that over the last 30 years or so, there has been a 50% increase in the number of farms.  Commensurate with this growth there has also been a reduction in total acres farmed, indicating that the larger farms are being divided into smaller parcels.  This tells me that despite societal changes or demographic shifts, there are still many entrepreneurs willing to embrace the challenges and harvest the rewards of agribusiness in Culpeper County; and we are lucky to have them.

Annually, the Agriculture Council of America (ACA)  organizes a celebration to recognize the amazing abundance provided us all by those farmers, ranchers,  producers and distributors who choose to engage in agribusiness.  This year, March 18th is National Ag Day.  With the theme “Sustaining Future Generations”, the ACA’s message is designed to increase public awareness of the quality and quantity of our Nation’s bounty and the efforts of many to bring it to our tables.

Locally, your Culpeper Chamber of Commerce named Kenny and Edith Anderson and Family the 2015 Agribusiness of the Year.  The Anderson Family has operated their brood cow operation for more than 40 years. We are pleased to recognize their contributions to Culpeper’s agricultural community and congratulate them on the success of their family-run business.

It is easy to take the food supply chain for granted and only see the red barns and green pastures as we drive along Culpeper’s beautiful country roads.  But on March 18th, join me in taking a moment or two to ponder the role of agriculture in today’s modern society. For those of us who have never truly experienced life on a farm, I presume we will always retain that overly romanticized image of that way of life.  But perhaps through the ACA we will better appreciate the true work and level of effort occurring daily.  I know it’s not all porches and pickin’.  I do still want to milk a cow, though.