EP 353: Virginia is for Ag Lovers ft. Secretary Matthew Lohr

In Episode 353 of District of Conservation, Gabriella speaks with Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr. Secretary Lohr serves as the 5th Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was raised on a Century family farm in the Shenandoah Valley and has spent his entire life working for the betterment of agriculture.  Matthew developed his passion for public service while serving as both a state and national FFA officer before graduating from Virginia Tech with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Education. He has more than 30 years of experience as a professional leader and communicator.  Matthew served as Chief of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency with more than 10,000 employees across 3,000 offices. He also previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates, as Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as Director of the Farm Credit Knowledge Center and as a middle school agriscience teacher.  In addition to serving as Secretary, Matthew along with his two children own and operate Valley Pike Farm, Inc., his family’s farming operation.  SHOW NOTES Secretary Lohr's Bio Virginia Ag Dept Website and Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter Connect with the Secretary on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter Churchill Downs buys Virginia’s Colonial Downs, Rosie’s Virginia's first lady announces wine partnership, 'Cornus Virginicus' red blend Governor Youngkin hopes to reduce food insecurity with indoor farming Solar's Lofty Ambitions Are Consuming Ever-Larger Expanses of Land Down Below Virginia Gov. Youngkin rings death knell on CCP buying American land near military sites Americans turn to raising chickens as eggs cost upward of $4