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Agriculture and Natural Resources programs help sustain profitability of agricultural and forestry production, while protecting and enhancing the quality of our land and water resources.  

Horticulture

As the horticulture agent for Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock Counties, Tim Ohlwiler oversees the training and volunteer management of local Master Gardeners. These volunteers staff help lines in each extension office to answer homeowner questions about lawns, gardens, vegetables, flowers and trees. Volunteers maintain demonstration gardens. Master Gardeners also run a variety of educational programs in local schools. They also do horticulture therapy at some local nursing homes with the residents, among other educational projects. 

Tim Ohlwiler also works with the local commercial horticulture industry in the above mentioned counties. He develops programs in conjunction with other extension agents to meet the needs of orchard growers, vineyards, nurseries, fruit and vegetable growers. He also provides education and information for pesticide safety and compliance with state and federal regulations. And he also works with service providers to the landscape industry such as landscape maintenance, tree care worker and lawn care technicians. He provides access to information form specialists at Virginia Tech and Virginia State University to those in the local horticulture industry. 

Agriculture

As an animal science agent, Tim Mize works with local producers in Fauquier and surrounding counties, delivering researched-based educational programs  on various topics, including animal nutrition and reproduction, hay and pasture management, and soil and water conservation. In cooperation with other extension agents and specialist, Tim also works in other agricultural areas, including row crops, byproduct feeds, nutrient management,  commodity and speciality marketing, and private pesticide applicators.

Additional Information

 

Virginia Virtual Farm to Table Series

 

Helping Families Thrive

The family unit is the cornerstone of a healthy community. Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) program area strives to improve the well-being of Virginia families through programs that help put research-based knowledge to work in people’s lives.  FCS programs reach tens of thousands of families across the commonwealth each year helping Virginians make good choices for themselves and their families, which strengthens their communities.  Locally, we provide FCS programs in the following areas:

4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. The Fauquier County 4-H Program offers youth ages 5-19 opportunities to participate in clubs, educational contests, camps, horse and livestock shows, and much more!

Programs

Engaging with Communities

Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists in community viability work with Extension agents, campus-based faculty, organizational partners, communities, and individuals to further opportunity and build capacity in five program areas:   

Examples of our work include training county elected officials, educating entrepreneurs, facilitating collaborative projects, supporting the growth of community food systems and local economies, enhancing agent skills and community capacity in facilitation and leadership, conducting problem-driven research, and creating publications and tools that address critical community needs.

Do you have a question about Community Viability?

Perhaps one of the Community Viability specialists below can help you. Contact a Community Viability specialist or direct a question to them using our Ask an Expertsystem. 

Community Viability Specialists