Photo by Matt de Simone
By Matt de Simone
Growing up on a small farm in neighboring Craig County, Lara Edwards learned early where food comes from and the work it takes to produce it.
Now, as Botetourt County’s new Agriculture and Natural Resources agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension, she’s looking forward to helping local farmers, landowners, and residents while building relationships throughout the community.
“I just love what agriculture is about and supporting producers,” Edwards shared. “Helping people know where their food comes from and what they’re eating and how it gets to their plate is what I’m passionate about.”
Edwards officially joined the Botetourt County Extension office after most recently serving as an agriculture science teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools. She previously worked as a 4-H Extension agent in the City of Suffolk, giving her firsthand experience with Virginia Cooperative Extension before returning closer to home.
A graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in agricultural science and a master’s degree in teaching, Edwards said agriculture has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.
Her parents met while on Virginia Tech’s horse judging team, and her father works as a farrier. The family has long been involved in raising livestock and producing hay, experiences that helped shape her career path.
“I’ve always been in it,” she recalled. “Craig County is just so rural. Half my friends had farms, and spending time outside working with our parents was just normal.”
Although she enjoyed teaching agriculture in the classroom, Edwards noted that becoming an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent had long been one of her professional goals.
“When this position came open, it just felt right,” she explained. “It feels like home.”
As the county’s Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, Edwards will provide educational programs and technical assistance on a wide range of topics, including soil testing, well water testing, pesticide certification, livestock management, and connecting producers with available state and federal assistance programs.
She described the position as one centered on serving the community.
“Really, I am here to serve the community and figure out what the needs are,” Edwards emphasized. “That could look different every day or a year from now. Just being of service is really what it is.”
One of the immediate challenges facing local agriculture, she observed, is the ongoing drought, which has forced many livestock producers to haul hay from greater distances while coping with reduced forage production.
Edwards also hopes to expand educational opportunities for both established producers and newer landowners entering agriculture through small or hobby farms.
“I think support is needed there,” she added. “Supporting who’s already here and finding ways for them to earn a better profit and produce higher quality products is one of the big components.”
While she’s only been on the job a short time, Edwards has already begun visiting farms and meeting producers with the help of fellow Extension staff.
She also plans to become more involved in the community as she prepares to move to Botetourt with her daughter.
“I think being visible in the community, whether that’s in person, online, or in the newspaper, is really important,” she continued. “People don’t always know what Virginia Cooperative Extension is or what we do.”
Edwards encourages anyone unfamiliar with Extension to stop by the office or call to learn more about available programs and services.
“I want people to know that I’m excited to be here,” she stressed. “Their needs are my focus. I want to hear from them.”
For her first year on the job, Edwards believes success won’t necessarily be measured by the number of programs offered, but by the relationships she builds.
“I think establishing those relationships, so people know who I am and know they can come ask me for what they need, is what I really want to accomplish,” she concluded.
