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Farming in Botetourt – RTS Farms: Pioneers in local sales, mindful about the future of farming in the county

Fincastle Herald by Fincastle Herald
June 24, 2025
in Local News
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RTS Farms has pioneered selling its products directly to its local consumers for the last 15 years.
Concrete feed bunkers on the farm.
Photos courtesy of RTS Farms

By Matt de Simone

 

Between Botetourt County’s ridges, hills, and centuries of hard work, Ray Snyder of RTS Farms in Troutville keeps the spirit of traditional farming alive – even as the agricultural landscape in the county shifts over time.

The story of RTS Farms is not just one of cattle and crops, but of transformation and purpose. In 2010, Ray and his wife, Joanne, evolved their traditional cattle operation into a full-circle, farm-to-table beef business. The couple originally moved to Botetourt in the late ’70s from North Carolina. A plan to farm began to develop. They made land purchases. Ray had a vision.

Years later as their farm began to grow, Ray was motivated by a desire for better quality control and closer connection to their customers. They began raising, processing, and selling their own all-natural beef directly to consumers at the then-active Troutville Farmers Market. RTS Farms remains one of the county’s pioneers in selling its products directly to the consumer.

Their cattle are grass-fed, free-roaming, and raised without the use of hormones, steroids, or antibiotics. Animal stress is carefully minimized throughout the process, a decision that enhances both the ethical standards of the farm and the tenderness of the final product.

The Snyders were inspired by a visit years ago to a similar operation in North Carolina where they decided to brand their own beef. That initiative gave birth to RTS Farms’ all-natural line, which proudly carries the Virginia’s Finest designation for meeting the state’s strict quality standards. With growing demand from health-conscious customers, the Snyders’ approach has always emphasized transparency, sustainability, and pride in delivering a premium, traceable product.

Ray is a first-generation farmer, but he has built a practice rooted in traditional values and supported by modern agricultural knowledge. The U.S. Navy veteran started the farm from scratch leaning heavily on the “Virginia Beef Management Handbook,” took some welding classes locally, and sought guidance from some of the area’s producers.

“(The handbook) covered topics like breeding, nutrition, production management, business management, herd health, and equipment and facilities. We also utilized information from local farmers who acted as mentors for advice,” Ray recalled during a recent interview. He mentioned the mentorship of local individuals that included the late Jimmy Johnson – who was a local dairy farmer, Jay Etzler of Etzler Country Hams currently located in Troutville, local veterinarian Dick Bailey, and Chris Theimer, livestock manager at the Roanoke-Hollins Stockyard. That community of support remains critical.

While some farmers throughout the country are exploring updating themselves on the cutting-edge technologies like drones and precision ag tools, Snyder pointed out they’re not always applicable to the terrain here in Botetourt. He spoke about a group of local farmers who travel to a large farm show in Raleigh, N.C., annually that has vendors on hand selling the latest trends in farming technologies.

While the new trends are interesting to some, Ray doesn’t see a lot of the new-fangled equipment usable in the rolling hills of Trouville. He mentioned, “What we see (at those types of farm shows) is equipment and ideas more suited for the crop farmers who generally do not have hilly land like Botetourt.”

A cattle working system Ray Snyder purchased one year at the West Va. State Fair.
Photo by Matt de Simone

The challenges are many. Development steadily creeps across the landscape, eating up once-available hayfields and pastures. “If you don’t own it, you can’t count on keeping it to use,” Ray says.

Scott Stevens has come on over the years as another mentor and an associate of the Snyders on the farm. He is the former manager of the Rockingham Co-op, now Vice President – Commercial and Agricultural Loan Officer for Bank of Botetourt. Stevens shared his concerns about infrastructure support—namely the current state of the local farmers market in Daleville.

“The physical location of the Saturday market has faced challenges as the Daleville Town Center has continued to expand,” Stevens explained. “It doesn’t seem like Botetourt County officials have given much effort to plan its future. I would love to see the county purchase a tract of land and focus on building a permanent structure, one that would allow multiple venues for community events, 4-H and FFA programs, and certified kitchens for the community. There are several venues like this in the region, but it doesn’t seem like this is a high priority with our (local) government officials.”

Despite the pressures, the Snyders remain committed to selling local and direct. The farm’s beef is available through Ikenberry Orchards & Country Store, Troutville Grocery & Goods, and right from the farm located on Gravel Drive. For more information about the farm’s products, visit RTSFarms.com.

“Buying local gives the consumer a direct connection to (a) farm,” Stevens explained. “They can see where their food comes from and how it’s raised. You just don’t get that in a grocery store.”

The COVID-19 pandemic brought new attention to local sourcing as consumers faced empty supermarket shelves. Stevens explained that it opened a lot of people’s eyes. “We saw a boom at the local farmers markets during those times. Fortunately, it was an opportunity for the local farmers markets to shine, and they continued to grow because of it.

Still, farming in Botetourt remains an uphill path. The cost of production is one of the biggest misconceptions, according to Stevens. “Farmers buy everything at retail and essentially sell at wholesale. When the consumer sees the price of beef in the grocery store, especially when prices are high like they are now, they assume the profit is going into the farmer’s pocket – which is furthest from the truth.

Weather extremes, fluctuating market prices, and scheduling bottlenecks at USDA-certified meat processors have added to the stress. “There are so many things that drive profitability that is out of farmers’ control,” Stevens noted.

Generational transitions are uncertain, too. Ray says he hopes his grandson takes an interest in the farm, but acknowledges that younger generations “sometimes have a different outlook on life.” Still, the Snyders see farming as more than a career. “Farming is not just a job; it’s a way of life,” Ray says. “Your family becomes a close-knit group because you work every day alongside each other.”

That closeness mirrors the broader farming community in Botetourt. “Farmers here rely heavily on one another – sharing equipment, experience, and support,” Stevens said. “They’re a private group, but deeply connected.”

And although Botetourt is changing – “becoming more of a suburb of Roanoke,” as Ray puts it – the cultural roots of agriculture still run deep. Events like the Botetourt County Fair in Buchanan and local 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs in Botetourt County Public Schools help keep traditions alive. But the public, the Snyders and Stevens believe, needs to be reminded of what’s at stake.

“You support those who support you,” said Stevens. “Most everything purchased on the farm supports a local business – (whether it’s) the Rockingham Co-op or James River Equipment. So, supporting your local farm essentially supports your community and keeps those dollars in the area.”

For Ray and Joanne Snyder, the path ahead is still taking shape, but RTS Farms commitment is unwavering. The land, the livestock, and the relationships built through years of hard work reflect a deeper truth – that in Botetourt County, farming remains not just a livelihood, but a legacy.

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