Beaver Dam Sunflowers 2nd Quarter newsletter excerpts
Vendors for the 2021 Sunflowers
We have vendors selected for our 2021 show and let me tell you, visitors will be in for an impressive shopping experience! All of our vendors must be hand made, each one goes through a juried process to see if they will be selected to participate. This year we have selected 90+ artisans and food vendors to bring you the best of the best over our two weekends. We love what they have to offer and we are sure you will too!This year we have decided to give our visitors a new experience. Our VIP night will happen the Friday evening before the festival opens to the public on Saturday. This evening will highlight our vendors with each one offering a special discount on their products for the night. The first 100 visitors in line will receive a VIP Goodie Bag filled with discounts, coupons and free goodies from our vendors and businesses around the County! The VIP night will last from 4pm to 7pm, 1,000 tickets will be available and will go on sale in August. You won’t want to miss this event!
Scholarship awarded
This years scholarship recipient is Brian Howard of James River High School. Here is some information about Brian.TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY: My parents are April and Anthony Howard. My father was in FFA growing up and has been a part of the FFA Alumni in Botetourt County. Both of my parents have shown me ways of how landscaping works and different kinds of flowers to plant. We live in Fincastle and love the mountain views and enjoy fishing and hunting together.WHEN DID YOU DEVELOP AN INTEREST IN THE AGRICULTURAL FIELD?I started to become interested in the agriculture field when I was in 6th grade in my Ag class with Mrs. Hannah where I learned what Ag and FFA is. I have had Ag classes since 6th grade to my senior year in high school. I was an FFA officer since 8th grade through my senior year. The people in my community helped me and showed me how Ag effects my life and on their farms. Also I have participated in local fairs such as the Botetourt Fair, Salem Fair, and Rockbridge Fair and that has helped me with my interest. PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCES:My agricultural experiences consist of planting flowers of different types like lilies, tulips, irises, roses, and some other kinds of flowers and shrubbery around my house. In FFA we do this event called “Know, Grow, Go” and our club teaches 2nd graders about agriculture and I have taught them about poultry. I taught them the cycle of a chicken; from the inside of the egg and the kids get so excited touching a chicken, maybe for the first time. Also I have taught the 2nd graders about how to plant Shasta Daisies from seed to full grown flowers. My Ag teacher in high school taught me how to drive a tractor for the first time on a tractor that James River Equipment let us borrow. Also another event I have done was teaching my driver’s education class about rural safety and how to watch while driving on the road.
Bloom with grace photo exhibit
Bloom With Grace is an exhibit that stems from the annual sunflower festival Candace has now hosted the past five years on her family’s farm in Botetourt County, Virginia. Candace thoroughly enjoys combining her new found love for sunflowers with her passion for nature photography. As a graduate of Virginia Western Community College with an Applied Science degree in Communication Design, Candace has continued to embrace new opportunities that align her career and passions into one. In 2007, following the birth of her first child, she decided to venture out on her own and launch her business, Candace Monaghan Design. This opportunity allowed her to work from home with her daughter while still contributing to their family income. She landed clients locally and from surrounding areas through designing promotional pieces, logos, magazines, and working on fine art pieces like the Virginia Tech Hokie bird statues. Not to mention, hosting paint night parties throughout the community, Candace is blessed to still be working for herself with wonderful clientele.While wandering through and checking on 20 plus acres of sunflowers day after day, one might think this could become a daunting task, but Candace begs to differ. Every time of day with each new forecast released, presents a totally new view for these beauties. She loves seeing all of the insects that the flowers attract as well. From beautiful butterflies to many varieties of grasshoppers they all have a different purpose and provide great photography opportunities. To be surrounded by the calmness and easygoing spirit that these views provide is simply breathtaking and she is excited to be able to share them with you.Bloom With Grace just wrapped up a show at Patina Creek in Buchanan, here are future dates if you are interested in checking out the show:Clifton Forge, Alleghaney Highlands Arts and Crafts Center – April 6th – May 13thFincastle, 1772 Rooftop on Main – May 22nd – June 26thBlacksburg, The Alexander Black House – July 5th – August 13thBedford, The Bower Center –
For more info and to subscribe to the newsletter. Checkout the Beaver Dam Sunflowers website
BeaverDamSunflowers@gmail.com www.BeaverDamSunflowers.com
Submitted by Candace Monahan
