Tyler Hunter and his wife Ruby moved their two sons and twin daughters to Ephriam, Utah, to start life on a ranch.

By Tanya Brown, Farm Service Agency

In the fall of 2005, Tyler Hunter packed up his wife and two sons and moved to Ephraim, Utah, to pursue a full-time career in ranching. “This may not seem like a huge endeavor; however, our circumstances were rather unique,” said Hunter.

A few months before the move, Hunter, who owned a construction company at the time, was building his family a home on a plot of land he purchased in Ephraim. While putting up the last piece of fascia on the bottom side of the roof, he slipped off the scaffolding and suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Soon after, his father died in a horse accident.

“I ranched with my father for most of my life. Not only was he my best friend but also my mentor,” said Hunter. Ranching was never a full-time endeavor for the pair, but something they shared together. Continue reading →

White House interns met with several Virginia producers to learn the important role agriculture plays in feeding, clothing and fueling America and the world.

By Linda Cronin, Virginia Public Affairs/Outreach Specialist

Twelve White House fellows were given the opportunity to experience agriculture first hand. From a custom slaughterhouse to a large-scale fruit and vegetable operation, the group grazed the hills and pastures of Virginia to learn the importance of ag in the U.S.

Hosted by Virginia Farm Service Agency staff and accompanied by Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service Deputy Under Secretary Karis Gutter, the fellows began their tour at the USDA Fredericksburg Service Center where they met their tour guides — County  Executive Director Kim DePasquale and FSA Manager Jeanne Turnure.

“You could just feel their excitement and real interest in what USDA does and what the farmer goes through to put food on their table,” said DePasquale.     Continue reading →