Loudoun Times-Mirror
New agriculture school to teach Loudoun’s future farmers
Education is the foundation for the future. So how stable is the future of Loudoun’s farms if future farmers don’t have the proper training?
Enter Loudoun’s New Ag School.
Formally known as the Piedmont Educational Agriculture Center, Loudoun’s New Ag School (NAS) formally launched this week at Fabbioli Cellars just north of Leesburg. The school was awarded a grant of $9,000 by 100Women Strong, a philanthropic organization that pledges grants to help the Loudoun community.
The goal of NAS is to train a workforce to continue and grow the agribusiness of Loudoun County. From running a farm or winery to hosting a successful bed and breakfast, NAS aims to offer an alternative education route to those seeking careers in these fields.
“We’re teaching people you don’t have to sit at a computer screen all day and make a profit,” said Doug Fabbioli, NAS board member and owner of Fabbioli Cellars. “We need to train a workforce of all ages and talents who understand our various growing, harvest and tourism seasons and are specifically trained to support agribusiness, from horticulture to management to sales.”
